Dead Giveaway
The Reverend Lee Barker went missing nineteen years ago… And the people of Stillwater, Mississippi, believe they know why. They’re convinced he was murdered – by his stepson, Clay Montgomery. But only Clay – and his mother and sisters – can say for sure. They were the only ones there that fateful night, the only ones who know what really happened. And they’re not talking.Allie McCormick is a cold-case detective from Chicago. After a particularly difficult divorce, she’s returned to Stillwater with her six-year-old daughter to find the peace she once knew in her home town and to work for the local police force while she’s starting over. But when Clay’s powerful enemies join forces to put him behind bars, Allie feels duty bound to uncover the truth. Her instincts tell her he didn’t murder the Reverend Lee Barker.Maybe Clay’s a dark and brooding man with more than his share of secrets, but he was just sixteen at the time. And he’s not a cold-blooded killer. At least, that’s what Allie believes – until she finds proof that behind the preacher’s pious demeanour lurked the heart of a monster. Then she has to ask herself whether justice has already been done…
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Praise for BRENDA NOVAK’s
Every Waking Moment
“A page-turner…A darn good read.”
—All About Romance
“Novak knows how to relate a suspenseful tale. [The heroine’s] almost palpable fear fuels this gripping tale.”
—Publishers Weekly
“A brave but very human heroine and a grieving hero obsessed with vengeance manage to find both healing and love as they deal with the past—and the violent present—in this fast-paced romantic thriller. Exceptionally vivid descriptions and realistic but not overwhelming details of the day-to-day aspects of raising a child with diabetes add depth to a story more complex than most.”
—Library Journal
“This story’s strong, edge-of-your-seat suspense starts on the first page and doesn’t let up until the end…Novak’s book is an extremely tense and emotional story with a satisfying conclusion.”
—Romantic Times BOOKreviews
“Brenda Novak’s gift lies in grabbing the reader mercilessly by the throat and not letting go until the very end…Fast-paced scenes filled with sparkling dialogue, romantic tension and a series of pulse-racing twists bring the story to a heart-stopping climax.An exciting, compelling, entertaining read.”
—Mayra Calvani, Midwest Book Reviews
“Strongly defined characters, sizzling sexual tension and a tautly constructed plot steeped in danger blend brilliantly together in Novak’s exceptionally intense, powerfully emotional novel.”
—Booklist
“Every Waking Moment is an absolute must-read.”
—Dawn Myers, Writers Unlimited
To Kendra DeSantolo, who supports me in everything I do. She reads my work and holds my feet to the fire until I get each story just right. She donates and shops at my annual online auction for diabetes research. She delivers food when I shut myself up in my house for days to finish a book (and my family is gone and I have nothing but a bag of almonds in my desk). She offers sage advice when I need input on various life subjects. She notifies me of any bake sales in the area (I love bake sales). And she listens when I need to complain.
I’m glad she’s part of my life. She’s a true friend.
Dear Reader,
Is it ever OK to do the wrong thing for the right reason? That’s one of the themes I wanted to explore when I wrote this story. Clay Montgomery has certainly walked on the wrong side of the law—is still walking on the wrong side of the law.Which makes it pretty tough to get together with a police officer. But faced with the same set of circumstances in which he found himself nineteen years ago, he’d do it all again.That’s what I love about him. He’s uncompromising in his determination to protect those he loves, regardless of the personal sacrifice. I don’t think I’ve ever created a character with such a strong sense of responsibility, or so much courage.
Please visit my website at www.brendanovak.com. to take a peek at some of the exciting and unique items that will be up for bid in my next online auction to benefit diabetes research. My youngest son has this disease, so my auctions are held on my website every May, in honour of Mother’s Day. Together with my donors and shoppers, I raised $34,982 in 2005, $62,706 in 2006 and $100,000 in 2007 and could definitely use your help.
I love to hear from readers. If you don’t have internet service, please feel free to write to me at PO Box 3781, Citrus Heights, CA 95611, USA.
Here’s hoping you enjoy your visit to Stillwater, Mississippi!
Brenda Novak
“Any coward can fight a battle when he’s sure of winning; but give me the man who has pluck to fight when he’s sure of losing.”
—George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans)
English novelist, 1819—1880
Chapter 1
Any coward can fight a battle when he’s sure of winning; but give me the man who has pluck to fight when he’s sure of losing.
—George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans) English novelist 1819-80
They hadn’t meant to kill him. That should’ve mattered. It probably would have—in a different time, a different place. But this was Stillwater, Mississippi, and the only thing smaller than the town itself was the minds of the people living in it. They never forgot and they never forgave. Nineteen years had passed since Reverend Barker disappeared, but they wanted someone to pay for the loss of their beloved preacher.
And they’d had their eye on Clay Montgomery from the beginning.
The only bit of luck that had gone his way was that, without a body, the police couldn’t prove Clay had done anything. But that didn’t stop them—and others—from constantly poking around his farm, asking questions, suggesting scenarios, attempting to piece together the past in hopes of solving the biggest mystery Stillwater had ever known.
“Do you think someday he’ll come back? Your stepdaddy, I mean?” Beth Ann Cole plumped her pillow and arranged one arm above her head.
Annoyance ripped through Clay despite the beautiful eyes that regarded him from beneath thick golden lashes. Beth Ann hardly ever pressed him about his missing stepfather. She knew he’d show her the door. But he’d let her come over too much lately and she was beginning to overrate her value to him.
