In the summer of 1944, Leslie Atwater -- feeling abandoned by his lover Edward -- rushes to London to enlist in the armed services. After failing the physical, he retreats to the sanctuary of St. Michael’s rectory and to the love and support of his brother Robert.<br><br>When a bomb explodes near St. Andrew’s Home for Boys, it unearths a skeleton of an adolescent. As Leslie, Edward, and Robert set about identifying the remains, the shocking discovery stirs up an old antagonism between the two brothers and brings to light a string of repressed memories for Leslie.<br><br>With the truth obscured by the passage of years, can Leslie and Edward sift through the lies and subterfuge to track down the coldhearted killer of a kindred spirit?

Kindred Spirit

He nodded off and woke when the Seth Thomas chimed in the hallway. Half past five. Their usual teatime had long passed. He went in search of his brother, thinking Robert would be in the study working on parish business, but when he knocked on the door and received no answer, he opened it and peeked inside. The room was empty.


Leslie was about to don his coat and hat for the short walk over to St. Michael’s when he heard the latch on the front door click open then close and footsteps on the hardwood floor. His brother came into the parlor, his eyes red-rimmed and tears dotting his cheeks.


“Where the hell have you been?” Leslie asked. “Where’s Mrs. Crowe? I’ve been looking all over the place for—”


Robert held up his hand and made straight for the drinks table. He poured himself a large tumbler of scotch and then went to stand by the hearth.


Chapter 7