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

“Yes, of course.” Edward picked up a copy of the Catholic Monthlyfrom the coffee table and absently leafed through it. “That’s what I love about him. It’s why I want to protect him.”


“But you can’t, not from what happened in the past. No one can.”


“Those times were hard on both of you. Childhood’s a bitter pill for most of us, but yours wins the prize.”


Robert nodded and seemed to regain his composure. “But it’s something else this time. I had no idea how much he resented me for leaving him. I assumed he had other children his age…oh Christ. I feel as if I’m the one to blame.”


“Listen, he was what…eleven, twelve? I doubt he was capable of understanding your vocation. I certainly wouldn’t have at that age.”


“It’s like you said earlier. It’s the child coming out. That’s who’s talking when he remembers his years at the orphanage. I’ve not a doubt he adores you. Always has. I feel the same about Caroline. She’s more like a sister than a cousin.”


Chapter 17