Free The Abduction of Mary Rose by Joan Hall Hovey

anymore and Edna was giving full rein to the rage she'd always harboured where Naomi was concerned, a satisfaction denied her while her sister was alive. Still, Naomi was stunned at the depths of her hatred. Devil's spawn? She'd been speaking of Naomi's biological father, of course. The rapist. The monster.
    She was devastated by her aunt's cruel words, and missing her mother more even than she realized. Why was she so surprised? She angrily mopped at tears with a tissue from her slacks' pocket. She had seen her aunt look at her with that same hatred and disdain from the time Naomi barely came up to her waist.
    The crying had given her a headache and she took two Tylenol and went upstairs to lie down.
    That's the last time I will shed tears because of Edna Bradley , she promised herself fervently as she climbed the stairs. The last damn time.
    On silent paws, Molly padded up the carpeted stairs behind her.
     
    * * *
     
    "Don't you think you were a little rough on the kid, Edna?"
    She'd just hung up the phone and now she whirled around to face her husband. "She's not a kid, Sam. Did you read this?" she asked, snatching the paper off the table, folded to Naomi's story, shook it at him, practically shoving it in his face.
    He snapped it from her and tossed it back on the table. "I read it. She's got a right to try to find out who abducted her mother that night, raped her and beat her into a coma, if she wants to. I think it took courage to go public with this. Anyway, it wouldn't have happened if you hadn't told her she was adopted. But you couldn't wait for Lili to take her last breath, could you? So you could tell her. Damned if I know why. I don't suppose you want to enlighten me?"
    Rage bubbled up like bile in Edna as she faced the tall, gentle man who was looking at her with such bewilderment and dislike. It was as though he had seen deeply into her soul for the first time and was more saddened than angry at what he saw, serving only to infuriate her more. How dare he judge her?
    "That's not true. I loved my sister. Naomi always was your favourite, wasn't she? More important even than your own daughter. Makes me wonder why, Harold?" she sneered, leaving no doubt as to what she meant.
    "You've got a dirty mind, Edna. I didn't favour her over Charlotte at all. I just never understood your hatred of the girl, that's all. I felt sorry for her."
     
     
    Chapter Twelve
     
     
    It was late in the afternoon when Naomi came downstairs to find the machine's red light blinking. She had four messages. She hit the play button and heard Frank Llewellyn's familiar voice.
    "Hi, Naomi, Frank here. As you can imagine, I was surprised to say the least when I opened my morning paper. I wish you'd spoken to me first about this before you went ahead. I'm worried about you, honey. I'm not sure this was a wise move on your part, although I can understand why you did it. Edna will have a conniption." She heard a soft satisfied chuckle, before he said, "Still, you're very vulnerable in that house all by yourself. Call me, okay? If you're determined to pursue this, maybe I can be of some help."
    Thanks, Frank, she thought. I might just take you up on that. She wasn't sure just how at the moment. But Frank was smart and he had connections. He could probably get the case file for her if it was still in existence. She felt a stirring of hope.
    The next call was from her cousin. "Hey, Naomi, I just wanted you to know that I've been feeling really crappy about your finding out like you did … about everything. I love my mother, but she can be such an ass sometimes. She does have a good side, you know. It's just that she keeps it hidden most of the time. Anyway," she went on, "I hope you nail the creeps. Let's hook up for lunch soon if you're not too ticked at the whole family, for which I wouldn't blame ya. But I hope not. See ya. Oh, great picture of you, by the way. You look like that actress, Jennifer Connelly. Well, take care, Jen…." she giggled