Page 192 of Sins of the Heart

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She nodded, a slow, ponderous movement. “Torn

from his breast. Which suggests that all our careful

plans were for naught. He was killed for his darksoul

in a completely unrelated and random act.” Her face

creased as she offered her repulsive smile. “Chance.

Fate. Serendipity. It’s almost…funny.”

“Serendipity is defined as a gift for making useful

discoveries quite by accident, so I make the assumption you refer to someone else’s serendipitous act,

rather than the congregation’s?” He barely managed to

keep the rancor from his tone.

Again, Djeserit blinked, her lids lowering then

rising with exaggerated sluggishness, a habit that

annoyed Pyotr to no end. “Serendipitous for the soul

reaper who discovered Joe Marin.”

Pyotr grunted his assent. A soul reaper just

happened to find Joe Marin and kill him? Harvest his

darksoul? Despite Djeserit’s assertion that it was mere

chance, a coincidence, Pyotr could not find it in himself

to agree. Someone was playing puppet master.

Someone had sent the soul reaper to Joe Marin. Who?

That was the question of the hour.

“We must find the child.” Djeserit stared at him,

eyes glittering, as though waiting for him to challenge

her assertion.

“An excellent suggestion.” He played the role of

fool; it was not one that sat well on his shoulders, but

it was a necessary concession. He had no desire for her

to know that his own personal contacts were already

looking. They had a lead. They would have her soon.

The child had been an important pawn. Then, task

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