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

Edward glared at him, a look that told him to back away. “Jesus, calm down, Les. Miss Grim will hear you and God knows what she’ll have in store. Christ, the day’s only beginning.”


Robert laughed. “You don’t remember but you weren’t exactly alone, Les. You had friends, children your age. People are drawn to you and they were back then. I think you just don’t remember those days accurately, but I’m sorry to hear you felt abandoned. You’ve never said so.”


“Until now.” Leslie wiped his face on the sleeve of his shirt. “God. I ama baby.”


“We’ll continue this conversation later. I think it’s worthwhile pursing.” Robert walked over to Leslie, put a hand on his shoulder. “Right now I’ve a lot—”


The phone rang and Robert went to answer it.


“What about Miss Grim?” Edward asked. “Isn’t this part of her job, answering the phone?”


“I think he’s afraid of Miss Grim. The old bat,” Leslie said in a whisper and Edward couldn’t contain his laughter. “Not only Robert.”


Chapter 11