Free Gemini Rising (Mischievous Malamute Mystery Series, Book 1) by Harley Christensen Page B

most comforting thing I’ve experienced since Victoria died.”
    My heart ached as I recognized the voice of loneliness and abandonment. Like me, he had lost his family, his connection to the very thing that binds us to this earth—the thing that grounds us and makes us feel like a part of something—something that has meaning. When I had reached out to him, I had done so for my own selfish reasons, and yet this man had still found in me a kindred spirit. It was at that moment that I realized Sir Edward and I needed one another to gain some semblance of that lost connection.
    I put my questions aside for the time-being, and we talked. I told him about growing up in Arizona with my parents, about family vacations, going off to college and my triumphant return home. We talked about my career and laughed over stories of my clients. And, as a dog-lover himself, he was delighted to hear about my adventures with Nicoh.
    In turn, he told me about Victoria and her parents and how doting they were, despite their busy schedules. As a child, they took her everywhere they went, immersing her in new cultures and languages and anything else that sparked her interest. He quickly pointed out that while she had grown-up privileged, Victoria was never spoiled or self-involved. Instead, she was caring and compassionate, taking nothing for granted. She was also fiercely independent. When it came time for her to start thinking about colleges, she refused to allow her parents to influence the admission boards, and was accepted to Columbia University on her own hard work and merit, where she earned a degree in Biomedical Sciences.
    Talking about Victoria seemed to lift Sir Edward’s spirits, invigorating him. Pride radiated from him as he told story after story. Though they weren’t related by blood, he loved her like the daughter he had never had. Their powerful relationship continued from the time she was a toddler, through the awful teen years and as she had entered adulthood. Now reveling in the memories he had collected, he realized he too, had meant the world to her. I felt honored to be able to share that moment with him. Using the back of my hand, I wiped the tears from my cheeks and barely managed to stifle a sniffle before my nose started running. I heard sounds on the other end of the line that lead me to believe Sir Edward wasn’t faring much better, but neither of us made a comment to that effect.
    I had planned on leaving my questions for another call—it certainly didn’t seem appropriate to address them now—so I was surprised when Sir Edward asked me to elaborate. I could tell he wasn’t simply being polite, so I proceeded.
    “I know Jonathan Silverton handled Victoria’s adoption for the Winestones. Prior to that, did you know him? Or, did he perform any other services after-the-fact for the Winestones or their company?”
    “I had never heard of him until Victoria and I read the contents of the safety deposit box. It did come as somewhat of a surprise because I knew almost all the lawyers they kept on retainer. I used many of them myself, and played a round of two of golf with the rest,” he chuckled, before continuing, “but no, I’m not aware of Joseph or Susan utilizing his services for any other purpose.”
    “It is so strange,” I commented, “his widow didn’t mention adoptions being his specialty. If anything, he seems to have been more of a generalist which is curious, because the Winestones had a bevy of lawyers at their disposal. Finding a generalist would have been easy work.
    “Besides, Silverton seemed like random choice for such an important set of circumstances. I didn’t know the Winestones—so correct me if am wrong—but from what I’ve heard about them, it didn’t seem as though they would leave something like that to chance.”
    “You are absolutely correct, they wouldn’t have. Having children had always been important to them. If they believed it to be their only opportunity, they