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FRAUD is live!

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New Orleans police officer Reese Milo has been kicked out of the department, but it won't stop his investigation of the mysterious attorney, Kay Havelin.

People around her end up dead or in prison, and Reese is more determined than ever to prove his suspicions about her are true, even if it takes putting everything on the line, including his life.

Kay Havelin is prepping for the biggest case of her career, but her law partner is pressuring her into giving him control so he can protect her.

But when she discovers his dark secret, will it be too much for her to handle, or will a new plot for revenge come sooner than she thought?

Read Chapter One of FRAUD

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CHAPTER ONE

Reese

When Reese decided to drown his sorrows at Shooters, one of his favorite dives, he didn’t plan on witnessing a drama. But from the moment the strange couple walked into the place, the show was on.

The guy was at about five-eleven, and his muscles bulged beneath his shirt as if someone had inflated him with a bicycle pump. The blonde who came in with him wore a scowl that said she was ready to pull his plug. They had already managed to turn heads, including the bartender’s, by bickering above the music as if they were the only two people in the room. 

Despite the commotion, the bartender was too busy hitting on a woman at the other end of the bar to do his job and break it up.

As their spat continued, it grew more heated. 

“I told you I didn’t want to come here,” said the girl, whose skin-tight dress and studded heels were more suited for the crowd at Tracers. “This place is a dump. It’s trash, just like your friends.”

The man, who had apparently come there to drink his weight in beer with his buddy, had already downed half a pitcher, and now he was racking the balls at the pool table across the room. “Shut the fuck up,” he said. “I’m going to play one game. Can I do that without you bitching?”

His buddy, who was ready to play him, wore a cocky grin as if he loved seeing the two of them fight. He was the only one.

The girl wrapped her arms around herself as if she were cold, and in that dress, it wasn’t surprising. But Reese noticed something else. The way she pulled away from her man when he touched her was the same way his mother had cowered away from his father.

He couldn’t help but wonder just how tough the man thought he was. How many times had he put his hands on the girl, who, despite her heels, was much shorter and petite?

That was all it took for Reese to keep his eyes on the situation. And sure enough, before too long, things got physical.

“I’m ready to go,” she said again, pushing her luck. “I’m calling a ride.” She got her phone out of her clutch and put it to her ear, but her boyfriend wasn’t having it.

“Who are you calling?” He snatched the phone from her hand, nearly knocking her down as he crowded her. He loomed over her, squaring up like he was spoiling for a fight.

“None of your business,” she said, trying to keep a hand on her phone. She pushed the guy back to defend herself.

That was all it took. The guy grabbed her arm and threw down his pool cue. With his free hand, he grabbed her wrist and forced her to let the phone go.

When she screamed, Reese had had enough. He got up and stormed over. “Let her go,” he said, wishing he still had his badge to pull out. It would keep the situation from escalating, but then again, Reese needed to blow off a little steam.

“Who the fuck’s going to make me?” asked the inflated bastard.

“I am. You don’t put your hands on a woman,” said Reese. He was ready to light this guy up. “Let her go.”

But being the overly muscled chump with an ego to match, the man wasn’t backing down. “She’s my girl. I can do what the fuck I want. You should mind your own business.”

“You’re right,” said Reese. “You can do what you want, and so can I.” He swung so fast and hard that the man was taken by surprise when it landed on his jaw. And as soon as Reese’s hand connected to his fat head, the woman screamed.

His buddy, who had gone ahead and finished his shot, decided he was going to get in the middle of it. He swung the pool stick at Reese, landing it flat across his back like a cane, but Reese wasn’t fazed. Although he would probably feel it later, he was too pissed to care or to let it distract him. Instead, he ducked the big guy’s retaliation punch and laid him across the pool table.

“If you don’t break it up, I’m calling the police,” said the bartender, who crossed the room with a long stride. He seemed to care more about the pool-table felt than his patrons’ faces. But that wasn’t Reese’s problem.

He didn’t care about the bartender. There wasn’t a man on the force that would blame him for what he was doing. He hit the guy again. And again.

By the time he got good and wound up, everyone was screaming for him to stop, including the blonde. But only one voice got his attention.

“Reese! Stop!”

He looked up to see Oliver Hebert coming his way. Reese dropped the man, who fell to the floor with a thud. Reese looked down with his nostrils flaring, his chest heaving, and he spat on the man. “You’re lucky I didn’t finish you.”

All the emotions from his childhood and what he had always wished he’d done to protect his mother came flooding back.

“Fuck you,” said the guy through bloody lips.

Reese looked up at the blonde as he tried to catch his breath. “Do yourself a favor. This one isn’t going to change.” He wished he—or someone—had helped his mother. All those times his father had beaten her, she kept going back to him. “It only takes one time of him going too far.”

The girl’s eyes were wide with fear as she retrieved her phone, which had been dropped in the scuffle, and she hurried out of the bar without looking back. Her boyfriend was too dazed to stop her, and his friend went to check on him.

Oliver pulled Reese aside. “What the fuck has gotten into you?”

Reese shrugged it off as he straightened his shirt. “He assaulted his girlfriend. I can’t sit by and let that shit happen.”

“Don’t you think you took it too far? Are you trying to get yourself arrested? You could have killed him!”

Reese wasn’t going to dignify that with an answer. “What the fuck are you doing here anyway?” He had never seen Oliver there before or anyplace after hours outside of work. In fact, it was the first time he had seen him wearing something other than a lab coat and lanyard.

Oliver’s expression was clouded with anger. “Well, I certainly didn’t expect to find you handing out a beatdown. Jesus. We should get out of here.”

Reese glanced at the guy he’d pummeled. His friend was carrying him out. He wouldn’t be back.

Reese turned his attention back to Oliver. “Let’s get a drink.”

“Fine, get another drink. That’s just what you need.” 

Reese shook out his hand, which felt like he had hit a brick wall. “He was a hard-headed motherfucker.”

Oliver gave him a look. “I might say the same thing about you. I heard Sallie sidelined you. I thought I’d come to see how you were. I figured you’d be drowning your sorrows, not losing your freaking mind.”

“How’d you know where to find me?”

“Davis told me that you come here from time to time.”

“Yeah, I do. When I like to be alone.” He doubted that Oliver would take the hint.

“Well, too fucking bad.” The lab rat wasn’t going anywhere. “I came to talk to you.”

“Okay, but only if you drink one with me. I’ll buy.” Reese wasn’t sure if Oliver drank or not, but he wasn’t taking no for an answer.

Oliver didn’t protest. He went to the bar with Reese and bellied up. “So, do you want to tell me what the hell happened? Sallie isn’t talking to anyone.”

“Sallie got pissed and asked for my badge and gun.”

“There has to be more to it. What happened? Was it about the case?”

“Sort of. He told me not to do something, and I did it. And I don’t regret it. In fact, I’d do it again.”

“So, go talk to him. I’m sure if you try to talk to him, he’ll listen.” Oliver was a good guy, but he didn’t know the situation.

Even Reese couldn’t deny that he had been walking a fine line the whole time he worked for Sallie.

“Then you’d be wrong,” said Reese. “Because I did try to talk to him, and he made it clear that he wasn’t going to listen to me. Sallie was completely unreasonable, and if he would have just heard me out—” Reese stopped right there. He didn’t feel like rehashing it. 

He flagged the bartender over and ordered a beer, not surprised when the man was too much of a coward not to say anything about the fight.

When he walked away, Oliver nudged him. “Well, go on. What did you want to tell him?” He peeled the label on his bottle and turned it up.

“I have a theory about the Davenport case. It’s pretty big, and it could turn the whole thing on its head. But Sallie thinks I have a personal vendetta and wants me to leave it alone.”

“A vendetta against Davenport?” Oliver’s eyes narrowed. “What sort of personal issue could you have with him?”

“No, not him.” He waved his hand dismissively as if he’d really rather not talk about it. The only person who needed to hear it was Sallie.

“Then who?”

Reese turned and met his eyes. “His lawyer.”

“I don’t follow. You think his lawyer is up to something?” Oliver chuckled. “Most of them usually are, right?”

“No, not like that. I mean, I think she could really have something to do with the murder of Davenport’s wife, but since there’s a personal connection, he thinks I’m just trying to take out my past on her. Which is complete bullshit.” Reese took a long drink and tried to calm down. He didn’t need Oliver to worry about him.

“Wow, did you date his lawyer?”

“No way.” Reese cringed at the thought.

“Look, I know, Sallie. He gets pissed off at times and flies off the handle. Hell, he has done that with everyone in the office at one time or another.”

“Did he fire them? Did he take their gun and badge?” Reese still wasn’t sure how Riles had let him get away with it.

“Sallie is an animal when he’s angry. You must have really done something wrong.”

“I think I just broke his trust. He told me not to do something, and I did it anyway.”

“Nah, it’s more than that. You hurt his feelings. I can tell. He’s been a real pain in the ass, but he’s mostly mad at himself. Just give it a day or two and go talk to him.”

“I’m not sure if I want to go back, Oliver. There are plenty of other departments around this area that I could go to. And since my incident, all they do here is coddle me. It’s like they don’t have any faith in me, and Sallie proved that. He didn’t even want to hear me out. Fuck that. I don’t need it. Besides, he’s probably already handed the case over to someone else.”

Oliver picked at the label and shook his head. “No, he hasn’t. He’s dealing with it himself. Which is another reason I think he’s waiting to see what you’ll do.”

Reese sipped his beer before responding. “He’ll be waiting a long time. Because the last thing I’m going to do is go back to him with my tail tucked between my legs and beg for my job back. And the same goes for Riles. If he wants me, he’ll call me. But a whole day has passed, and nothing.”

“Don’t let your pride get in the way of what you love doing. Talk to them.”

“I love being a cop. Period. And I’m a damned good one. I can be a good one for any department.” It really didn’t matter to him. He had his pride.

“But you belong in our department. Come on. It sucked before you came along. Sallie didn’t ever give me a chance. Not until you convinced him I was ready.”

“You could have convinced him yourself.” Reese had told him to stand up for himself. And he had finally learned.

“See, you gave me more confidence too. And Sallie will get over it and wish he hadn’t overreacted. Come on, man. Come home.” Oliver tried his best to be convincing.

Reese chuckled. “That sentimental bullshit doesn’t work on me. But I give you credit for trying.”

“I just think you’re making a big mistake.” He let out a sigh and took another sip of his beer. “Anyway, I wanted you to know how Sallie’s acting. I really think you could come back. You just have to make the first move.”

“Nope. As I said, Sallie is going to have to make the first move. He did this. And now, if he wants to undo it, it’s his move.” He had other things to focus on. Like how to prove it was Kay who killed Lacey Davenport and planted the hammer to frame Daniel for the crime. Or how she must have had something to do with Finch’s arrest and his death.

“So, what happens to your theory? If you believe in it, how can you just let it go?”

Reese looked him square in the eyes. “Who said anything about letting it go? At least now I don’t have Sallie barking at me or telling me to stay away from it.” He could do his own investigation, and nothing could stop him.

“Maybe you should let it go before it gets you in more trouble.”

“Or I should use this time to try and find the proof I need for Sallie to believe me. Trust me, Oliver, if I can prove my theory, it’s going to be huge. Not only for Davenport’s case but for a few others as well.” 

It was too late for Finch, and Davenport probably wouldn’t get out, considering all the charges against him, but at least he could clear their names and put the right person away.

Oliver’s eyes widened as it sank in. “That does sound big.”

Reese sighed. “You have no idea. I just hope I can prove what’s really going on and find something that even Sallie can’t deny. By the time I’m done, he won’t have to hear my side of things. He’s going to see it.”

Read Chapter One of Brutal

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Kay

As Kay opened her eyes, flashing lights made it hard to focus, but she was fully aware that someone had placed something over her mouth and nose. As she tugged at the mask, she could see her ex-boyfriend Casey looking down at her.

He was in the shadows with flashes of swirling colors behind him. For a moment, there was nothing else in the entire world but the two of them. And part of her wasn’t sure if she should be afraid or not.

“Casey,” she mumbled. “You’re here?” She imagined her hand reaching up for his face but was also sure it hadn’t moved from her side. Did she have control of anything anymore? 

“Don’t do that,” said a voice much different than his. It brought her head around to reality and she felt cool fingers brush her hand away from trying to pull the mask off. “You need to keep that on. Are you with me again? You lost consciousness, but you’re okay. I’m just giving you some oxygen.”

Kay’s vision focused on a handsome paramedic, who leaned in closer. “Can you tell me your name?” His voice rattled in her ears as if he were speaking through a hollow tube.

“Katie,” she whispered. But that wasn’t right. Not anymore. “Kay Havelin.” Her voice was muffled, but he nodded as if he had heard every word.

“Kay, you breathed a lot of smoke, but you’re going to be just fine. I’ve given you an IV for some fluids, but you’re going to find that your throat is probably a bit sore and will be for a while.”

“My house,” she said. She tried hard to swallow without it hurting too bad.

It came back to her. Portia and her gas can, the young man and the cigarette lighter. They had come to murder her, just like Portia had threatened. And while she had underestimated the girl, thinking she wouldn’t dare come back just hours after making a threat, Portia had underestimated Kay too.

There was no way she could have let her get out. If she had gotten out, she would do it again. And Kay would never let herself be the victim again.

She had improved her life and was on a path to getting everything she had ever wanted and more. Allowing the darkness inside her to rear its ugly head to save her was a necessary evil and one she was more than willing to embrace again if it meant saving her life.

“Just relax,” said the man. “They’re working on your house. I’m working on you. Just focus on your breathing, and I’m sure someone is going to update you soon.” He moved away from her, and in the distance, she could hear him talking to someone else.

“She’s awake,” he said to an unseen party. “She’s stable. Her name is Kay Havelin. You probably know her. She’s the girl from the Eddleman trial and the homeowner.”

She couldn’t make out the muffled response of whoever he was speaking with but didn’t miss the gasp that immediately followed the mention of the trial.

A moment later, he poked his head back in. “Slow, deep breaths, Kay.”

Kay pulled the mask away from her face. “My phone.” She knew she had it when she left the house. She needed to call Scott. He would be able to speak for her. He had knowledge about the harassment and how it had escalated. But the paramedic wasn’t paying attention.

“Give her a few more minutes,” said the unidentified man outside, who was still talking to the paramedic. “They found someone inside the house that didn’t make it out. I’ll need to have a word with her in a second. It might be family.”

The paramedic finally gave her his full attention when he returned. “Did you need something?”

She wanted to tell him she had heard every word, and while her throat felt like she had drunk a gallon of bleach, her hearing was just fine. “My phone,” she said. “My friend.”

“Your friend was inside?” His brows knitted together with sympathy.

Kay grew frustrated and pulled the mask from her face. “No,” she said with a raspy sound. “I need to call him! I need someone here with me. Where is my phone?”

“Take it easy,” he said as she tried to sit up. “I’m here with you. You’re not alone.”

He was delusional if she thought she gave a shit. “Are you going to tell me what the hell is going on? Or do I have to keep wondering?” The sarcastic tone she spoke with agitated her dry throat. “And I don’t need oxygen. I need water.”

The paramedic gave her a bottle of water that he seemed to produce from nowhere. “Drink it slow. It’s going to hurt if you don’t. Trust me. You got much more smoke than you realize.”

As Kay drank, the man let out a sigh. “You should know, your neighbors saw someone trying to break in, and they called the cops. With the substation just down the street, the firetrucks got here pretty fast. You’re very lucky to have gotten out alive. What you need to do now is let yourself get some clean air. And in just a few minutes, someone from the police department is going to want to talk to you and get your statement, as well as the fire chief, so for now, let your voice rest.”

Wasn’t he going to let her make a call? “I want my phone. I had it. I know I did.” It might be all she had left, and she wanted it back immediately.

“I have it. It’s right here.” He gestured beside him. “Just breathe, Kay. I don’t want you getting too excited and passing out on me again.”

“Give it to me,” she said, not going to take no for an answer. “Or else you’ll see me get excited.”

The paramedic sighed. “Fine, if you want to talk, you can talk to the chief.” He stepped away, and she sat up to see him leave the ambulance. She took the time he was away to look for her phone, which she knew couldn’t be too far. She found it in a plastic bag as if it had been put there for safe keeping.

But before she could reach it, a man came inside the vehicle to speak with her. He looked exhausted, and his emotions were completely unreadable beyond that. “I’m Captain Pollard with the fire department. Can you tell me how many others were home with you?”

“I was home alone when the others showed up.” Her voice cracked with each syllable. “They threatened me and said they were going to burn my house down with me in it.” She sputtered a bit, put the mask back over her face, and took a deep breath. Maybe she needed the air after all. Her chest suddenly felt as if a ten-thousand-pound gorilla had just used her chest as a chair.

“Just take your time, ma’am. You’ve been through quite an ordeal tonight.”

Kay was glad they were all concerned but she would never tell them the whole story. She could still feel the weight of Portia’s body under her foot as she kicked her. And the look on her face when she realized she was on fire. “I managed to get away from them. I took the back door out, and I’m not sure what happened after that. I think I passed out.”

“You’re very lucky that’s all that happened.”

Kay needed them to get to the point. “Did the girl get out? I saw the guy run away after he lit the fire. It’s all a bit fuzzy.” She put her finger to her temple as if trying to remember, but she couldn’t get the image of Portia flailing around on fire out of her head.

“The police are out looking for him,” said Captain Pollard. “And I’m afraid we found the girl in the front foyer. She didn’t make it.”

Kay tried to show some emotion but wasn’t about to overdo it. “Oh God,” she said. “I can’t believe this is happening. I don’t know how I’m supposed to feel.”

“I understand,” said Chief Pollard. “You’ve been through your share of trauma, that’s for sure.”

She knew he was probably referring to the case that had been in the public eye for months. She had worked hard to move on from being a victim, only for this to happen. Attention was the last thing she wanted these days, especially where police were involved.

As the fire chief left her, a policeman appeared at the door. “I’m Officer Joseph,” he said. He wasn’t completely unfit, but instead of a six-pack, he had more of a beer gut under the uniform. The anxious look in his eyes told her that he also wasn’t used to such an active situation, which was probably why he was there talking to her and not out searching for the man who set her house ablaze. “Are you the homeowner?”

“Yeah.” She started coughing again.

“You can nod if it helps,” said the paramedic, who had taken a seat to her left. “And for God’s sake, use this.” He held up the mask as if he were growing impatient with her.

She put the mask over her mouth and took a deep breath as the officer made his way in closer. This time, she held it there.

“Your neighbor claims that she saw a young man running away just as the fire started. They said they heard the sound of a window break, and that’s what alerted them in the first place. We have officers looking for the guy. Is that his red car in your driveway?”

Kay nodded but realized she wasn’t sure if the car was his or what Portia had been left with after the pink Jeep had been repossessed. She had seen him behind the wheel. Although why he had abandoned the easy ride out for an on-foot escape was beyond her. “As far as I know.”

“How many people were involved with the break-in?”

Kay held up two fingers to indicate instead of talking.

“Two of them? Just the girl and the guy?” Officer Joseph clarified.

She nodded again.

“Did you know either of them before tonight?” He met her eyes as if he could read her mind, but Kay wasn’t going to lie about that. She was a victim, and the truth was their motive for what they had done to her.

She nodded again and pulled the mask off her mouth. “The girl. She is my former client’s girlfriend. Her name is Portia Penland. She held a grudge when he was convicted.”

“And the man? Do you know him too?”

She shook her head. “I don’t know him. He lit the fire and ran. I think she called him Trevor.”

Officer Joseph nodded as if he had already put that together. “Could you identify him if you saw him again?”

She nodded. “I won’t forget that face. Not ever. He seemed like a harmless kid. I don’t know what his problem is with me. I think she was the instigator. She told him something about how he owed her. I guess he figured lighting the fire was his way to pay her back what he owed.” She closed her eyes and squeezed a tear from the corner.

“Can you tell me anything about what happened today? Your neighbor said there was some kind of problem at your place.”

She wondered who he had spoken to and if Dickie Duhon was one of them. The entire neighborhood probably knew about the stupid door incident. It was those stupid painting pranks that caught her off guard and made her believe Portia was just a harmless little girl. All that mattered was that she was nothing anymore. 

“They admitted to throwing red paint on the door. It was a warning, I guess.” She shrugged her shoulders and eased back as her lids grew heavy. “I think they were trying to scare me into moving or something. I’m unsure.”

Exhaustion was trying to take over. But she had to try and be alert, at least until she got a chance to call Scott. He would handle it from there. And with him knowing everything that had happened, he could corroborate her story of their harassment and what they had planned on doing about it.

“Could you tell me how the fire started and where you were when it did?”

Kay took her time, as if recalling were difficult. “I heard glass breaking downstairs, and so I went down to find Portia sloshing gasoline around my foyer. I assume it was gasoline by the smell. She was arguing with the young man. About owing her. She caught me trying to leave and didn’t want to let me out. I pushed her away from me about the time she called to him. He threw the lighter inside the door, and before I knew it, there was an explosion. It all happened so fast, and I don’t think she was ready for him to do that. She was in the middle of the flames. I couldn’t help her.” She covered her mouth and closed her eyes while she put the mask back over her face for a deep breath. “I had to get out. That’s all I could do. So I ran.”

“You did what you had to,” he said, giving her a sympathetic look. “It sounds like they were very determined to harm you.”

Kay nodded. “There have been other incidents. I’d like to call my friend down here. He can tell you more.”

He patted her on the forearm. “Sit tight. We’ll get a more detailed statement later.”

“I need to make a call. Why can’t I call him?” she said to him, hoping he would make it happen for her. She understood they needed to get her statement without any influence, but it wasn’t like she’d started the damned fire.

The officer nodded as if it was okay with him. “Sure, you can. That’s fine,” he said as he climbed out of the ambulance. “Johnson will help you with that.” He patted the side of the ambulance door and walked away.

Kay took another deep breath and put the mask down from her face as the paramedic sighed. She read his nametag. “I want my phone, Johnson.” 

“Fine.” Johnson took the mask and put it to the side. “Go ahead. Who are you going to call?”

“My friend.” She took the phone out and pulled up her contacts where Scott and Marnie’s names were at the two top spots.

Marnie would be useless, and she could already hear her complaining that she wasn’t in the loop. Scott was the obvious choice and had always been good in a crisis. He would get the information she needed to know, even though he was going to be a pain in the ass and give her a big fat “I told you so.” 

But it was difficult to figure out what was going on from the back of an ambulance, and she wanted to know more about what was happening than which responder looked best in his uniform.

She pushed the call button, preparing herself for his reaction. He would flip out when he realized his worries about her safety had been vindicated.

His voice was rough from sleep when he answered. “Hey, Kay. What’s up?” As if a call at that hour was something casual.

“Scott, I need you to come to the house. There’s been a situation.”

He gasped as panic set in at the sound of her voice. “Are you okay? What’s going on?”

“Just get down here.” She didn’t have the time or the energy to explain.

“Tell me!” he demanded.

She sighed, knowing she may as well tell him. “Portia Penland burned down my house. You were right about her. I was wrong. Get down here, for fuck’s sake.” It aggravated her to no end that he had been right, but what was done was done.

There was a silence that followed that made her think the phone may have gone dead. But finally, Scott’s angered voice came through. “I’m on the way. Stay on the phone and tell me everything.”

“I can’t stay on the phone with you. I have to use oxygen, and they barely let me off of it to call you. I’m in the ambulance now. Hurry.”

“Are you sure you’re all right?”

“I’m okay, Scott.”

“Sit tight. I’m already on my way to the car.” She could hear his keys rattling just before the call ended. Scott would know just what to say and do. It was best to let him handle it. The less she had to say, the better.

Read Chapter One of INTENT

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CHAPTER ONE

Kay

As Kay Havelin settled into her tub, she looked up at the ceiling and tried to let the day’s events fade away. Finch’s outburst hadn’t shaken her so much, but she couldn’t believe his nerve to go ballistic the way he had, considering what he was in for. Hopefully, the guard had made his life hell the rest of the night. And not wanting to dwell on him and his accusations was part of the reason she chose to stay at her own home and distance herself from him.

With the water steaming around her, she sank down into the tub and closed her eyes.

It was easy to imagine during those quiet moments at home that Casey was still there in the townhouse with her. She could still pretend that he was playing video games with his headphones on or sleeping off a high the way he had before his problems had done their worst to him.

Before she could let those feelings fool her, a sudden crash of glass breaking downstairs put her on alert.

She sat bolt upright in the tub and reached for a towel as she got to her feet. She hurried to get her robe on, tying the waistline tight so it wouldn’t slip. The last thing she wanted to deal with was being naked.

Things moved quickly after that as she ran to the bedside table for her gun. She’d been keeping it close just after Casey’s murder, in case one of Casey’s old friends decided to show up knowing she was all alone.

She didn’t trust any of them, and there was no telling who else he’d had in her home that she didn’t know about. The worst thing anyone could do was invite someone like that into your home, where they would know their way around and what you might have that could be of value. Desperate people with addictions would do anything to get their next fix, and she didn’t want to be caught off guard if this was that kind of situation.

She readied her gun and carefully headed out into the hallway as the footsteps got louder, closer. There were more footsteps and sounds that came from the kitchen. Things were being knocked over and broken as if someone had let a bull loose.

There wasn’t much in the house worth stealing, but she did have knives and other things in the kitchen that someone might try and use against her. She had to be ready for them.

With her heartbeat growing louder in her ears and her thoughts drowning out what she could hear, she carefully made her way to the stairs, where she realized she didn’t have a good view of what was going on below. Metal clinking to the tile floor gave her a pretty good idea. Her home was being ransacked.

As she crept down slowly, only taking a few steps, a shadowy figure moved across the room, and while she tried to get a better look, footsteps came from behind her, taking her by surprise.

Turning around a moment too late, she saw the figure of a young man who had somehow made it all the way upstairs without her knowing. And as he approached, she attempted to raise her gun, her hands shaking as she realized she was too late.

He plowed into her, knocking her down. And as he ran over her, his foot landing in the middle of her back as he fled, it stomped the wind out of her.

“Go! Go!” he said, plodding down the stairs and causing a panic of footsteps from below.

But Kay wasn’t going to let him get away with it. She caught her breath, raised her hands to aim the gun, and fired toward the front door where the guy kept running.

The bullet struck the doorframe, just enough to chip a nice little piece of wood off the corner as it embedded into the wood.

She ran to the door. “Next time, I’ll kill you!” she called out, realizing that the neighbor’s dogs were barking up a storm as security lights lit up along the street.

The police would be there soon enough, and she didn’t want to deal with that.

She turned on the lights to the living room and shut and locked the door, hoping they wouldn’t be stupid enough to return. Maybe no one had been able to tell where the gunfire had come from, and she wouldn’t have to answer any questions. In her experience, cops were not her friends, and she didn’t want anything on paper that she had been having trouble with.

The last thing her career needed was more bad press, and considering most people had heard about her past, she could do without the media camping outside her house.

Maybe it was time to move into Finch’s old house full time? Not only could she get away from the townhouse, away from memories of her and Casey, but she could start over, brand new.

“I think I have to,” she said, hearing Casey’s doubtful voice in her ear.

“Don’t let them chase you out of your home,” he would have said.

“I’m not. You’re chasing me out! You and the memory of you! You just had to shit where you slept, didn’t you? You invited them in, and now look? This is what I’m left to deal with, thanks to you!” Her whole body shook as emotions overtook her, and she realized her soaking wet hair and the fact that she didn’t have on anything under the robe had made her body temperature drop. That and the shock of having someone plow her down like a wheat stalk.

She went to look in the mirror in the guest bath. The faint shoeprint was on her fuzzy robe and she checked for a bruise beneath it. It wasn’t as bad as she expected and had been more traumatic emotionally than physically, but there was still a bit of bruising and redness that reminded her of much earlier trauma in her life.

Her back had taken many blows over the course of her young life. And it triggered a wave of anger in her that she had let fester for too many years.

“I wish I’d killed him,” she said, thinking of the stranger. She had only gotten a quick glance at him before he ran into her. And with the only light coming from the bedroom door behind him, his face had been shadowed quite a bit. She didn’t recognize him as one of Casey’s friends, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t.

She went to put on her usual sleep ensemble, knowing the nosy neighbors might have called the cops. But she still had a mess to clean up downstairs.

They had scattered her silverware and broken dishes, not to mention the window in the small dining area, which was how they had gotten in.

Sure enough, moments later, sirens blared up the road, and she let out a sigh as the police pulled up to her neighbor’s house.

Kay went to the busted front window, careful not to step on any glass as she peeked out. The patrol car stopped at the neighbor’s house.

The old woman who lived there, who Kay and Casey called Mrs. Crabtree so often that she had forgotten her real name, came running out to talk to him. She pointed at Kay’s house, prompting the police to park in her driveway and come to the door.

Kay didn’t want the attention. She just wanted things to be quiet and normal. She had a growing business to worry about and didn’t need anything scaring off potential clients. No one wanted someone to defend them who had their own drama going on. 

She waited until the officer knocked on the door and announced himself. “Officer Boyd, New Orleans Police.”

“Shit,” she said, releasing a breath as she walked over to answer it. Was she in trouble for firing the gun in a residential area? It wasn’t something she could lie about. If they thought it was the intruder’s bullet, all they would have to do was test it.

She unlocked the door and opened it, working herself up in the process. “Thank God you’re here, officer.” She made sure to seem out of breath, and the tears came naturally with her anger. “I was just about to call you.”

The officer was around forty, tall, and handsome in a mama’s boy kind of way. The kind of man she usually had no trouble charming. “Yeah, well, your neighbor saved you the trouble. They said they saw someone break in through your window and reported gunfire upon my arrival. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.” She knew she would have to try and get the officer to keep it quiet.

“Did they fire at you?”

Kay looked away and sighed. “No, sir. I hate to even admit this, but my gun went off.” She gave him a pleading look. “I thought I’d just scare them a little, but then it went off, scaring me half to death. Thankfully, they were gone by then. I hope I’m not in any trouble.”

“Are you sure you didn’t hit one of them?”

“The bullet is right there,” she said, pointing to the doorframe. “I would have called sooner, but I freaked out when it happened.”

The officer stepped into the house. “Well, just take some time to calm down. You have the right to protect yourself, but always be careful when dealing with firearms, especially with such close neighbors. A stray bullet could hit an innocent person.”

She covered her face with her hand. “I know. I feel so stupid. I just wanted to scare them away. I have kept the gun near my bedside since my boyfriend was murdered. I guess I’m just a bit on edge lately.”

Officer Boyd nodded as if he could understand that. “I am sorry to hear that. You know, I thought you looked familiar to me.”

“Kay Havelin.” She offered her hand.

The man took it and pulled away to snap his fingers. “Havelin. You’re from the Eddleman case, right?”

“Yeah, which is why I really hope my stupidity doesn’t cause another media circus outside my home. You don’t have to make a big deal out of this, do you?” She did her best to look pathetic and garnish some sympathy from him.

He looked at the doorframe. “Hey, it’s okay. As long as no one was hurt, I won’t have to include that in the report.” He gave her a kind smile. The kind that said he sympathized with her situation. “You’ve been through enough. Besides, maybe you scared them away for good.”

“Let’s hope so. I sure don’t want them to come back.”

“Did you get a look at them? I’ll need to file a report about that in case it happens to someone else.”

Kay shook her head. “It was dark. I could tell there were at least two. Maybe three, but I only saw the shadows of two, I think.”

“Well, was anything stolen?”

“Not that I can tell. I think I scared them off before they could get anything. Honestly, officer, before my boyfriend was murdered, he brought a lot of different people here, and with his drug problems, there’s no telling what they thought they might find to sell. I swear, he put me through hell when he was alive, and somehow, he still manages.”

“I see. Well, if you ever need anything, just give us a call. And I’ll patrol the area tonight if that will make you feel better.”

“That would be great. I’d appreciate it.”

“Just doing my job, Ms. Havelin. Now, if you have a large garbage bag or some plastic, we could tape up that window to keep the bugs out, if you like?”

Plastic wasn’t going to do anything to make her feel safe. “There are storm boards on my back porch. Maybe one of those would be better. After tonight’s experience, I’d like to keep more than just the bugs out. Do you mind?” Casey had always kept them just off the back patio for hurricane season instead of putting them back in the shed where they belonged.

Officer Boyd nodded in agreement. “That sounds a bit safer. I’ll get you fixed up.”

“Thanks. You don’t know what it means to me.” She walked him through the house and showed him to the boards out back, where he found one and carried it through the house as she got him what he needed to hang them.

As she watched him hang the board, she wondered if Finch had called one of his thugs to come and scare her. But with his little outburst, she doubted he would have had the chance.

It didn’t take the officer long to get the job done, and soon, he was on his way.

Kay shut the door and locked it again, staring at the bullet that was still lodged inside the doorframe, where it would probably stay at least until it was time to sell or lease.

She fixed herself some hot tea to calm her nerves and carried it to the bedroom. All the way up the stairs, she kept thinking of that foot in her back and being pinned to the floor. That split second had felt like a lifetime without breath. She couldn’t let that happen again. 

She had to move away where no one would find her. If people thought that she had sold the townhouse and moved away, they wouldn’t come back. Finch’s place was going to be her new home, and maybe she could take Marnie up on her offer to stay in the townhouse.

It would give her more time to look for the money and put her in a much better neighborhood. “Sorry, Casey,” she said, bringing the cup to her lips. “Once again, I’m leaving you.”

CRUEL is live!

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Kay Havelin just landed her first job as an attorney with a prominent New Orleans law firm, but standing in the way of her dream life and career is her abusive, addict boyfriend, Casey Young.

After offering to help him through rehab, things get tense and she ends the relationship. But when Casey is found dead a week later, she is called to defend the one person who refused to help her, Casey���s oldest friend and dealer, Markus Finch.

Officer Reese Milo is called to the case after suffering an injury he���s only recently recovered from, and his suspicions arise when his old mentor accuses Kay of lying to put him away. Reese ignores the accusations but in the course of finding out the truth, he becomes more convinced that the old man might not be lying after all.

Is Kay Havelin capable of murder? Or is the old man���s accusation his last shot at revenge? Should Reese trust the man who raised him, or put his faith in a woman whose past is much darker than his own?

Read Chapter One of CRUEL…

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CHAPTER ONE

Kay

As the music muffled the conversation in the Stella Hotel ballroom, Kay Havelin glanced at her phone. “Nothing. Not even a text,” she said, growing increasingly aggravated. “It’s getting where I don’t know why I expect more from him. He doesn’t have any idea how he makes me worry.”

“I’m sure he’s fine,” said her friend and assistant, Marnie Lamkin. She didn’t like Kay’s boyfriend, Casey, much, and while Kay was having doubts about their future, she had expected him to at least show up for the celebration.

After passing her bar exam and successfully landing a job with a firm, her partner, Scott LeBlanc Jr., whose father owned the office, had thrown a celebration in her honor. It wasn’t her style, but she had given in knowing that she might make a connection, and every contact was worth something in her line of work.

“The least he could do is show up and give his thanks and congratulations.” She took a deep breath and tried to shake off the sinking feeling.

“You should have fun and put him out of your mind,” said Marnie. “All he does is disappoint you. You deserve better.”

She glanced up and spotted Scott as he made his way across the crowded room to join her. He was a short young man with glasses who was already balding at age thirty. Aside from poor vision, he also had a massive crush on Kay. She didn’t feel the same, and that sometimes made things awkward. “Why the long face?” he asked, giving her a sideward look. “I really hoped you’d enjoy your party.” He turned his glass of wine up for a sip.

Kay knew it was time to show some gratitude. “I am, Scott. I’m so sorry. It’s just. Well, it’s Casey. He should have been here already. I told him the party was tonight, and instead of coming together, he insisted on meeting me here. I guess he forgot or got held up. I’m really sorry he’s spoiled my mood.”

“I’m not worried about him,” he said, waving the idea of Casey off as if he could do without him. “I only want you to enjoy yourself. You really should learn to do that without him.”

She forced a smile, knowing that she couldn’t argue with that. “It’s a lovely party, Scott. Thanks again. Everything is so beautiful.”

Marnie cleared her throat, and Scott laughed. “She did most of it,” he admitted. “But I couldn’t think of a better way to congratulate you on passing your bar and to welcome you to the family. I know my father wishes he could have been here tonight. He’s so proud of you, Kay. He always believed in you. You know that. We both do. But I’m afraid with his health failing, well, I told him you’d understand.”

“Of course,” said Kay, thinking of how the older LeBlanc’s health had diminished considerably since she started her final year of law school. With that already a month behind her, she was ready to kick off her career with a bang. By joining in the LeBlanc and LeBlanc attorneys at law family, she was well on her way.

“Would you like to dance?” asked Scott, offering his hand as the music changed.

She didn’t want to encourage him. “Could I get a raincheck? I really should go and try to call him. I’m just going to step out for a moment.”

“I’d like to dance,” said Marnie, doing nothing for the disappointment on Scott’s face. “That is if you think I’m a worthy substitute?”

Scott chuckled and offered his hand. “Come on, Marnie. Let’s show these people how it’s done.” Before he could lead her away, she turned and looked at Kay.

“If I don’t see you back in ten, I’m coming looking for you.”

“I’ll hurry,” said Kay, giving them both a look of reassurance.

She forced a smile and hurried out as soon as they hit the dancefloor. She walked out of the room and found a quiet spot in the hallway as she took out her phone.

“You had better pick up,” she said to her boyfriend as she hit the button to call him. “Pick up. Pick up.” She let out a sigh when he didn’t.

Giving up, she quickly turned around and ran right into a man. He was tall and handsome, with brown hair and grayish-blue eyes. “I’m sorry,” she said, looking up at him as she tucked her phone into her clutch.

“It’s okay,” said the man, who looked her up and down. “I never mind contact from a sexy young woman.” He smiled big, flashing his perfect veneered teeth. “I’m Daniel Davenport.” He stuck out his hand.

She took it, giving him a firm shake. “Kay Havelin.”

“Could I buy you a drink and make up for it?” he asked. “I feel like such a klutz.”

“I bumped into you,” she said.

“Yes, but I was clearly in your way.” He let out a friendly chuckle. She could tell he was the kind of man who was sure of himself. The kind of man who didn’t like to take no for an answer.

“I should really get back to my party.”

“You’re celebrating?” he asked, looking toward the ballroom.

“Yes, it’s a party a friend of mine is throwing for me. You’re welcome to come if you like. There’s an open bar. I’m sure there’s something left, even at this hour. It’s the least I can do for bumping into you.”

“How could I say no to such a friendly offer?”

“Well, at least you’ll be there to keep me company. It seems my boyfriend isn’t interested.”

“Then he’s a damned fool,” said Daniel as he followed her back to the large double doors of the ballroom. “I’d be honored. But tell me, what are you celebrating?”

“My future. I passed my bar and landed a job with LeBlanc and LeBlanc. Soon to be LeBlanc, LeBlanc, and Havelin.”

“So, they threw you a ball?” He made a face as if it were an antiquated idea. 

“Yeah, it’s a little over the top, but it’s a good way to mingle and meet some of my partners’ friends and colleagues. I chose the venue. I really like this old hotel.”

“I like it too. It’s my escape. And the bar has the best drinks.”

“Why does a man like you need an escape?”

He held up his hand and wiggled his ring finger. “See that tan line. That’s reason enough.”

When the music stopped, she noticed Scott across the room trying his hardest to get away from Marnie and whatever conversation they were having. She knew he was going to want to dance and decided to take her chances with the stranger.

“Would you like to dance?” She took his hand as if she weren’t going to accept no as an answer.

“I’d love to if you don’t mind your toes getting bruised. I will admit, I’m not very good at it.”

“I’m a pretty tough girl. You’d be surprised what I can take.” She had surely taken enough from Casey. Things with them had gotten worse and worse lately. She wasn’t sure what she was going to do about it, but she had a few ideas. It just wasn’t right for her to have to try and live with him the way he was acting. She had expected more from him. And he had continued to let her down.

“So, tell me why a gorgeous girl like you can’t get her boyfriend to show up to her party?”

She thought of the best way to answer. But there was no excuse for Casey. “I guess something better came up. That’s what happens when you date a spoiled, entitled prick.”

“Well, if he’s such a prick, why are you with him?”

“I don’t know,” she said with a shrug. “He was sweet. He can be sweet.” He wasn’t enough anymore. 

She had once thought Casey was a way into the right circles which she had wanted to be in. The only problem was, while she was busy wanting in those circles, Casey wanted out. His upbringing had made him grow tired of wealthy companionship, and his habits were the kind that were only looked down upon and never looked up to.

Now that she had finally made her own way, did she really need him? Was he worth putting up with for the constant letdowns? His parents had cut him off, and she barely saw them anymore. All of the old invites had been revoked, and now it was up to her to make her own way. Casey was useless to her career. And not only that but a threat to it in many ways.

“Sweet, huh? Sounds like he’s not being very sweet to you tonight. If I had a woman like you in my life, I’d take better care of you.”

“Says the man with a tan line on his finger. What happened to your wife?”

“She’s gone out with her sister. Sometimes I think she’d prefer anyone to me.”

“Does she know that you’re here? I mean, that you frequent hotel bars and dance with strange women?”

“You’re hardly strange.” He flashed her a wink.

As the music stopped, the band announced the final dance of the night. “Shall we continue?” she asked.

“I’m all yours. In fact, I don’t know what you have planned for the next few hours. But if you’re interested in some company, we could move the party upstairs. I have a room.”

“You have a room? I thought you were just having a few drinks?”

“Yeah, well, I planned on drinking a lot more. Besides, it’s a company room. We keep it on standby for when investors are in town. It’s a gorgeous suite. You’ll love it.”

“You keep a suite here?” She knew he must have a lot of money if he was able to do that. “What kind of business are you in?”

“The kind that makes money. Come on. Your party is obviously winding down. Your boyfriend never showed up. I can make the night much better if you let me.”

“As much as I’d like to take you up on that offer, I really shouldn’t. Not while I’m with Casey. But if you ever need a good lawyer, you should give me a call.”

“Kay Havelin. I sure will.” He took her hand, and she spun away from him and back before he brought her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles.

When the music stopped again, Marnie came over from dancing with Scott to say hello.

Kay had known that it was only a matter of time before her nosy friend came to see who she was dancing with. “I see you found someone to dance with,” she said, making Kay feel a bit silly.

“Yes, this is Daniel. Daniel, this is my friend and assistant, Marnie. She works in my office.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Marnie.” He turned his attention back to Kay. “It was lovely to meet you, Kay. I guess I’ll leave you to it.”

“Have a drink before you leave,” Kay said. “Before they close the bar.”

“Thanks,” he said before heading over.

“Who was that?” Marnie asked, looking at Daniel as if he were a feast. “He’s attractive.”

“Isn’t he? I literally ran into him out in the hallway. I felt silly, so I invited him in.” Kay shrugged it off as if it were no big deal.

“Did you get in touch with Casey?”

Kay let out a breath. “No. I don’t know where he is, but all that matters is that he wasn’t here.”

“Have you ever considered he’s messing around?”

“You know I have. But this is different. I think his drug problem is way too out of hand.”

“Then you need to cut ties while you can. I told you when you caught him dealing that he wasn’t going to quit.”

“I just thought he’d grow up by now. I mean, we have our whole lives ahead of us. I’m finally out of school, I’ve landed my dream job. I just thought by now he’d have some dreams and goals too, you know?” And she thought he would have gotten her into a much better social circle.

“You better get out before he spends all of your money. You can’t have him around in your line of work. He could get you in a lot of trouble.”

“I know. I just—I love him, Marnie. I need to get him some help. Maybe it will be better?”

Marnie sighed, just as Kay assumed she would. She was a sigher, especially when she couldn’t do anything about a situation. “He’s the type who is going to learn the hard way.”

Kay sighed and looked across the room to the door, where Daniel disappeared with a drink in his hand. “I just want to go home.”

“Go on. You don’t have to stay. It won’t hurt my feelings.”

“Really?”

“Yes, go.”

“Thanks. I just want to go home and make sure that everything is okay. I mean, the last time he ghosted me, he overdosed. I just don’t want him to be lying on the floor needing help, and here I am, dancing with a stranger.”

“Go! I’ll cover for you with Scott. I’ll tell him you weren’t feeling well.”

“Thanks, Marnie. You’re the absolute best.” Kay gave her a hug and hurried out. She had to get home and see if she could salvage what was left of her failing relationship.

It Was Me is now live!

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After going rogue to save his sister, former police officer Thomas Asher is ready to get his life back on track with his ex-fianc��e, Sarah.

But when FBI agent Ethan Charles gets a new tip about the string of grisly murders plaguing Los Angeles, shocking information about Sarah���s father���s murder comes to the surface.

With Thomas wanting revenge and Sarah seeking justice, Ethan is left to connect the dots.

But when Sarah stumbles on her father���s secret investigation, her curiosity will lead to the truth and heartbreaking choices.

Read Chapter 1 of It Was Me

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CHAPTER ONE

Sarah

Not long after returning home from the press conference, where Starr made her first public appearance since she went missing, Sarah and Thomas sat in the kitchen listening to the sounds of the mob outside on her lawn.

Despite the fact that Starr had announced that there would be no other statements, everyone wanted another piece of her and to know the truth about what happened to her while she was in captivity.

Sarah had vowed to do right by her this time and agreed to help her get her message out to the world in her own time. But now, the most important thing was that she and Thomas get some rest.

Thomas got up to peek out the window, hearing a loud commotion. ���This is ridiculous. I���m so sorry you have to put up with this. We should have just gone to my place.���

���No, you did right. This is a much better environment for the police to keep it under control.���

���If they���d do their job, I wouldn���t be worried. I don���t even know those rookies, but they could at least keep them off the lawn.��� Thomas went to the door, where cameras began flashing.

���Officer Asher,��� Sarah heard one say. ���Do you have a minute?���

���Yeah, back off,��� he said. He turned his attention to the officer who had been appointed to stand watch over the house. ���Can���t you get them to stay back? They have to stay across the street.���

���I���m sorry, man,��� said one of the other officers. ���I looked away for five seconds, and they got around me.���

���Yeah, well, you need to take care of it, or I will.���

Sarah could tell by his body language, the rise of his shoulders and the swell of his chest, that he wasn���t playing around. But she knew it was time to step in and calm him down. ���We���d thank you if you would make sure it doesn���t happen again,��� she said, taking Thomas by the arm. ���Come on. Leave this to them.��� She shut the door and locked it. ���You really need to get some sleep.���

���I don���t know if I can. Not with everything that���s gone on. I���m still riding that adrenaline rush.���

���Does your arm hurt? Do you need any pain medicine?���

���No, the paramedic got me fixed up. I���ll take the stitches out myself in about a week.���

She wasn���t even going to argue with him about it. It was no use. ���You need to be on your game when you have to meet up with the police later.���

���You mean Bowden? Yeah, I���m ready for him. That ass better not get in my face about any of it.���

���Well, it���s not just him. I have a feeling there will be others who want to talk to you as well.���

Thomas waved his hand dismissively. ���I���m not worried about it. All I did was show that I had to act on my own to get results, and I did it for my sister. No one is going to blame me for that. I even took a bullet, so everything I did on the other side of this was to save my own ass. It was self-defense.���

���Let���s hope they all see it that way. But I���d feel better if you got some sleep. At least lie down for a bit. You���ve been through a lot. Please?��� She gave him a pleading look.

Thomas walked over to the couch. ���Fine. I���ll lay down.��� He sat down and reached for the throw pillow on the end.

Sarah looked at the clock. Alice, who had come back and gone straight to bed, would be getting up to do her shift at the coffee shop before too long, and she had to go into the office, despite the events from the night before. She had already missed too much work and didn���t want to rock the boat. Besides, it wasn���t like she could do anything else.

She let out a deep sigh and contemplated her next words carefully. ���Actually, I thought you���d do better upstairs. It can���t be comfortable on that sofa with your arm in that condition.���

Thomas���s eyes lit with surprise. ���Do you mean you want me to go upstairs to your room?���

���Well, I won���t be there. I have to get to work, and it���s a lot more comfortable than the couch. Besides, maybe it���s not as loud.���

���I don���t know,��� he said. ���That could be habit forming.���

Sarah smiled, stepping closer to him. ���I���m okay with that.���

���Yeah?��� he asked, wagging his brows. ���Are you sure you���re ready for that?���

���Like you said, Thomas. We���ve wasted enough time.��� She had never wanted him or loved him more than she did at that moment.

���I know, but a lot has happened.��� He looked down at the floor and sighed.

She moved closer to offer him a hand. ���Yeah, a lot that I don���t particularly want to relive or let get in our way. The past is the past. If it had to happen for us to get back here, so be it. We can���t change it, and well, I can���t believe I���m saying this, but I���m not mad at you. Don���t remind me why I should be.���

���I figured you���d want to at least take it slow.��� He reached for her hand to hold it but didn���t get up.

���Life is short,��� she said with a shrug. ���Unless you���re not sure?���

Thomas got up and moved in closer to put his hands on her waist. ���I���m positive that I want us back. I just don���t want anything to screw it up again.���

���Nothing will. We���re not letting anything come between us. Not this time, right?���

���Do you mean that?��� he asked, searching her eyes.

���Yes, I do. I love you. And I trust you. I want to go back and forget that we ever had problems. We deserve a good life. Don���t we?���

Thomas nodded slowly and pulled her closer for a hug. Sarah rested against him and breathed him in. She wanted him to take over every part of her being and fill her up to make her feel whole again. She hadn���t felt that way in some time. But now, all she wanted to do was look ahead to what they could have together.

���You definitely do,��� he said, giving her a pondering glance. ���And I love you too, by the way. I never stopped.���

She wasn���t going to let him give all the praise. ���You deserve it too. You���re a good man, and I should have trusted you.��� She was still upset that she hadn���t. It was going to be hard to forgive herself completely. She had ruined everything before, and it still pained her to know all the time she had wasted.

���None of that,��� he said. ���You���re the one who said we can���t look back. And I think it���s for the best. We���re both to blame anyway.���

Sarah had to agree. ���So, what now?���

���Well, I���m going to have to find something to do with myself, but I���ve got some money saved up, so I���m not worried.���

She checked her watch. ���I wish I could stay with you all day and talk about it, but I should get going soon. I don���t need Doris on my case.���

���Are you going to be okay?��� he asked as if he meant something far removed from the subject of work.

Sarah gave him a sideward look. ���Why wouldn���t I be?���

���Because of your father. And what happened to him.���

���Ethan told you?���

���Yeah. I have to say, I was little hurt you didn���t, but then he explained why. You thought I���d flip out.���

���I just want the person responsible to pay, you know. I mean, I really want them to get what they have coming. And I don���t want you to get in trouble. It���s not worth it.���

���It is worth it.���

���Thomas. Don���t make me worry.���

���You don���t have to worry,��� he said in a fairly convincing tone.

���I mean it when I say I don���t want anything to come between us again. Nothing and no one.��� She hoped he was ready to settle down. Did he really want to give himself to only one woman?

���I know.��� He looked away as if thinking of all they had been through and not liking what he had seen.

���Ethan will get them, whoever is doing all of these murders. He thinks the killer was hired by Detective Delaney if he���s not actually Delaney.���

���It just seems a little strange to think about, doesn���t it? I wonder if Kevin knows anything?��� He narrowed his eyes.

���Please, Thomas. I know he���s an acquaintance of ours, but don���t get involved.���

���I���m not. Besides, it���s not like I���m on the case.���

���Speaking of work, I should go change and get out of here.���

���Can I use your shower too?���

���I���d be upset if you didn���t,��� she said. He had washed up on the plane and again with the paramedics, but it wasn���t enough to crawl into her bed for the rest of the day.

���You could join me,��� he said, moving closer. ���It���s been too long since we���ve showered together.���

���I showered last night before bed, and I don���t really have the time. Besides, you should get some rest with that arm.���

���Fine. I���ll walk you out.��� He took her hand.

But Sarah wasn���t going to let him go out into the lion���s den. ���No. You won���t. They don���t care about me. Besides, I know half of them. They know me well enough to know that I���m not sharing anything. But if you go out there, they���re going to ask you a hundred questions.���

���Who knew your reporting job would ever come in handy for us?��� He made a face. She was glad she hadn���t stayed with that occupation. If she had, would he have ever gotten back with her?

She didn���t let herself dwell on it too long. She had to put it behind her and move on. That was the only way this was ever going to work. ���Yeah, well, I���ll be able to help Starr. That���s what is important.���

���You���ll be able to help her tell her story. In her own way.���

���Yeah. That���s going to be good for her. It will be empowering.��� Starr needed that in her life. She had been a victim far too long.

He smiled. ���I love that you care about her too.���

���I love her. She���s like my sister too.���

���Yeah.��� He let go of a deep breath. ���Are you sure you don���t have time to go upstairs?��� He held her hand tighter and tugged her closer.

���You���re very tempting. But we have our whole lives together now. There���s no rush, right?���

���Right? But I do have to say that you are contradicting, telling me how short life is.���

Sarah giggled. ���Don���t you go using my words against me now. I���m already having a hard time resisting your charms.��� She moved in and kissed him.

As the kiss deepened, footsteps sounded across the room. ���Oh God. Is this what I have to witness every morning? I mean, I���m glad you���re back together but gross. Some of us haven���t even had breakfast yet, and you���re already spoiling my appetite.���

���Don���t be so dramatic, Alice,��� said Sarah, pulling away from Thomas. ���And yes. That���s what you get to see every morning.���

Thomas laughed. ���I should get up to that shower.���

���Make it a cold one,��� said Alice, rolling her eyes. She went to the kitchen, where Sarah followed her.

���Didn���t think you���d be so quick to hate on our happiness,��� she said.

���Eh, that���s what little sisters are for.��� She gave a sly grin and shrugged. ���I���m going to work my shift. If I can get past the sea of douchebags on the lawn.���

���I have to go out too. We can go together. The cops are still out there. They���ll help us to our cars.���

���This still seems like I���m in a dream. I can���t believe that Starr is home.���

���Yeah, and I���m afraid that the worst is not over yet. They���re going to hound her. I know how they play.���

���You���ll be able to help her, though, right?��� asked Alice.

���Yeah. That���s the plan.���

���Speaking of plans. What are you and Thomas going to do?���

���Well, I guess we���ll have to figure it out.��� Sarah wasn���t going to rush things. She was content to let them happen naturally, as if it were the first time all over again.

���Does this mean you two are engaged again?��� Alice crossed her fingers.

���I don���t know about that,��� she said, wishing it were that easy. ���I mean, I want it to be that way, but I have to make sure he���s on the same page.���

���I think he is,��� she said.

���Well, don���t you go asking him about it. I want him to do everything in his own time. He���s not ever going to admit it, but I can tell he���s been through a whole lot with all of this, and it���s bound to have changed him a little. Maybe he needs time before he���s ready for that deep of a commitment.���

���Whatever.���

���Well, we both agreed that life is too short not to be together. I think the whole marriage thing is separate, is all.���

���You just want him to propose to you again,��� she said, grabbing her apron and name tag from the kitchen table.

���So, what if I do?��� There were some stories she wanted new versions of. There was nothing wrong with that. She didn���t think he was just going to take the ring out of a drawer, dust it off, and put it on her finger. If he even still had it.

���Well, I say that you go ahead and clean out Mom and Dad���s room like we talked about and make it into your shared room.���

���Are you sure you���d want that?��� She didn���t know how Alice would feel seeing them move into the master room together.

���Why not? Besides, I don���t want you two heavy breathing on the other side of my wall. If he moves in, trust me, I���d prefer it.���

���Fine, I���ll talk to him about it.��� Cleaning out the room would give her a chance to go through her father���s things, and hopefully, she���d find something that would answer the question that was burning a hole in her heart. Why would Detective Delaney want her father dead? She was going to find out.

Please No…is available now!

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After losing his badge, rogue police officer Thomas Asher has nothing left but a mission to find his sister. But he has a score to settle first.

FBI agent Ethan Charles is sidetracked by a new lead that changes everything.

Once Thomas has everything in place, it’s time to move, and after talking Ethan into keeping his promise, the two set off to get Thomas's sister once and for all.

But when Ethan learns that his missing ex-fiancée is the enemy, will it change their course and doom them to fail, or will the bond of their determination save the day?

Read Chapter One of Please No…

APPLE BOOKS AMAZON NOOK GOOGLE KOBO CHAPTER ONE

Ethan

As Ethan watched Sarah’s plane leaving, he knew he had to go after them, but before he could make his way to the ticket counter, his phone vibrated in his pocket with a low hum.

He took it out and glanced at the screen to see if it was Sarah, or possibly Thomas somehow, only to find it was work calling.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t a call he could avoid, not with police actively working the scene of Lana’s death. And this particular call was one he’d been waiting days for. “Hello?” he said, unsure which representative would be reaching out. Hopefully, the most competent.

“Agent Charles? This is Kellen Loomis with ballistics. I have found something interesting with the bullets from your case and need for you to come down to the office today. Preferably within the hour.”

Ethan knew he couldn’t put this off. Even if he could for a few hours, it still meant that he wasn’t going to be able to track Thomas or Sarah down anyway. Not until they landed.

He let out a big breath and rubbed his temples with his free hand. “Okay. I’ll head right over. Thanks.”

“Thanks. I’ll see you then.” The man ended the call, and Ethan put the phone away, knowing he had to make a choice.

As he left the airport, he hoped it was all worth it. He was stuck moving in two directions—following his survival instincts or doing what was right to protect someone who had obviously given up on him a long time ago. It was wearing him out.

The case had been a roller coaster he hadn’t planned for, and he sometimes wished he had never bumped into Sarah. She had been a catalyst to what was either going to make or break his career. And now that he knew Katherine had gotten herself into the mess by being unfaithful to him, it was hard to be fueled by tender feelings from the past and hope to rekindle them.

But he kept on, hoping it would all fall into place and he could save her from further torment. Even a cheater didn’t deserve the fate she had been dealt. He would keep on because he wasn’t a monster. Because sometimes doing what you had to didn’t always mean following protocol.

He arrived at the ballistics lab, trying not to let his desire to focus on Katherine get the best of him, and he was met by Kellen Loomis, who looked like he had something exciting to share.

The man was much younger than Ethan expected him to be, but the gleam in his eye told him that he was super serious about his job. “You must be Agent Charles.”

“Yes, Kellen, right?”

The man nodded, his posture never failing. “I think you’re going to find what I found as interesting as me.” He waved Ethan back and led him through a maze of desks and lab tables to a small office in the back corner. Everything was neat as a pin, including the things on his desk. Like Kellen, he liked things kept a certain way.

“I can’t wait to find out what you found,” said Ethan as the man offered him a seat.

Kellen went to his desk, moved a stack of files out of his way, and turned his computer screen where Ethan could see it too. “I can’t wait to show you.” He typed something into the computer, and when the screen changed, an autopsy photo appeared. “The bullet came back on a case from years ago. The woman is Amanda Howler. She was murdered in a carjacking, and her killer was never found.”

Ethan couldn’t believe what he was seeing. “That’s interesting. Her husband is one of the latest victims. He was my biggest suspect until his death.”

“Looks like you might solve two cases.” He pushed the ballistics report folder toward Ethan. “Here are the details. You can see it’s a perfect match.”

“Thank you.” There was no question about it. Ethan didn’t have to wonder if there was a mistake with those results. They would be a perfect match, as neat and tidy as Kellen’s perfectly pressed shirt. “I guess I’ll go see if there’s anything in evidence.”

“That would be my first stop.” Kellen stood from behind his desk and reached out to shake Ethan’s hand. “You let me know if there is anything else I can do for you. And please, let me know how this one turns out. I’m intrigued.”

“Thanks,” said Ethan. “Will do.”

He opened the report as he left the office, hoping to figure out where he should start.

After reading over the report, he drove over to the station, hoping he wouldn’t run into Bowden while he was there. He knew he would catch hell for not being at the site of Lana’s murder, but he had already put in enough time there, and the others could handle it from that point on.

Bowden would do anything to get him in trouble with Commander Clark, and he didn’t want to give him the satisfaction. But when he parked, he could see that Bowden’s car was missing from his reserved spot.

He felt more comfortable going inside, where Cleo at the front desk had a big smile for him. “Afternoon, Agent Charles.” She must have gotten used to seeing him around, and he had finally learned her name.

“Cleo, just the person I wanted to see.” He walked up to the counter and rapped his knuckles on the countertop.

Cleo gave him a sideward look. “Wow, don’t I feel special? You came all the way here to see little ol’ me?”

“Yes. And to get your help. I am looking for some evidence from a case back years ago. Amanda Howler. She was killed in a carjacking that was never solved. Do you know anything about it?”

“Not right off the top of my head, but I can send you in the right direction. Let me look it up and make sure you’re in the right place.” She let her fingers work some magic. “Okay. It looks like you are. You can just go down the hall and to the right. It’s the records department. You’ll see Karleen at the window. She’ll help you out.”

“Thanks.” He gave her a smile and headed off, hearing her say something about him making a girl feel special. He hated to be in such a hurry, but not knowing what was going on with Thomas and Sarah on the plane was driving him nuts.

Perhaps his being there and being involved wasn’t an accident? Could the two so cleverly pull him in together? Or was Sarah just a lucky encounter? He hated to doubt either of them, especially her.

When he rounded the corner to where Karleen was sitting behind the window, he tried to focus on the matters at hand.

Karleen opened the window. “How may I help you?” The woman was at least sixty, with gray permed hair from the seventies and thick glasses that were probably not even sold since then.

Ethan flashed his badge and quickly put it away. “Agent Charles. I need to look into a murder from a few years back. It was a carjacking. Amanda Howler was the victim.”

“Do you have the case file number?”

“I don’t have anything else.” Ethan could tell she was unimpressed when she let out a breathy groan.

The woman gave him a blank stare. “And who are you again?”

Ethan let out a sigh and flashed his badge once again. “Ethan Charles, FBI.”

“Right,” she said, giving a nod as if she knew it all along. She hit the button on the wall and gestured to the door. “Come in.”

Ethan hurried to enter, and Karleen met him when he got to the other side. “There’s a computer in the corner. You can search the case file for yourself, and when you have it, I’ll open it up.”

Ethan sighed and went to the desk where he typed in Amanda Howler’s name. The case file number came up, and he took the pen and pad from the desk and jotted it down. When he had it, he carried it to Karleen, who was busy wiping dust off of the shelf.

“Here you go,” he said. “I hope it’s not hard to find.”

“Are you kidding?” said Karleen. “I’ve been here twenty-eight years. If you give me a number, I can take you right to it. I’ve got this place organized better than Oprah’s closet.”

“Sounds impressive.” He had no clue about Oprah’s closet but wasn’t going to argue.

Karleen stopped and turned around to fish out her keys. “Here you go. This one is buried deep.” She pulled another few boxes off the top of the one he needed and gestured back to it. “There you are. I hope you find what you’re looking for.”

Ethan picked it up and saw the seal of blue tape. “What’s with the tape? Do I have to get permission to get in this one?”

“No.” She made a face. “I don’t know what that means. I’ve never used tape like that.” She took out her phone from her back pocket and snapped a photo. “Don’t worry. I’ll get to the bottom of it.”

Ethan could tell she ran a tight ship, and he had a lot of respect for someone who had been in her position for that long. “Thank you.”

“Not so fast,” she said, pointing to a table with a clipboard. “You have to sign that paper, and the viewing area is in the back. Be sure to wear the gloves provided. There’s a table where you can spread it out.”

“Thank you.”

Ethan wasn’t going to argue with her protocol and followed her instructions. After he signed the paper, he walked to the table and opened the box. There wasn’t much from the case at all. A few things, including a shoe, a tire iron, and some samples, were all there. He found photos of the car after it was recovered, but it had been badly burned and left in the desert.

“Who does that?” he mumbled to himself. “Not someone who wants to steal a car. It was more about the murder than anything.” That should have been obvious to Delaney and stuck out like a sore thumb.  He found another thing lacking. Notes. There were not many notes at all. And what there was didn’t stand out as anything significant or unusual. Detective Delaney’s signature and initials were found on all of it, so it was definitely his case, but it was like he hadn’t checked out his suspect, which according to him, was Howler, the husband.

Ethan just found it hard to believe there was ever anything of value that came from it and wondered if he had more of the file elsewhere, and maybe it was never turned in. It didn’t look like any other collection of evidence he’d ever seen before. And he knew why.

Howler had his wife murdered and used Delaney to cover it up. That was why Delaney hadn’t worried about what evidence he had and why he hadn’t made more notes, given more information. He wasn’t trying to find anyone, maybe because he had been paid not to.

But Howler had an alibi as Roald Collier’s driver, which was probably a lie too, just like everything in Howler’s life. So, maybe Howler did hire someone, and now that person was getting revenge? For what? Did they not get paid? Did Howler do them dirty on a bet? It just didn’t make any sense to Ethan. There was a huge piece of the puzzle missing, and Ethan was going to have to do his best to find it.

He took a few photos of the items in the box, knowing it was better to have them even if he didn’t believe he’d ever look at them again. And he would have to make a few copies from the reports for his own use.

There was something else missing that made him think that Delaney hadn’t done his job.

Since there was never anyone arrested, naturally, there wasn’t a gun, but there was also no record of any guns being checked, which seemed odd to him, especially since Detective Delaney had his suspicions about Howler.

The husband is always a suspect. He couldn’t help but think that the only person with answers might be the very man he knew he couldn’t trust.

Detective Delaney had proven to be a less than credible source after he and Sarah talked to him. He had seemed as if he had really tried hard on a case that he had barely given the time of day. Ethan was sure as soon as his money dropped into his account, he forgot all about it.

It was time to find the truth and get this guy, once and for all.