BREAKING THE SILENCE (DIANE CHAMBERLAIN)

Forty-year-old Laura Brandon and her sixty-one-year-old husband, Ray, lived a hectic and hurried life in the town of Leesburg. They have a five-year-old daughter named, Emma.

A few minutes after eleven on Christmas night, Laura receives a phone call from the nurse at the hospital where her father, Carl Brandon, is currently dying of cancer. Laura got dressed and headed out the door leaving Ray at home to watch Emma as she felt there was no point in getting her daughter up at this time of night and dragging her to a hospital.

When Laura arrived in her father's room she knew immediately that he was still with her, but barely. As she approached his bedside, his eyes opened and Laura could see that he was agitated. She sat on the edge of his bed, took his hand in hers and said: "I'm here, Dad." Carl tried to speak: "Should...have...told..." Laura bent close and asked her father: "Tell what?" He let go of her hand and tried to grab a scrap of paper off his night table but Laura picked it up for him. She saw he had scribbled a name on it - Sarah Tolley and asked her Dad who she was. All Carl could mutter was: "...friend, please look after." Confused, Laura asked who she was and where she was, but all Carl could say was: "Meadow...Wood..." Laura knew immediately that he meant Meadow Wood Retirement Home right in Leesburg. Carl was becoming increasingly more and more agitated and saying: "Take care...promise...promise!!!" Upset by his panic, Laura grabbed both of his hands and promised him she'd take care of Sarah Tolley. Moments later Carl Brandon slipped away forever.

When Laura arrived home she explained everything to Ray. Ray thought it was a bad idea that Laura get involved with this Sarah Tolley. Laura, on the other hand, felt obligted to visit this woman especially since it was her Dad's last death bed wish. Laura decided to go against Ray's wishes and visit this woman but little did she know that in doing so it would cause another death. Her own husband's! And after five-year-old little Emma witnesses his death, she becomes mute. Laura also begins to receive anonymous notes in the mail saying: "You don't know her. Don't go again!" Obviously someone doesn't want Laura to visit Sarah, but who?

Laura is frantic, upset, and riddled with guilt so she contacts the only person who may be able to help her. A man she's met only once, six years before, and who doesn't know he's Emma's father.

A story of suspense, drama, and intrigue that will have you turning the pages late into the night.

June 27, 2011