Backfire

NOWHERE LEFT TO HIDE

Tracy Murray had thought she’d be safe disappearing in the wilds of Alaska after her testimony put away a gang leader. But the gang symbol tattooed on an attacker’s arm means the clock has run out. She’s been found—and she knows the killers won’t let her escape alive again. She can’t fight an entire gang alone—she needs help. But when she finds herself relying on widowed firefighter David Warren, a new struggle emerges. Fleeing Alaska and cutting all ties could be the only way to survive…but it would mean leaving her heart behind.

Mountain Cove: In the Alaskan wilderness, love and danger collide

“Shh… Tracy, it’s okay.” He hugged her tighter and ran his hand down her red hair.

A tenderness he hadn’t felt since his wife had been still alive kindled inside him. David wanted to release Tracy. He needed to release her, but she needed him right now.

She shook her head, her face still pressed into his shoulder. “No, it’s not going to be okay.”

David eased her from him and gripped her shoulders to look into her tear-reddened but still beautiful silver-blue eyes. “I’m so sorry about what you came across today, but Jay is going to be all right. And the police are searching for the guy who did this.”

“You don’t understand.” Shaking her head, she moved away from him.

“Why don’t you tell me, then? Is it the man who shoved Jay over today that has you upset and scared? Or is there something more?” The question sounded too personal, but he couldn’t think of any other way to say it.

“Yes, there’s more.” Tracy stared into the fire.

“I’m listening. Tell me.”

“I was the key witness in a murder trial. The killer on the mountain might be here for me.”

ELIZABETH GODDARD is an award-winning author of over twenty novels, including the romantic mystery The Camera Never Lies—winner of a prestigious Carol Award in 2011. After acquiring her computer science degree, she worked at a software firm before eventually retiring to raise her four children and become a professional writer. In addition to writing, she homeschools her children and serves with her husband in ministry.

And we know that in all things

God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.

—Romans 8:28

This story is dedicated to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ—who gave the ultimate sacrifice when He laid down His life to save us. And to all the first responders, search and rescue volunteers and firefighters, who give their time and energy, face dangers of the worst kind, to help others. I pray God’s grace and many blessings for you. Last, but never least, I dedicate all my stories to my husband and children, who give me the time and space I need to create stories, with a special dedication to my daughter, Rachel, a real princess.

Acknowledgments

Many thanks to all my writing friends who have encouraged me along the way, and a special thank-you to Teresa Haugh for providing me with the important details to keep this story true to the southeast Alaska setting. I can’t thank my agent, Steve Laube, enough for believing in my work early on, and to my editor Elizabeth Mazer—thank you for making each story the best it can be!

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

About the Author

Title Page

Epigraph

Dedication

Acknowledgments

ONE

TWO

THREE

FOUR

FIVE

SIX

SEVEN

EIGHT

NINE

TEN

ELEVEN

TWELVE

THIRTEEN

FOURTEEN

FIFTEEN

SIXTEEN

SEVENTEEN

EIGHTEEN

NINETEEN

TWENTY

TWENTY-ONE

Dear Reader

Extract

Copyright

ONE

Mountain Cove, Alaska

Tracy Murray knew she had little time. A storm brewed in the distance.

But Solomon’s urgent bark pulled her up the rising trail, indicating that there was someone in danger.

She sucked more air into her lungs that were already screaming from her workout.

Any other season on this trail—spring, winter, fall—she’d have to be concerned about the avalanche danger. But not during the summer, and because the season was so brief in Alaska, Tracy had every intention of enjoying the outdoors. Out for a run with her search-and-rescue golden retriever, summer abounded around her in the form of wildflowers and sundry small wildlife scurrying in and out of the flora.

Tracy had been heading for Keller Falls, four miles up the trail, until Solomon had taken off. She’d let him run free and hoped to practice a few commands. Up until a moment ago he’d run beside Tracy, surprisingly ignoring his natural instinct to chase forest animals, but then he’d taken off. With his continued excited and urgent barks, she knew that he had caught a human scent and was sending his vocal cue to alert Tracy that something was wrong.

Dread replaced the serenity she’d found on the trail.

Solomon was an air-scent search dog, wilderness search-and-rescue certified, and Tracy was still training him for both cadaver and avalanche certification. They’d already participated in several searches in the region as part of the North Face Mountain Rescue team. But Tracy hadn’t taken her dog out looking for trouble today. No. She’d been looking for peace.