Hidden Identity
RUNNING FOR HER LIFEWhen Meagan Berry is caught on camera rescuing a senator, she knows her cover's been blown. After faking her death, she's spent months keeping her identity hidden from an abusive ex-fiancé. Now he's on her trail in remote Cedar Key, Florida. Officer Hunter Kingston knows Meagan's running from something, but he can't imagine anyone wishing harm on the pretty artist. Then an intruder breaks into Meagan's house, and Hunter promises not to leave her side. But when evidence from the crime scene doesn't add up, Hunter wonders whether he should trust Meagan. Yet he will have to put his faith in this mysterious beauty if they both want to live to see another day.
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RUNNING FOR HER LIFE
When Meagan Berry is caught on camera rescuing a senator, she knows her coverâs been blown. After faking her death, sheâs spent months keeping her identity hidden from an abusive ex-fiancé. Now heâs on her trail in remote Cedar Key, Florida. Officer Hunter Kingston knows Meaganâs running from something, but he canât imagine anyone wishing harm on the pretty artist. Then an intruder breaks into Meaganâs house, and Hunter promises not to leave her side. But when evidence from the crime scene doesnât add up, Hunter wonders whether he should trust Meagan. Yet he will have to put his faith in this mysterious beauty if they both want to live to see another day.
âAny idea whoâs behind all this?â
Meagan shook her head but didnât meet his eyes.
âSomeone took a big chance coming in here when you were just riding to The Market and back.â
âMaybe he thought I was going out for the evening.â
âOr maybe his intent was to be waiting inside the house when you got home.â
Her tight jaw and the determination in her eyes told him that was something she had already considered. And was trying hard not to think about.
Hunter stepped closer and rested a hand on her shoulder. âTell me what youâre hiding from, Meagan.â
Fear filled her eyesâthe same as when she had faced the reporters. And when she thought he might have overheard her conversation with Anna. But she didnât respond.
âTell me whatâs going on.â He kept his tone soothing, nonthreatening. âLet me help you.â
Her gaze dipped to her feet, and several more moments passed. Finally, she shook her head. Whatever secrets lay in her past, she was nowhere near ready to let him in.
CAROL J. POST writes fun and fast-paced inspirational romantic suspense and lives in sunshiny central Florida. She sings and plays the piano for her church and also enjoys sailing, hiking, campingâalmost anything outdoors. Her daughters and grandkids live too far away for her liking, so she now pours all that nurturing into taking care of two fat and sassy cats and one highly spoiled dachshund.
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time: Casting all
your care upon Him; for He careth for you.
â1 Peter 5:6â7
Many thanks to Cedar Key Police Chief Virgil Sandlin and Cedar Key Fire Chief Robert Robinson, who patiently answered all my questions. If thereâs anything I didnât get right, it certainly isnât their fault!
Thank you to my familyâMom Roberts and Jesse, Mom Post, Kim and Jerry, Robbie and Sheri and Keithâfor your unending love and encouragement.
Thank you to my friend John, who has always believed I could do anything I set my mind to. Someday Iâll grant your wish and make you the villain in one of my books.
Thank you to my critique partners, Karen, Dixie and Sabrina. Youâve talked me off the ledge more than once.
Thank you to my editor, Rachel Burkot, and my agent, Nalini Akolekar. Youâre both beyond awesome!
And thank you to Chris. Youâre not only my husband, youâre my best friend.
Contents
The building roar of a plane engine overwhelmed the gentler sounds of the seaside, invading the tranquility of Seahorse Key. Meagan Berry looked up from the canvas in her lap. Tension spiked through her. It wasnât just the volume. Something was wrong. As she listened, the pitch dropped, and a series of sputters interrupted the flow of sound. She laid aside the canvas and pencil to hurry down the path leading to the beach. A small plane flew several yards above the water, too low to be on course for the Cedar Key Airport.
The roar became a whine, and the nose dipped. Her pulse quickened and she froze, holding her breath. The pilot leveled it out, but a second later the plane slammed against the water, sending spray shooting twenty feet into the air.
Meagan let out a startled scream and sprinted back to snatch her phone from her camera bag. She dialed 911 while running to her boat, then made her way over the waves with her four-horse motor wide-open. The plane appeared to be sitting lower in the water than when it had first crashed. It was sinking.
Panic spiraled through her, sucking the air from her lungs. Help would never arrive in time. There was no good way to die, but gasping for air as water filled the lungs had to be one of the worst.
She coasted to a stop in front of the plane and peered through the windshield, relaying what she saw to the dispatcher. There were two occupants, the pilot and a passenger. The pilotâs head was cocked at an unnatural angle, his neck apparently broken. She grimaced, but forced herself to study him. If he was breathing, it was too shallow to be obvious.
The passenger was unconscious, but his chest rose and fell in a slow, steady rhythm. She steered the boat around to look through the side window. Water seemed to be rushing in from below. It swirled around the menâs legs, already halfway covering their thighs. The Cedar Key Fire rescue boat would be on its way. But the plane was sinking fast. She had to do something.
