Laura Griffin Sampler: Tracer Series and Whisper of Warning

8/8/2019 Laura Griffin Sampler: Tracer Series and Whisper of Warning

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Laura Grifn Sampler

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Read excerpts from a Tracer trilogy

Whisper of Warning

WILL HE HELP PROVE HER INNOCENCE...

OR LEAD A KILLER TO HER DOOR?

Courtney Glass has been in trouble all her life, but

nothing tops being an up-close witness to a brutal

murder. Until shes accused of the crime.

Snapped- Laura Grifns Newest Novel

SOPHIE BARRETT THINKS SHES LUCKY TO

BE ALIVE. SHE MAY BE DEAD WRONG.

On a sweltering summer afternoon, Sophie Barrett

walks into a nightmare. A sniper has opened re on

a college campus. When the carnage is over, three

peopleplus the shooterare dead and dozens more

are injured. Sophie escapes virtually unscathed. Yet

as details emerge from the investigation, she becomes

convinced that this wasnt the random, senseless act it

appeared to be.


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Pocket Star Books

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C H A P T E R 1

Mia Voss neee a x. Baly.On a normal ay, she woul have stoo strongagainst the temptation. But nothing about toay ha

been normal, starting with the fact that it was Januaryseventh an ening with the fact that for the rst time in

her life she actually been emote.

Her stomach clenche as she turne into the Minute-

Mart parking lot an ease her white Jeep Wrangler

into a space near the oor. Her cheeks warme at the

still-fresh memory of staning stify in her bosss ofce,

gazing own at his weasel face as he sat behin his esk,

meting out criticism. At the time, she been stunne

speechless, too shocke to efen herself. Only now

six hours too latei all of the perfect rejoiners come

tumbling into her hea.

Mia jerke open the oor to the convenience store an

mae a beeline for the freezer section. If ever a night calle

for Ben & Jerrys, it was tonight. For the rst Thursay

night in months, she wasnt stuck at the lab. For the rst

Thursay night in years, the only items emaning her

attention were a sappy chick ick, a cozy blanket, an a


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pint of butterfat. Tonight was for wallowing. Mia sli open

the freezer oor an plucke out a tub of Super Fuge

Chunk. She tucke it uner her arm, then grabbe a pintof Chunky Monkey as well. As long as she was sinning,

why not sin big? That motto ha gotten her into trouble

on more than one occasion, but she continue to follow it.

doc Voss.

She jumpe an whirle aroun.

A bulky, baling man in a brown overcoat stoobehin her. He crouche own to pick up the carton that

ha rolle across the aisle, then stoo an hel it out to

her. Goo stuff, isnt it?

Uh, yeah. Thanks. She stare at him an trie to

place him. He was a cop, she knew that much. But he

wasnt someone she seen recently, an she coulnt pulla name from her memory banks.

Not as goo as mint chip, though. His roll smile

mae him look granfatherly. My wifes favorite.

She notice his shopping baskettwo pints of mint

chocolate chip an a six-pack of beer.

His gaze rifte own to her fur-line moccasins an

a bushy gray eyebrow lifte. Slumber party?

For her quick trip to the store, Mia ha tucke her

satin nightshirt into jeans, pulle on a ratty carigan,

an slippe her feet into house shoes. She looke like

an escapee from a mental war, which, of course, meant

that she bump into a cop she knew. Nothing like rein-

forcing that professional image. Yes, it was shaping up to

be a banner career ay.

Mia force a smile. More like movie night. She

glance at her watch an steppe towar the register.

Its about to start, actually. I better


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U N F O R G I V A B L E 3

dont let me keep you. He noe. See ya aroun,

doc.

Mia watche his reection in the convex mirror as shepai for her groceries. He ae a couple of frozen in-

ners to his basket an heae for the chips aisle.

The name hit her as she pulle out of the parking lot.

Frank Hannigan. San Marcos Pd. Why coulnt she

have remembere it sooner?

Something har jabbe into her neck.Take a left at this light.

Mias hea whippe aroun. Her chest convulse. In

the backseat was a man. He hel a gun pointe right at

her nose.

Watch theroad!

She jerke her hea aroun just in time to see thetelephone pole looming in front of her. She yanke the

wheel left an manage to stay on the street.

Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God. Her hans clutche

the steering wheel in a eath grip. Her gaze ashe to the

mirror an home in on his gun. It was big an serious-

looking, an he hel it rock-steay in his glove han.

Turn left.

The comman snappe her attention away from the

weapon an back to him. Her brain numbly registere a

escription. Black hooe sweatshirt pulle tight aroun

his face. Navy bananna covering his nose an mouth.

dark sunglasses. All she coul see of the man behin the

isguise was a thin strip of skin between the glasses an

the bananna.

He jamme the muzzle of the pistol into her neck

again. Eyes ahea.

She force herself to comply. Her heart poune


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willy against her sternum. Her stomach tightene. She

realize she stoppe breathing. She focuse on raw-

ing air into her lungs an unclenche her han from thewheel so that she coul shift gears an turn left.

Where are we going? What does he want?

Her min ooe with terrifying possibilities as she

hung a left an arte her gaze aroun, looking for a

police car, a re truck, anything. But this was a college

town, an whatever action might be going on tonightwas happening much closer to campus.

How was she going to get out of this? Col sweat

beae along her hairline. Bile rose in the back of her

throat.

The engine reache a high-pitche whine. She for-

gotten to change gears. Her clammy han slippe on thegearshift as she switche into thir.

Think. She glance aroun esperately, but the streets

were quiet. The nearest open business was the dairy

Queen two blocks behin them.

CenTex Bank, on your right. Pull up to the rive-

through.

Mias breath whooshe out. He wante money. Tears

of relief lle her eyes. But they quickly morphe into

tears of panic when she realize that his wanting money

int really mean anything. He coul still shoot her in

the hea an leave her on the sie of the roa. She, of all

people, knew the amazingly cheap price of a human life.

A wa of cash. A bag of crack. A pair of sneakers.

She coul be ea before the ATM even spat out the

bills.

The col, har muzzle of the gun rubbe against her

cheek. Her breath hitche, an her gaze went to the


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mirror. She remembere the police sketch of the Una-

bomber, a man in a hooe sweatshirt an sunglasses

who spent years on the FBIs Ten Most Wante list.Mia once met the artist who ha rawn that sketch. As

a forensic scientist at one of the worls top crime labs,

Mia ha connections in every conceivable area of law

enforcementbut at this moment, they were useless to

her. At this moment, it was just her an this man, alone

in her car, a gun pointe at her hea.Stay calm. Make a plan.

She maneuvere the Jeep up to the teller machine,

nearly scraping the yellow concrete pillar on the left

sie of her car. Too late, she realize she just ruine a

potential escape route.

She close her eyes an swallowe. She thought ofher mom. Whatever happene, Mia ha to live through

this. Her mother coulnt take another blow.

Not on January seventh.

She turne to face him with a renewe sense of

eterminationor maybe it was arenalinesurging

through her veins. How much o you want? She

rolle the winow own with one han while scroung-

ing through her purse for her wallet.

Five thousan.

Fivethousand? She turne to stare at him. She ha

that much, yeah. In an IRA account somewhere. Her

checking account was more in the neighborhoo of ve

hunre. But she wante more than anythingnot to tick

this guy off.

She gulpe. I think my limit is three hunre. She

trie to keep her voice steay, but it was wobbling all

over the place. She turne to look at him, positioning her


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shoulers so the camera on the ATM coul get a view

into her car. It probably coulnt capture him from this

angle, but it might capture the gun. I can o severaltransactions, she sai.

The barrel rappe against her cheekbone. She woul

have a bruise tomorrow. If she live that long.

She turne to the machine an, with shaking ngers,

punche in her coe an keye in the amount. Three

hunre was the most she coul get. Coul she get ittwice? Ha her cable bill cleare? Mia hane him the

rst batch of twenties an chewe her lip as she waite

for the secon transaction to go through.

Transaction declined.

Her bloo turne to ice. Secons ticke by as she

waite for the mans response. despite the sweat trick-ling own her spine, her breath forme a frosty clou as

she stare at the wors ashing on the screen.

Thats it, she thought.Im dead.

She reache a trembling han out an pulle the

receipt from the slot.

She coul make a break for it right here. Except that

her oors were pinne shut by the concrete pillars on

either sie of her.

She coul spee to the nearest well-populate area,

which was a Walmart three blocks away. Coul she get

there before he shot her or wrestle the wheel away?

Back on the highway. The comman was lace

with annoyance but not quite as much isappointment

as she expecte.

She put the Jeep in gear an returne to the highway.

As she shifte, she glance at the familiar Mari Gras

beas hanging from her rearview mirror. Somehow they


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steaie her. This was her car, an she was in the rivers

seat. She coul control this.

How about Sun Bank? Her voice soune like acroak. That bank was past Walmart. Maybe she coul

swerve into the lot an make a run for it.

Hang a left.

Mias hans grippe the steering wheel. Her gaze met

his in the mirror. She coulnt see his eyes, but she coul

rea his intentit was in his tone of voice, his boy lan-guage, the perfectly steay way he hel that gun.

Left on the highway meant out of town. He was going

to kill her.


20/67


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=

C H A P T E R 2

Cinco Chavez went looking for Troy at the baysidedump where he spent most of his weekends. Asusual, the ockhouse was packed. Cinco waded through

the throng near the bar and spotted Troy in the poolroom surrounded by smiling women, empty longnecks,

and half-wasted oil riggers who thought they were in for

an easy buck.

Wazzup, T? Cinco claimed a stool next to a three-

some of blondes in low-cut tops.

Troy glanced up from the green felt. Not much. He

gave the cue ball a smack and pocketed two stripes.

The big guy leaning against the wall looked pissed.

Troy chalked his cue and rounded the table to line up

another shot.

Cinco sat on the stool and listened to his stomach

growl. Breck had called him in early this morning, and

he hadnt had anything besides coffee all day.

Hey, you eaten yet? Cinco asked.

Troy didnt take his eyes off the table. Nope. He

tapped the cue ball and waited a few beats as the nal

stripe dropped into a side pocket.


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U N S P E A K A B L E 2 1

Lets go grab some ribs. Ill tell you about the fed.

Troy chalked his cue and surveyed the table. I already

talked to Maynard. He glanced up at his opponent, whowas about to lose his roll. Corner pocket.

But the guy didnt have a clue. He stared down at the

layout, unable to imagine how Troy was going to pull off

a shot like that when the table was littered with solids.

He crossed his arms and sent a smug look over Troys

head to his buddy on the other side of the room.Troys eyes sparked at the challenge. Cinco sat back

to watch as his friend zeroed in on the shot with total

concentration. The room went still.

The stick kissed the cue ball, and it glided across the

felt. It bumped off the wall, slid back across the table

between two solids, then magically slowed down just asit neared the eight.

Plunk.

The women let out a collective sigh. The roughneck

scowled. Troy didnt react at all, except to lean his cue

against the table and pick up his beer.

Maynard tell you about the meeting? Cinco asked.

More or less. Troy held out a hand and coolly

accepted some twenties. The guys stalked off, bumping

into the waitress, who had had nally made it around to

pick up empties.

Jamie ashed a smile at Troy. Get you another beer?

Nah, Im good. Hey, didnt I see you at the marina

earlier?

Jamies smile faded as she lled her tray with empty

bottles. I saw them bring in that girl. She glanced at

Cinco. I heard she was found on the island, not the

mainland. That true?


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Yep. Mainland is the sheriffs turf, not ours, Cinco

told her. She was found in the park.

You guys know who she is yet?Not yet.

So . . . what can I bring yall?

Troy handed her the money. Im heading out, thanks.

Keep the change. Then he turned and gave Cinco his

full attention. Meanwhile, the women were busy eyeing

Troys butt.Shit, when Cinco wanted a woman, he had to work

for it. All Troy had to do was show up someplace in

faded jeans.

Man, I need some ribs. Cinco said again. You want

to come hear about the fed or what?

Troy shrugged. Whats to hear? Maynard said shesa stiff.

Maybe a little. Cinco recalled the suit, the shoes. But

he also remembered the slender body and the clear blue

eyes. Smart, though.

They elbowed their way through the crowd and

pushed open the wooden doors at the front of the bar.

The air outside smelled like sh and diesel from the

shrimp boats that chugged past this stretch of bulkhead

all day long.

Troys car was parked in its usual spot up front. He

jerked the keys from his pocket and unlocked it with a

chirp. I gotta work tonight.

Cinco sighed. ery few people knew that behind

Troys laid-back attitude was a workaholic. Cinco had

never met anyone who could spend so many hours

pounding away on a computer.


24/67


Same book? Cinco asked.

Nah, this is something else.

He gave his friend the once-over, noticing the ten-sion in his face for the rst time. And suddenly he got it.

Youre worried, arent you? Cinco asked.

Why should I be worried?

Cinco just looked at him.

Hey, call me after the autopsy. Troy stepped over

to the low-slung black Ferrari and pulled open the door.Cinco shook his head. The man was in denial. You

got problems, bro. Breck blew her off, but Cisernos was

listening. I could tell.

Im not worried. Troy slid behind the wheel, and

the engine purred to life.

He backed out of the space, shifted gears, and roaredoff.

Elaina stared down at the at tire.

A blowout. Not a gunshot.

She knew what gunshots sounded like, and this had

denitely been a blowout.

So why had she nearly jumped out of her skin?

Elaina yanked open the passengers-side door and

leaned inside the car to switch on the hazards. It was ne.

No big deal. Shed never changed a tire before, but there

was a rst time for everything. If she could handle the

Academy, she could handle a freaking at tire.

She grabbed the owners manual from the glove box

and looked up Tire, Changing. She ipped to the cor-

rect page as the trafc whizzed past her. Stepping away

from the road into the weeds lining the highway, she


25/67


skimmed the instructions. Eight simple steps. Pictures,

even. She glanced around at the dimming sky. Shed be

out of here in no time.She walked around to the trunk and popped it open

with her key chain. After shoving aside all the gear

ak jacket, evidence kit, emergency aresshe peeled

back the carpet.

And stared at the empty, tire-shaped space.

Of course. This was a Bucara Bureau carandsomeone had obviously made use of the spare already

without bothering to replace it.

Sirens sounded behind her, and she felt a rush of

panic, followed by relief. Followed by panic again.

Blue and red strobe lights reected off the Taurus as

Elaina slammed the trunk shut. She turned to face herrescuer, who was almost certain to be one of the stony-

faced cops whod witnessed her humiliation in front of

Breck earlier.

The police unit rolled to a stop on the shoulder. The

drivers-side door opened, and Elaina could just make

out a mans silhouette in the white glare of the headlights.

Gravel crunched under his shoes as he approached her.

Maam. He stepped out of the headlight beam, and

nally she saw his face.

Maynard. Just her luck.

And interesting that he should happen along at this

particular moment. Had Breck told him to tail her off

the island?

Looks like you got car trouble.

A blowout, Elaina said. I was about to change it,

but the spare is missing.

One of his eyebrows tipped up, and she could tell he


26/67


was having trouble envisioning her changing anything

in a suit and heels.

Go ahead and pop the trunk, he said. Well havea look-see.

Trust me, its empty. Is there a service station around

here? She glanced back toward town, but the fading

light made it difcult to read the signs along the highway.

Lemme make a call for you.

Thank you.Maynard turned around and went back to the unit.

He got inside, and she watched him pull out his radio.

Elaina jerked open the drivers-side door as she

adjusted her plans for the evening. She was stuck on Lito

Island for the next few hours, if not longer. She retrieved

her briefcase, her cell phone, and the gym bag containingher brand-new iPod. She grabbed her purse, where shed

stashed a small paper evidence bag containing a cigarette

butt. She thought of Troy Stockton. Was he watching?

She glanced up and down the road again.

Trucks on the way. Maynard trudged toward her

car again. Guys names on, with ons Automotive.

He can get you xed up and on your way within the

hour.

Elaina felt a prick of annoyance. She studied May-

nards face and made a snap decision. Thank you, but

Im staying.

He frowned. Staying?

Yes. She hitched her purse up on her shoulder. Ill

just need a lift to my hotel.

And wheres that?

The Sandhill Inn.


27/67


Gina Calvert spent the nal four days of her life in Room

132, known to hotel staffers as the Sand ollar Suite.

Elaina slipped the key card in the lock, pushed open thedoor, and stepped into the darkened room. She smelled

mildew and lemon furniture polish as she ran her hand

over the wall and located the light switch.

The room ooded with a yellowish glow. Elaina took

in the simple decor: wrought-iron bed, blue-and-white

quilt, bleached oak nightstands. She pulled the doorshut behind her and secured the bolt, then the latch.

She dropped her bags on the blue chintz armchair and

glanced around. On the closest nightstand sat a white

princess phone.

Elaina stared at it and felt a wave of dread. She owed

her boss an update. Maybe shed shoot him an e-mail andhope he didnt get it until Monday. That would give her

two days to recover from this afternoons disaster.

Shed underestimated the politics down here. It

wasnt just about jurisdiction or expertise. It was about

stroking the right egos, playing the game. She should

have presented herself as a helpful federal agent, here to

observe and lend a hand. Instead, shed come across as a

know-it-all, and Breck had been more than happy to put

her in her place.

She pulled out her cell and called her best friend.

Weaver.

She sighed. Just the familiar sound of his voice made

her feel better.

Im at the Sandhill Inn, she told him.

Pause. idnt they release that crime scene, like,

three months ago?

Im spending the night here. She sat down on the


28/67


bed and started unbuttoning her shirt. Even the room

felt humid. I got a at tire.

So call a tow truck, he said in a low voice. Youreonly what, fty miles from here?

Forty.

Why are you staying, then?

Why are you whispering?

Im in the surveillance van with Scarborough and

Garcia, he said. Southwest Bank branch ofce.I shouldnt keep you.

Forget it. Theyre both on the phone.

But she felt guilty, anyway. Elainas partner was pos-

sibly the only agent Scarborough liked less than he liked

her. It was probably the magenta ties. Her boss was of the

dont-ask-dont-tell-dont-advertise persuasion.So what happened? Whyd you decide to stay?

I dont know, she said. I guess because they wanted

me to leave.

Atta girl. Hey, you need a ride tomorrow?

Ill be ne. I think Ill spend the weekend here, see if

I can get anything.

Good luck. See you in the ofce Monday.

She felt bolstered, like she always did after talking to

Weaver.

Hanging up, she scanned the room again with a fresh

eye. It was quaint. Charming, actually. With the right

man, the place might even pass for romantic.

Had Gina brought a man back to this room during

her brief vacation? id she pick up strangers at bars?

Was she a loner? Most prolers focused their attention

on the perpetrator. Elainapossibly because she was a

womanbelieved it was just as important to study the


29/67


victim. If she understood the victim, she had a much bet-

ter chance of guring out how shed crossed paths with

her attacker.Elaina walked into the bathroom and turned on the

light. The tiny room had a black-and-white-checkered

oor and a claw-footed tub. She caught her reection in

the mirror above the sink. Strands of hair had come loose

from her bun, and mascara smudges darkened the skin

beneath her eyes. How did women wear makeup in thisclimate? It practically melted off as soon as she left her

apartment every morning.

She unwrapped the soap and scrubbed her face clean.

Then she returned to the bedroom and snatched up the

carryout menu from the nightstand. She gave it a brief

perusal, then called in an order for pepperoni pizza anda two-liter bottle of Coke.

After hanging up the clunky phone, she crossed the

suite to the sliding glass door. This room had a view of

the beach, according to the hotel clerk. Elaina pulled

back the curtains, gazed down at the lock, and sighed.

Whatever shed been, Gina Calvert hadnt been very

security conscious.

Elaina slipped off her heels and stepped outside. The

sound of breaking waves lured her toward the edge of

the patio. A half moon had risen in the east, and she

gazed at it for a moment, then turned back to face the

suite.

The sliders lock was imsy but had shown no sign of

damage, according to police reports. itto the lock on

the bathroom window.

Had he come in through the hallway? If so, no


30/67


one on staff had seen him. Or if they had, they

hadnt reported it. So how had the killer entered her

room?He came in off the beach.

Elaina gasped and reached for her gun.


31/67


32/67

C H A P T E R O N E

Melanie bumpe along the pitte roa, almost cer-tain she wasnt lost. She peere through the ark-ness an rizzle, searching or nonexistent lanmarks.

Ha she misse it again? No way. First let ater thelow-water brige

She spotte the yellow porch light an sighe. Finally.

Sex an Mexican oo. She been craving both all ay

in that orersince Joe ha calle to tell her he was o

tonight.

The Blazer pitche own, then up again, its worn

shocks responing to every rut as she neare the house.

She pulle in behin Joes Hona an notice the houses

arkene winows. Maybe the game ha ene. With

a giy rush, she gathere up the carryout bag an

pushe open the oor. The smell o warm tortilla chips

mingle with the cool ampness o the spring night. She

glance at the house again

An roze.

The back o her neck tingle. She hear a voice rom

her past, a aint echo at rst, then a whisper. She gaze


33/67


at the house through the rainrops as the whisper grew

louer.

Go, go, go!An she i, numbly ropping the takeout oo an

yanking the oor shut. Turning the key an shoving the

Blazer into gear. Shooting backwar own the riveway,

then retracing her course, only the gentle bumps were

bone-jarring now as she spe towar the highway with

a hammering heart.He was there.

How i she know? She just knew. Something about

the house tol her, something she coul gure out later.

She trie to keep the Blazer centere on the roa as she

rummage or her phone. Her trembling ngers iale

Joe.Voice mail.

Tears burne her eyes. She reache the pave high-

way an slamme on the brakes just as a sports car

zippe past.

Think, damn it. What would Alex do? The tires

shrieke as Melanie pulle onto the highway an grope

or a plan. She ha one. Shehad a plan.

What was it?

She took a eep breath. Her emergency kit was in the

back. She coul leave this instant, no stops. She coul go

to her sae spot.

But what about Joe? She slowe again. She ha to go

back.

A pair o healights winke into her rearview mirror.

The objective part o her brain registere the height, the

shape, the spacing. The rest panicke.

She foore the gas peal. Her pulse skittere as the


34/67

U N T R A C E A B L E 3

car behin her spe up, too. The speeometer inche past

sixty, but still the lights behin her reuse to ae. Her

hans clenche the steering wheel. Her heart pumpeuriously. He coulnt have oun her. Not now.

Why hant she listene to Alex?

A curve in the roa. She jerke the wheel, then strug-

gle or control. She elt the spin coming, elt her stom-

ach rop out as the tires glie across the asphalt. Brakes

squealeor maybe it was her screaman a wall obushes rushe at her. Metal crunche. Her nose hit the

wheel.

Then nothing. Just the rasp o her breathing an the

tip-tap o rain over her hea. No air bag. She clutche

her abomen an trie to take stock. Bloo, warm an

coppery, seepe into her mouth.Hes coming.

The thought spurre her boy into action. She pushe

at the oor, heavy because o the angle. She was in a itch.

She threw her shouler against the oor an muscle it

open. Branches snappe at her cheeks as she heave her-

sel out o the car.

The only light nearby was a hea lamp, now burie in

leaves. Rain pelte her ace. She blinke at the surroun-

ing gloom an trie to orient hersel.

She hear a low rumblelike thuner, but not. It

was a pickup, iesel engine, somewhere behin her. She

listene, paralyze with terror, as the rumble cease an

a oor slamme shut. He washere. The nightmare she

imagine so many times, in vivi etail, was happening.

She clawe willy at the vines an branches. Panting

now, she crashe like an animal through the woos. No

car. No phone. No emergency kit.


35/67


A istant whir growing nearer. Tires on pavement.

She scramble towar the soun. She broke through the

oliage just as the car whizze by.Help! she screame, waving her arms at the shrink-

ing taillights.

Her mistake hit her. She ucke back into the bushes,

but it was too late. He was right behin her, closer now,

so close she coul hear his grunts an breaths.

Move! she wille her rubbery legs. She choke back asob as he came closer, closer. Thensmack! she was on the

groun, her legs pinne. No air, no breath. She scratche

an elbowe an kicke, her heel hitting something sot.

A moan. She jerke hersel ree an lunge or the roa.

Another carshe hear it, saw its lights beckoning her

to saety. Just a ew more eet . . . She reache or thelight, the pavement. She clawe at the gravel.

Help! Stop!

A han clampe aroun her ankle an ragge her

back.

Two days later

Alex Lovell owne her last sip o tepi coee, slung her

camera aroun her neck, an checke her watch. Late

again.

Fortunately, the subject o toays surveillance like

to sleep in. Less ortunately, he live in his girlriens

apartment near campus, which meant parking was

going to be a bitch. As a backup plan, Alex grabbe the

orange trac cone that live in the corner o her oce

an helpe her get away with amn near anything.

Outsie, an early morning ownpour ha snarle

trac. Alex cast a glance over her shouler as she hur-


36/67


riely locke the oce. Cars inche along Lavaca Street,

an she trie to ecie which route to UT woul be

astest.A shaow ell over her.

Scuse me, maam?

She surveye the mans refection in the glass oor

beore answering. Boots, jeans, western-style jacket. His

six-oot rame was augmente by a cowboy hat. Was this

guy or real?Think I might be lost, he rawle.

She turne aroun. Cattle Raisers Associations two

blocks over.

He smile slightly, an the lines bracketing his mouth

eepene. Im looking or Lovell Solutions.

She noe at the wors etche on the glass oorbesie her. Looks like you oun it.

Are you Alexanra Lovell?

Yes, she sai, certain this wasnt news.

I have something to iscuss with you. Only take a

minute, he ae, as she glance at her watch.

Whats your name?

Bill Scoel.

What o you o?

Im a lawyer.

She eye him skeptically. Tuts o white hair peeke

up rom his shirt collar, an a slight paunch hung over his

belt buckle. She put him at ty-ve. Her gaze roppe

to his boots, shiny black ostrich. She been in Texas long

enough to recognize expensive ootwear.

She thought about this months receivables. Five

minutes, she sai, glancing at her watch again.

She roppe the cone on the siewalk an unlocke


37/67


the oor. An Ill hang on to that SIG while we talk, i

you ont min.

You woul have thought she aske him to surren-er his ick. His gray eyes narrowe as he she the

pistol out rom the holster beneath his jacket. He passe

it to her, butt rst.

She le the way into her air-conitione reception

room. It lacke a receptionist. Alex glance at the oor

to her messy oce, which thankully was close. As thevisitor remove his hat, she walke behin her assistants

recently vacate esk.

Little paranoi? He glance pointely at the secu-

rity camera mounte up near the ceiling.

She shrugge. You can never be too careul. The

last man she let in here arme ha put her in the hos-pital.

Alex noe at a vinyl chair. Have a seat. She

place the pistol on top o the le cabinet behin her an

settle into a swivel chair. What can I o or you, Mr.

Scoel?

He eposite his hat, brim up, on the mini-rige

besie him. Im here on behal o a James Bess. I have it

on goo authority that his estrange aughter hire you

a ew months back.

I ont know any Bess.

Melanie Bess? Marrie name Coghan?

Never hear o her.

Well, thats too ba. See, Melanies come into some

money, an its my job to get it to her. He watche her, as

i to see whether money was Alexs magic wor. Some-

times it was. But at the moment she was more intereste

in etermining this guys agena.


38/67


She tilte her chair back. Where you say you were

rom again?

Milan, he sai. drove in this morning.Long trip. You probably shoulve calle rst.

They stare at each other or a moment. He pulle a

photograph out o his jacket pocket an sli it across the

esk. You recognize Melanie?

The picture showe a smiling teenage girl posing or

the camera in a cheerleaing uniorm. Curly hair, laugh-ing brown eyes, imple. She looke a lot like Alex ha in

high school, only blon an popular an with big breasts.

Shes pretty, Alex sai. I enitely remember

her.

Listen, Miss Lovell. He leane orwar an reste

his elbow on the esk between them. I really nee ton Melanie. Her ay just passe away. Shes got a lot

o money coming to her, an I bet she coul use it. Last

I checke, she wasnt exactly fush, i you know what I

mean.

Have you trie the Internet? Alex tippe her hea

to the sie. The online White Pages can be an amazing

resource these ays, i youre trying to n someone.

He rowne at her across the esk. She watche

neutrally as he stoo an tucke the photo back into

his pocket, then reste his hans on his hips an gaze

own at her. How goo are you at ning people?

I you can aor it, I can n them.

How much to track own Melanie Bess?

She shrugge. Im pretty booke up right now. It

woul take me at least a ew ays to get to it.

The money be goo. He prouce a business car

an passe it to her.


39/67


She stoo an slippe the car into the back pocket o

her jeans. Ill think about it.

He collecte his hat, an she ollowe him to the oor.When they were out on the siewalk, she returne the

pistol, an he wege it back into his holster.

You think about my oer, now. He tippe his hat

an strolle away.

In the sie mirror o her car, Alex watche him hea

east, towar Congress Avenue, an turn the corner. Shetook out her phone an keye a three-wor message.

She fagge it urgent an presse Sen.

Alex rove a ve-year-ol Saturn that got great gas mile-

age an almost never went into the shop. A surveillance

vehicle it was not.despite a battery-powere an, Alex spent her morn-

ing sweltering in the Saturns ront seat an waiting or a

subject who never showe. By lunchtime, she was reay

to call it quits. But the guys insurance company was

her top-paying client, an they were giving her goo

money to tail him with her camera wherever he went.

So Alex staye. An sweate. Between PowerBars

an a sprint to the corner gas station or a much-neee

break, she mae ozens o calls searching or any trace

o Melanie Bess.

By evening, she oun one.

Alex was on the move again now, still unable to

believe it. The low-prole lie she gone to great lengths

to set up or Melanie was no more. Melanie ha quit her

job, cancele her utilities, an move out o the Orlano

apartment she rente uner a corporate name just six


40/67


months ago. An then Melanie committe the carinal

sin or women on the run.

She came back.The news burne in Alexs chest as she navigate the

ruts o the gravel roa. All that eort, an her client ha

come right back to the place she trie so har to leave

behin.

Alex passe a weathere wooen sign or Shay

Shores RV Park. She crosse the low-water brige anhung a let at a gnarle oak. Another quarter mile o

scrub brush, an there it was: 15 Moccasin Roa, the

house number stencile right on the mailbox.

Alex gaze with apprehension at the moest wooen

cabin. It was sosmall. Andark. The rea that ha been

nipping away at her or hours took another bite.Alex scanne the nearby cabins an trailers. Some ha

been boare up, others simply abanone. Most lake-

ront property in Austin was expensive, but this scrap o

lan looke to be the exception. She glance at the rusty

spires rising over the tree line. The nearby power plant

probably wasnt oing much or property values.

Alex parke in ront o the house an unole her-

sel rom the car. She shook out her sti legs an stu-

ie the overgrown yar. No cars, no souns. The place

seeme eserte. Maybe it was, an Melanie was merely

using it as a ummy aress.

An maybe Alex was giving her too much creit.

Six months. Sixmonths an she come right back to

Austin. What was she thinking? All that time, all that

waste eort . . . Alex nurse her anger. It was easier

than ealing with the steaily creeping ear.


41/67


A breeze stirre the cypress limbs overhanging the

house. Goose bumps sprang up on her arms, an she

rubbe them away as she trekke across the weey lawnto the ront stoop. The screen squeake as she pulle it

open. No bell, so she rappe on the wooen oor.

Alex let the screen slam shut an walke aroun back,

where she oun a sagging wooen porch. She mounte

the back steps an trie the oorknob. Unlocke.

Hello?She listene intently, but hear only the aint buzz

o motorboats in the istance. With a growing sense o

oreboing, she steppe over the threshol.

The kitchen was tiny, with a 1950s rige, a gas stove,

an a Formica table in the center. Alex walke through

the room. She picke up a Buweiser can rom the tablean shook it. Hal empty. Warm. In the living room, a

tire twee soa took up the wall besie the ront oor,

opposite a surprisingly new fat-screen TV. Magazines

littere the coee table:People, Cosmopolitan, TV Guide.

Alex put own the beer can an shufe through them

all. The issues were current, but no mailing labels.

She peeke her hea into the beroom. A queen-size

be with a plai green besprea ominate the space,

harly leaving room to walk. On the nightstan sat an

empty water bottle. Alex steppe into the crampe bath-

room an pulle back the shower curtain. Pert shampoo

on the sie o the tub an a pink razor. Nothing on the

sink.

She returne to the kitchen an spie a bit o white

plastic on the foor. An earbu. Just one. She picke it up.

It looke like it belonge to an iPo.


42/67

U N T R A C E A B L E 1 1

A blinking re light on the kitchen counter caught

her eye. Two messages on the answering machine. Alex

tappe Play. A long beep, an then a womans voicenot Melanieslle the room.

Hey, its me. Gimme a call. Another long beep, an

then a ial tone.

Alex went to the back oor an peere out. Almost

usk. The bushes an trees orme a shaowy purple

backrop, allowing only feeting glimpses o the lakebeyon. She caught a futter o movement by the water

an steppe out onto the porch. Nothing. Just her eyes

playing tricks on her in the twilight.

She pulle the oor shut behin her with a thu an

tugge her phone rom her pocket. She iale Mela-

nie, yet again, as she mae her way own the steps. Forthe th time toay, she waite through the computer-

generate greeting.

Its me, she sai. I really nee to hear rom you. I

Alex halte an stare at the shoe print on the step.

Not mu. Was it . . . bloo? She squatte own an illu-

minate the print with the light rom her phone.

Bloo. drie. Ol. But enitely bloo. Her gaze

travele up the steps, to the oor. More roplets, a smear.

She stoo up suenly an elt izzy as her gaze

ollowe the trail rom the oor out to the yar. Feet

heavy with rea, Alex ollowe the narrow irt path

through the grass. She batte her way through the mes-

quite bushes until she stoo on the spongy shore o the

lake. She gaze out at the water, at the istant twinkle

o houses on the opposite sie. Guilt, thick an bitter,

clogge her throat.


43/67


Alex jumpe, startle, as her phone beepe. The call

ha ene.

She shoul call the police. Or 911. But she coulnt oit. She ha to think o another way.

The photo fashe into her mina teenage Mela-

nie with curls an imples. Alex grippe her phone an

curse.

Something snappe, like a twig, an she glance over

her shouler. Behin the winows, an orange ficker.Fire.

The earsplitting blast knocke her o her eet.


44/67


45/67

chApter

3

wll gazed dw at the wma srawled at herstmach wth her arms cverg her head.

Curtey. He cruched besde her. Tat wast a

gu.

She led u at hm wth terred eyes.

What was t? Tat se?He tred r a sthg vce. I dt w. Smethg

yur tche. It wast a gusht.

She glaced at hs sdearm. He hadt eve reached rt, thats hw certa he was that they weret ay dager.

She seemed calmed by ths, but the her chees ushed,

ad he ew she was embarrassed. He ered her a hadad ulled her t her eet.

It suded le a exls. She eered t the

tche. He dubted she realzed she had a death gr

hs gers.

Let me see, he sad, tuggg hs had away. Sheglaced dw ad ushed eve redder.He steed t the ty tche. A brm was red

u agast the cuter, ad wss har cvered the r.

He remembered she was a harstylst at sme lace wth a

acy Itala ame. Aaretly, she was mlghtg.

I the mddle the r std a trash ca brmmg


46/67

44 laua giffin

wth bttles, jars, ad lastc ctaers. A exlded tube bscut dugh sat t.

Fud the culrt. He ced u the ca dugh.

She std besde her breaast table w, lg u-

cmrtable.It dd sud d le a gusht, he led.

She brushed her har ut her ace ad blew ut a

breath. Te she sa t a char.Srry. She clsed her eyes. My erves are rayed.

Wll ced u a emty glass the cuter. He lled

t wth ta water ad laced t the table rt her.

Ts vst was ettg mre rmat tha hed ex-

ected. Her behavr was that a vctm, t a eretratr.

Yes, her stry stll had hles t, but he was becmg mread mre certa she hadt lled her ex. Te gusht res-

due culd have resulted rm her struggle wth the shter.

Te aga, maybe hs bra was gettg muddled bythse tght ats she had ad the bra she wast wearg.

He eeded t ee hs dstace.

Yu eate aythg tght? He leaed bac agast

the cuter.

n. She sed the water. She wuldt mae eye c-tact, ad her chees were stll .

Yu shuld eat smethg. Ad get a gd ghts

slee.Te drbell rag, ad she jumed t her eet. She hur-red t the lvg rm, ad he llwed.

Chec wh t s.

She glaced thrugh the eehle. My eghbr.

She wet bac t the tche ad retured wth a

tse P. She ulced the dr t reveal a grg


47/67

Whisperof Warning 45lttle by abut seve r eght. She haded hm the ll-l ad sad smethg Wll culdt hear.

Ater the d was ge, she et her had the dr-

b ad tured t ace hm. Tas r brgg ver my

urse.She was de talg. Whch was ay. She bvusly

eeded sme rest, ad hed already leared mre tha hed

exected. He culd cme at her aga later. I hs exer-ece, questg a ers deret ccass was mreeectve tha hammerg away r hurs. It was esecally

useul t catch ele guard. Tey gt ustered whe

they weret exectg t see yu, mag t mre dcult

t le.

As he steed ver the threshld, he examed her dr.It had a sturdy latch ad a dead blt.

Yu have a alarm system? he ased.

n.He glaced u ad dw the blc. It wast a great

eghbrhd, but t wast terrble. Te streetlghts glwed

brghtly, ad the laws aeared reasably well ma-

taed.

He led her the eye. Lc u behd me.I wll.

Whe he was halway dw the sdewal, he glaced

bac at her ver hs shulder. It was rbably hs maga-t, but she seemed srry t see hm g.

Curtey Glass was truble aga, ad natha had the

clssally stud urge t hel her. He watched APDs ew-est recrut crss the arg lt. Hdges sted besde the

umared aurus, lg e t hay t see hm.


48/67

46 laua giffin

Tught yu were the Gdw case.Watg labs, natha sad. Fgured Id gve yu a

had ths mrg.

Tey gt the aurus, ad Hdges ddt say aythg

as they ulled ut the lt.ae Lamar t Rach Rad 2222, natha advsed.

Yull mss the trac L 1.

Hdges ddt cmmet, but llwed the structs.Te tes the car was thc, ad natha was gettgsme dete hstlty.

Yu ad Webb gt a lst susects yet? natha

ased.

A mcrscc d.

Yu wat t tell me whs t?Hdges reached t the bac ad retreved a brw ac-

crd le rm the r. natha eed t. Uder a tab la-

beled poi, he ud a thc shea aers. natha cmbedthrugh. Te Perss Iterest cluded tw mddle-aged

males wh had bee arrested r armed rbbery varus

lcal ars. Als cluded were three wme: the mst re-

cet Mrs. Alv, Curtey Glass, ad Alvs ex-we, wh

had gtte ryally screwed ther dvrce.Yu guys thg murder r hre? natha ased,

examg the ex-wes drvers lcese ht. Wth the

excet a te-year-ld DUI, shed ever bee trublewth the law.Dt w, Hdges sad.

natha smmed the Curtey. He elt the

weght Hdgess gaze hm as he reached the last age.

Fuy, yu ddt met her arrest bac Jauary,

Hdges sad.


49/67

Whisperof Warning 47Jal suervsr released her just ater she came . Teres

aerwr. Hwd yu d ut abut ths?

Lez tld me.

natha dded. Lez had bee e the beat cs

atrllg Austs bar dstrct whe a extremely tx-cated Curtey t a hammer ad a ca sray at t

Alvs red Prsche Carrera.

Dt ull that cra aga, Hdges sad. Yu gtsmethg relevat t ths case, yu tell me.

natha clsed the le. Te d was rght. Ad ce

aga, natha regretted callg avrs t get Fas ss-

ter the h. At the tme, hed thught he was dg

a gd deed r a mxed-u yug wma ad a ersal

avr r Fa, wh had ge the extra mle r hm mretmes tha he culd cut. Ad sce Alv had wated

everythg et quet, t had bee a relatvely easy avr t

ull .He shuld have w t wuld cme bac t bte hm

the ass.

Yure rght, I shuldve sad smethg, natha ad-

mtted. Ad I see where yure gg wth ths, but I gtta

tell yu, I dt th she dd t.Hdges et hs eyes the rad. Ether way, ts rel-

evat. I yure bg her sster, I dt wat t w abut

t, but dt hld ut me aga.natha sh hs head. Im t bg her sster. Hell,Im the best ma her weddg ext mth. Yu shuld

be wrred abut yursel, t me. Tat wmas maula-

tve. Shes als vlatle, ad she les le a rug.

But yu dt th she dd t.

Tats rght, natha sad. I uderstad yu eed t


50/67

48 laua giffin

l at her, but dt waste all yur tme there. Teres mret ths thg tha a muggg r a ssed- ex-grlred.

Hdges cleched hs jaw but stayed slet. He ddt

seem t le gettg advce, but natha ddt much care.

Ts was a mrtat case, ad he ddt wat t uced u.Rach Rad 2222 saed thrugh the hlls west

Aust. Te ht, hazy mrg rmsed a sweat-

dreched ater, ad here they were, dressed r theccas dar suts s they wuldt stad ut amgthe murers.

Ts thgs ga be a Whs Wh bg Demcrats,

natha sad, mvg t a easer subject. Alv was a

ht-sht lat s attrey. W a hudred-mll-dllar

lawsut agast a tractr cmay abut tw years ag. Ts wter he w ather sxty ml sme harmaceutcal

case. Wes amly s the meat-rcessg busess. Tey

call her the Weee Queee.Hdges sht hm a l.

I d yu t. Wmas wrth a rtue.

Hdges tured let at a lght, dcatg that he hadt

eeded nathas drects t d the church.

Alv ad hs we were members a small Escalcgregat Laeway. Oce u a tme, the tw had

bee a have r retrees wh led t lay gl, but Austs

recet ulat bm had exaded the cty budares,ad Laeway was w ractcally a suburb. May thehuses there were exesve custm-bult mass wth

vews Lae ravs. Alvs hme had bee urchased ater

hs bg wdall tw years ag, ad the mst recet arasal

ut the rerty at $3.5 mll.

Hdges ulled t a arg lt surruded by whte


51/67

Whisperof Warning 49cree myrtles. Te ueral ddt beg r ather hal hur,but the lt had started t ll u. S ar, the cars were a mx

Lexuses, BMWs, ad sued-u SUVs. Te gray aurus

wuld stc ut, ad Hdges had the sese t ar t the

shade a tree where t wuld be less tceable. Frm thervatage t, they had a ubstructed vew ele l-

g t the church.

Hdges retreved the accrd le rm the r atnathas eet.

See that ma rght there?

Hdges glaced u. Gray sut?

Yeah. Hes the CEO FreBreaer, that bg stware

cmay.

Securty stware?Tats the e, natha sad. Ad that blde the

dar blue? Shes a ltgatr wth Wlers ad Rley, Alvs

rm.nathas gaze lgered the attrey. She rbably

layed well rt ay jury that cluded red-blded

me.

But Hdges was t busy scag the area t admre

her. S ar, ths guy was a ce ma. Te ly thg hedreacted t s ar, really, was beg cut ut a ece -

rmat.

Whs the guy the seersucer sut? he ased.natha llwed hs gaze. n dea.Ad the shrt guy ear the dr?

Dt recgze hm.

What abut the wma red? Tree clc.

natha led ver. Well, what d yu w? Its

Alvs ex.


52/67

50 laua giffin

Te rty-e-year-ld barely resembled her drverslcese ht. She had shrt dar har. She wre a eatly

talred red sut ad lw-heeled shes. Everythg abut

her led uderstated, excet the clr shed chse, whch

seemed t bradcast her eelgs abut the deceased. Ateeager shufed alg besde her ha ats ad a

ll-ttg avy blazer.

Dest l le shes grevg much, Hdges b-served.

Ah, yu wuldt exect her t. She surted hm all

thrugh law schl teachg dergarte. Te he dumed

her at whe he laded a jb at Wlers ad Rley.

raded her r the ht-dg heress?

nah, she came later.S thats Alvs rst d. Hdges glaced at the le.

Accrdg t the wll, hell hert te mll dllars hs

twety-th brthday.natha whstled. Ww.

Ye.

He tured t Hdges, mressed. Yu gt a warrat r

the wll?

Executr the estate led t the day ater the murder.Its a ublc recrd.

Usually taes lger t get the rbate wheels turg,

natha sad. Guess smees a hurry t dvvy u thatmey.Ex-wes the trustee the ds uds utl he hts

twety-ve.

natha csdered the ssblty.

Whs that?

He llwed Hdges gaze u the sdewal. A tall guy


53/67

Whisperof Warning 51wth a trm buld ad a shc whte har std at thedr glad-hadg ele as they led .

Tats Jm Wlers, natha sad. Fudg arter at

Alvs rm.

He dest l t bre u.ne. Fact, dest l le aybdys dg much

grevg.

At last the hearse ulled u t the church. A blac lm-use rlled t a st just behd t. Several me darsuts gt ut, llwed by a ette wma a slm-ttg

blac dress. Hdges had met her Mday whe he ad

Webb had errmed the mserable duty rmg her

that her husbad was dead.

A lttle grl clambered ut the car. She wre a lave-der dress ad whte shes. She had the same glde har as

her mther, ly hers was atural.

Yu meet Maceze yet? natha ased.n.

Shes hs ly ther chld, that we w , natha

sad, watchg the ur-year-ld clg t her mthers leg.

Ad Ill ever uderstad why rch ele ame ther ds

ater csultg rms.Hdgess attet was cused the sde mrrr.

natha checed the e hs sde ad tced the whte

hatchbac ared the ther ed the lt. It was uder atree, just le the aurus.kw wh that s? Hdges ased.

natha studed the drvers slhuette. It aeared t be

a wma wth shrt-cred har ad suglasses. She ddt

seem a hurry t g t the church.

ne.


54/67

52 laua giffin

Ca yu read the tag? Hdges ased.nt rm ths dstace. We ca get t the way ut.

Te hearse was e w, ad a caset was beg re-

mved rm the bac by hal a dze me wh raged

age rm thrty t sxty. natha recgzed a lcal judge,but the ther allbearers weret amlar. Ter ames had

bee the aer, thugh, ad Hdges culd add the bt

t the le, he hadt already. Te yug detectves he buzzed, ad he jered t

rm hs cet. natha wated, learg vrtually thg

rm ths ed the cversat. Hdges had a talet r

eeg thgs t hmsel.

Fally he eded the call ad tuced the he away.

Tat was Webb.Yeah?

A jgger stumbled acrss ur murder wea at Zler

Par.

Sx mths wthut a s alchl, ad w Curtey had

had three vda craberres ve days. She ddt eed

t ee trac, really, but t had becme a habt. Oe thedeg gals her le was t avd edg u le her

mther.

Ather Cae Cd?

Te barteder ashed her a smle ad dded at theemty glass.

n, thas. She retured the smle, but sted just

shrt rtg. She wast the md rght w, ad her

head was llg her.Where the hell was Jrda?


55/67

Whisperof Warning 53Whe her red had ased her ut r drs ad taas

at Emls, Curtey had tally sad . But Jrda et

reeatg the vtat, ad Curtey ew t was he-

less. Jrda was determed t tae her ut r her brthday,

ad Curtey was tred beg at hme. She hadt sletwell all wee, ad the uedg ghts ale were startg

t mae her crazy.

Curtey heard a ew bars Gwe Stea ad ulledher cell rm her urse. Te slee he was a receturchase, a lttle early brthday reset t er her u ater

a extremely cray wee.

Omgd, Im so srry! Jrdas vce lled her ear.

Where are yu?

Have yu bee there lg?Almst a hur, Curtey sad. Im my thrd bwl

lves.

Braa made me stay ad d vetry! Jrda waled.Im gg t be here all night. Dd yu w we were

chagg les?

I heard ths mrg.

Braa, the sal wer, had recetly decded t swtch

rduct les ater the ma e they stced bega a-earg grcery stres. Bella Da was thg t

exclusve. Curtey had see the r-t-celg bxes

her bsss ce ths ater ad was grateul she hadtgtte stuc there wth Jrda.Yu eed a had? she ased ayway. She culdt

stad the thught gg bac t her emty huse. I the

ast ur ghts, Curtey had rgazed every clset ad

cabet her ty hme. Shed cauled her shwer. Shed


56/67

54 laua giffin

gve hersel acals. She was resh ut rjects, ad she watched e mre mute realty televs, she was

gg t eed a added cell.

Abslutely t, Jrda sad. No e shuld have t

sed ther Tursday eveg ths way. Its cruel ad u-usual ushmet. Were sused t be celebratg!

Dt wrry abut t, Curtey sad. My real brth-

days t utl ext wee, ayway. She mted the bar-teder t brg her chec as Jrda rated abut ther bss.Ater vcg her symathy, Curtey maaged t get

the he.

My brthdays ext wee, t.

She glaced ver. Te guy besde her had bee eyeg

her r tee mutes ad evdetly thught hed ud aeg.

Oh, yeah? She smled at hm, tryg t guesstmate

hw much gel he must have used t get hs har t l lea tters. He had hs BMW ey cha la vew the

bar, ad she deducted ts r cheesess. S yure a

Sagttarus? Or a Carcr?

Hs led cused r a secd. Uh, Carcr.

O curse. She shed a twety rm her urse ad sldt uder her glass.

Ad what abut yu? He smled ad leaed clser.

Whats yur sg?She shuldered her bag ad sld the stl. D tdsturb.

Hey, wat. Beamer Ma was determed. Let me buy

yu ather rud.

n, thas.

Cme , ts yur brthday.


57/67

Whisperof Warning 55n. Ta yu. She tured away ad early smaced

t a bg, brad chest.

Yure leavg. Wll Hdges gazed dw at her wth

thse whsey brw eyes.

ryg t.He set a very scary l ver her head at the guy wth

the tter har.

Cme . He t her elbw. Ill gve yu a rde.Bere she culd resd, he steered her thrugh the

crwd ad ulled e the heavy wde dr. Tey

steed ut the sy bar t the dam August ght.

What are yu dg here? she ased, suremely aware

hs had her arm.

Lg r yu.Yes, but why?

I eed t tal t yu.

Her eet mved dw the sdewal, ad she started tget ueasy. Hw had he w she was here? Ad was she

beg arrested? ae r mre questg? Her rele at

seeg hm tured t erves.

S tal. She ulled her arm away ad vted t ace

hm. He wre a dar sut ad a ster exress. He restedhs hads hs hs, ad she tced the butt hs gu

g ut rm the jacet.

Yu chaged yur har.Very gd, Detectve, she sad, crssg her arms. Shedabaded eby wth scarlet hghlghts avr a cl

claret. Shed eeded a chage. Jrda had gve her a trm,

t, resheg u her lg layers. S what dd yu wat t

tal abut? Besdes my har?

He glaced u ad dw the sdewal. nt here.


58/67

56 laua giffin

Fe. Lets g bac sde. Aywhere but the lcestat. She hated that lace. Shed bee there twce the

ast sx mths, ad just the thught returg made her

queasy.

He reached ver ad eed the dr a acetChevy Suburba. Get . Ill drve yu hme.

Ts s yur car?

He dded.She ursed her ls ad led t ver. Te ta truc had

three dgs the assegers sde ale. It was rare t meet

smee wh drve a car lder tha hers.

She gt , marvelg at the craced vyl seats. Wll b-

vusly wast a ma wh used cars t mress wme, ad

she elt stragely grateul.Watch yur eet. Te dr squeaed as he ushed t

shut.

She smthed her har ad tugged at her hemle ashe wet arud t the drvers sde. Te blac halter dress

had seemed erect r hagg ut at Emls wth Jrda,

but w Curtey elt t exsed. She was gettg gse

bums u ad dw her arms, ad t wast the slghtest bt

cl ut.Maybe t was Wll. He radated teststere, ad shed

bee gg thrugh wthdrawal. Every tme he came ear

her, her seses wet alert.Wll gt behd the wheel ad red u the truc wthsurrsgly lttle truble.

Hw dd yu w I was here? she ased hm.

Yur sster tld me.

S hed bee talg t Fa. She ddt w ths

was gd r bad. Fa had let a message her cell he


59/67

Whisperof Warning 57abut a hur ag, ad Curtey wshed w shed taethe tme t lste t t.

Hwd yu w I eeded a rde?

Yu dt have a car.

Ts was true, but she culd have reted e. Had hebee checg u her?

O curse he had. He was a vestgatr. She was

art hs case. Curtey lded her hads her la adstruggled t t dget. She sesed the terrgat cmgad tred t steel hersel.

What dd yu d tday? he ased, ullg t trac.

I wred.

What else? He sld a glace at her legs, ad she elt a

ht satsact wg ths bg Rbc was actuallyhuma.

Sme chres arud the huse. She ulled her urse

t her la ad rted arud r a l glss.What else?

She led at hm. Hs gaze was xed the rad w,

ad she had a chace t study hs rle. He had a strg,

square jaw ad a straght se. Hs ec was thc, ad

hs arms straed the abrc hs jacet as he steered theSuburba. Ts ma was very bg ad very tmdatg,

althugh t wast hs sze that made her ucmrtable.

Tats abut t. She ed dw the vsr. n mrrr, curse, s she glssed her ls wthut e. Shed gewth uty ls tght, whch requred mateace, ad

dramatc, smy eyes. It was her g-t eveg l.

Tey sted at a tersect, ad he glaced at her.

Hs gaze strayed dw t her muth.

What? She dred the tube bac t her urse.


60/67

58 laua giffin

Im tryg t gure ut why yure lyg.Im t lyg. Ad what the hell busess s t yurs

hw I set my day?

Yu were at Alvs ueral, he sad. I saw yu.

She tssed her urse the r ad led straghtahead. Lghts gree.

Te they were mvg aga. Tey crused dw the

street hs hulg Suburba, ad she tred t thw hed stted her. Shed set hours gettg ready. Her

wg was abulus. Her w sster wuld have had truble

recgzg her.

Why are yu lyg t me? He glaced at her.

Wh says Im lyg?

He sh hs head slghtly. Her stmach tghteed, adshe elt ear bubblg u. He culd see thrugh her. He

culd see everythg. Smehw he ew what had really

haeed, ad she was gg t g t jal.Just be hest, ay? Yull be dg yursel a avr.

She bt her l, ctemlatg the ssblty.Just be hon-

est. Easy r hm t say. He wast uder susc mur-

der. He hadt bee targeted by a ller. He wast sedg

hs ghts gg rm t rm a ty dulex, swtchg lams ad lsteg r rwlers.

S I was there. S what? Its a ree cutry. She crssed

her arms ad dared hm t challege her. Gg t sme-es ueral wast a ely.Te quest s,why were yu there? Ad why theAlias

cstume?

She ddt wat t l at hm. Several reass.

He wated, ad the ly sud was the rumble the

ld ege.


61/67

Whisperof Warning 59I wated t see hs daughter, she sad.

Ts was the truth, but she elt werd sayg t. Why

shuld she have ay terest sme lttle grl shed ever

met? A lttle grl whse amly shed early wreced by hav-

g a aar wth her sel-absrbed ather?Yu wated t see Maceze Alv.

Yes.

Why?Ts was the werd art. I dt w. She shrugged.

I just eel, I dt w, cected wth her r sme-

thg.

He glaced at her. Cected hw?

My dad ded whe I was lttle. I guess I just emathze

wth her. She sghed ad lded her hads her la. Butshe led gd. I watched her mm wth her, ad I eel

better w. I th shes gg t be ay.

Ule Curtey had bee. Ad Fa. Whe ther dadhad ded, ther mm had retty much ge t eces. Shed

jered her ds ut schl, mved t Calra t get

a resh start, ad the rceeded t g rm ma t ma,

lg r the ext lve her le. Whe she wast the

hut r a guy, she was cslg hersel wth alchl whleFa tred t rase a d sster. Fa was ly a ew years

lder tha Curtey, but shed bee a mther t her mst

her le.It had tae mre tha twety years ad a crss-cutrymve r Fa ad Curtey t get away rm the mess

ther mm had made ther lves llwg ther athers

death.

But Macezes mther seemed t have her act t-

gether. Ad she had mey, t, whch wuld hel. At least


62/67

60 laua giffin

she wuldt be deserately seeg a husbad t hel su-rt her.

Curtey glaced ver at Wll. He was starg at the

rad aga. Maybe he thught she was ull cra.

Why else? he ased.Why what?

Yu sad several reass.

She led ut the wdw. Famlar huses ew by,ad they were almst t her street. I she made u a le, sheculd be shed wth ths cversat a matter m-

utes. I she made t a believablele, he mght just leave her

ale r a ew days.

Bere he hauled her bac r mre quests. She

tugged at her hemle aga ad cleared her thrat. Ithught I mght see hm, she sad, gg wth the truth.

See wh?

Te ma wh attaced us. I thught he mght be there.He ulled u t the curb just rt her huse.

Amys whte Hyuda sat the drveway, ad Curtey

realzed hw Wll had recgzed her at the ueral. It had

bee there Mday, t, ad he was bservat.

Pared behd the Hyuda was the cu belggt Amys byred, ad Curtey guessed theyd ssed

ad made u ater the argumet shed verheard earler ths

eveg. Tat was the thg abut lvg a dulexyuwere yur eghbrs busess whether yu wated t ber t.

Why wuld he cme t the ueral, Curtey?

She brught her gaze bac t Wll. He seemed t be

searchg her ace r aswers. He ew she was hdg

smethg.


63/67

Whisperof Warning 61It wast a radm rbbery, was t?I dt th s, she sad.

It hadt bee a rbbery at all. Te s-mas guy had

tred t ll Davd ad mae t l le a murder-sucde.

Smee wated them bth dead, ad Curtey blamedr t. Shed bee racg her bra r days tryg t cme

u wth a lausble reas.

Ad dd yu see hm at the ueral?She sh her head. I dt th s. I wuld have rec-

gzed hs bdy ad hs eyes. At least, I th I wuld have.

n e eve led clse.

Wll stared ut the wdsheld, drummg hs thumb

the steerg wheel. He seemed dee thught. Abrutly,

he cut the ege ad gt ut the truc t cme arudt her sde.

She was hme. Ather ght ale. She was s wde-

awae, t elt as shed set the eveg at a cee shstead a bar.

Te dr squealed e, ad she gt ut.

Tas r the lt, she sad, as he slammed the dr.

He std there, starg dw at her, ad she gt the mres-

s he wated t read her thughts. Was he tryg t slvehs case, r was t smethg else? Hs ace gave thg

away utl the bre stat whe hs gaze dred t her

muth.A mulse came ver her. Maybe t was the vda.Or the summer ar. Or the grl the laveder dress wh

remded her hw lely shed bee as a d.

Maybe t was lust.

Whatever t was, she gave t t. She wet u her

ttes ad ssed hm. He std there, ramrd straght,


64/67

62 laua giffin

hldg her wast but t ssg her bac, whle she mvedher muth stly agast hs. She was gettg t hm, she

ew. She culd eel t hs tese resse, the tghtess

hs stubbled jaw uder her gerts. Ad the t wast

the vda mag her md swm, but the heady realza-t that she had a eect ths gat ma. She lced the

crer hs muth, ad hs ctrl bre, le shed w

t wuld. Ad the she was u, her eet, ssg hm, adhe was ssg her bac, as he gred her hs ad ressedher agast the truc. Hs muth elt ht ad werul, ad

he tasted atly eermt.

Suddely he steed bac, ad her eet sld t the

grud. She bled u at hm. Hs bg chest heaved u ad

dw.Cme sde, she whsered.

He wated t. Desre was wrtte all ver hs ace.

But the he seemed t shae t . Just le that, hs eyeswet cl.

I cat, he sad.

She smled u at hm, that warm, cy smle shed w

r ages but hadt ractced lately.

He led away. Ill wal yu t the dr.Yu dt have t.

Ager ashed hs eyes. I wll. He t her elbw

ad relled her u the ath, le a dsbedet chld her way t tme ut.Yu dt eed t walk me, she sad, eelg ssy w.

It was easer tha eelg hurt.

I eed t get yu saely.

Tey reached the dr ad she luced her eys rm

her urse. She ulced the dr, grttg her teeth whle


65/67

Whisperof Warning 63she dd t because she culd eel hm ext t her, ths mas-sve resece that ddt eed t be there. She bured her

temer ad tured t hm wth a bg smle.

She reached u t we the lstc hs lwer l. He

ched at her tuch, ad she ew he was gg t have arugh ght. Gd. She wuldt be the ly e. nght,

Detectve, she urred. Slee tght.

She steed t the huse ad ulled the dr shutbehd her.

Hed ssed hs susect.

Ad t just ssedhed cme abut ve secds away

rm draggg her t bed.

Fve years hed wred t becme a hmcde detectve.nw here t was, the rst la ut the gate, ad hed early

uced t u.

She was a susect. He ew hs gut she ddt d t,but he was detely the mrty wth that . Cer-

a was cvced shed ulled the trgger, ad hed made t

clear he exected Wll t cax a cess ut her. But

Wll culdt brg hmsel t cax becausedeste theleshe was 99.9 ercet certa she was cet.

But maybe he was wrg. Maybe the mere thught

havg sex wth a wma as ht as Curtey Glass was

shrt-crcutg hs bra.n.

Hed bee there the ght the bscut dugh. Hed

lsteed t the 911 call. Hed see her that ater at the

ar. Shed bee truly, deathly arad. She may have ledabut hw t wet dwactually, he ew she hadbut

that ddt mea shed lled the guy. He was clse t certa


66/67

64 laua giffin

shed bee e tw teded vctms. He just eeded tgather the evdece t exerate her ad gure ut wh was

behd t all.

Te he culd ss her all he wated. Ad drag her

t bed, t.Chrst, he was screwed u. Why had he allwed hmsel

t be ale s lg? Ltg weghts was great, but there was

ly s much rustrat he culd wr at a gym. Atsme t, s, he eeded a gd, st wma.

nt that Curtey was gd. Or st. Shed rbably

had a guy hs uts a latter he messed wth her. Wll

culdt vsualze her as Alvs trhy grlred, but he had

truble at all magg her trashg hs Prsche.

He ulled t a arg sace at hs lw-rse aart-met cmlex the suth sde tw. Te buldg was

geerc. Hs e-bedrm ut was geerc. Hs chea

urture was geerc. Ad he ddt really gve a dambecause r the ast ve years eve the mst medcre ac-

cmmdats, by Amerca stadards, had seemed le the

Rtz t hm. Tats what three years sleeg the hard

grud dd t a ers. Tree years dust, ad cld, ad

treg thrugh the mutas, hutg me ad beghuted. Tree years camg ut amg vllagers wh

dra rm the same rrgat dtches where they bathed,

ad washed dshes, ad butchered meat.He ared ad made hs way u the metal ght starst hs lace. O hs drste was a acage, ad he sted

t c t u, statly suscus.

Ces. Chclate ch, rm what he culd see

thrugh the lght blue uerware. Ather luxury t

cmm Aghasta.


67/67

Whisperof Warning 65He let hmsel t the aartmet ad tssed hs eys

the table by the dr. He threw the blt. I the tche

he saw the ashg message lght hs aswerg mache.

He ressed the butt t lste whle he eed the ld t

the uerware ad read the te tuced sde.Tanks! XOXO Lori.

Mystery slved. Te wma whse ew V hed hauled

u the stars had made hm ces.A telemareter dred t the he as Wll dered

ths ew develmet. Lr rm ext dr was sgle.

Pretty. A lttle shrt r hm, but bg deal. He chmed

t a ce. She was a decet c ad had a brad-ew

HDV wth surrud sud. What was he dg messg

arud wth hs susect? It was beyd dumb.He deleted the secd telemareter ad cdemed t

hell whchever utlty cmay had gve ut hs umber,

whch shuld have bee ulsted. nathas vce came ,ad Wll sted chewg.

Hdges. Where are yu? Yur cell he ees cg

me t vce mal. Ballstcs just came bac ad

Wll ressed Callbac. natha ced u mmedately.

Sht, ma. Te he stays on. Hw am I sused treach yu

ell me abut the ballstcs.

We gt a match. Te Beretta ad the slug.Tey had ther murder wea Ts was real rgress

Documents

Laura Griffin Sampler: Tracer Series and Whisper of Warning