Page 49 of Finding Amanda

"I don't understand. If he lost his license for it, then why didn't they prosecute him? I mean, obviously there was something there."

"Different burden of proof. You know that."

"Right. Of course.” To convict him, the state would have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt he was guilty. Mark figured the medical board had much broader powers.

The fax machine sprang to life. "It's coming through now," Mark said.

"Good. Compare that to what you have on everyone else. See if you can find a commonality."

Mark kneeled beside his fax machine and looked at the papers, one by one. "Are the names of his books here somewhere?"

"Yeah, second to last page, I think."

"Great. I'll get a copy of those, too. Maybe the publisher or . . . Amanda thanked her agent in the acknowledgements. Maybe he does, too. Maybe that's the link."

"You need anything else?"

"Not that I can think of. Let me know what you hear from the detective."

"Will do."

"Okay. Thanks, Chris. I can't tell you how?—"

"I know. It's the least I can do. Listen, I have a question for you."

Mark straightened the papers against his palm. "Okay, shoot."

"How you holding up?"

Mark dropped the papers, sat on the carpet, and pressed his back against the wall. "I'm hanging in there. By the way, what'd you say to Mandy this morning?"

"Nothing important. You don't look good, man."

"Gee, thanks."

"You look worse than you did Friday."

"Could you sleep if you thought someone was after Jamie?"

A pause. "No, I guess not."

"I can't be there to protect her. And I don't even know . . ." He let his voice trail off.

"How's your relationship with God?"

Mark massaged his temples. How was his relationship with God? He was angry with God. He had known following Christwould cost him, but he had no idea he'd lose his family. He swallowed a surge of emotion. "Shaky."

"Trust Him, Mark. He won't let you down."

Mark nodded but couldn't speak for the lump in his throat.

"I'm praying for you."

"Mm-hmm." He swallowed. "Appreciate that."

He hung up the phone and dropped his head into his hands. Prayer. He should try that. But hadn't his every thought been a plea for his marriage for the last month? Every breath a plea for Amanda's safety since she'd called Friday? He was beginning to wonder if God was listening.

Grabbing the papers, Mark climbed off the floor and made his way back to the kitchen table. He'd figure out the link and maybe, somehow, that information would get him one step closer to protecting Amanda.

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