No Way Out
Who can she trust?Alyssa Wells has uncovered evidence that her police officer husband was murdered by his partner, a dangerous claim in a small town. After two tours in Iraq, protecting Alyssa and her children shouldn't be a problem for private investigator Cole Justice. Alyssa feels drawn to him, but how can she trust anyone after everything?Cole's sure his heart is closed off to love but Alyssa and her children seem to have found a way in. As the killer draws closer, Alyssa realizes she's trusting Cole with more than her safety.The Justice Agency: Family and law enforcement go hand in hand
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WHO CAN SHE TRUST?
Alyssa Wells has uncovered evidence that her police officer husband was murdered by his partnerâa dangerous claim in a small town. After two tours in Iraq, protecting Alyssa and her children shouldnât be a problem for private investigator Cole Justice. Alyssa feels drawn to him, but how can she trust anyone after everything sheâs been through? Coleâs sure his heart is closed off to love, but Alyssa and her children seem to have found a way in. As the killer draws closer, Alyssa realizes sheâs trusting Cole with more than her safety.
The Justice Agency: Family and law enforcement go hand in handÂÂÂÂÂÂ
âYouâre too close to the windows,â Cole said softly as if he understood everything going through her mind and didnât want to intrude, but needed to keep her safe.
Alyssa looked up at him and for the first time she really understood the law enforcement mentality. Police officers were strong protectors and they always wanted to be ready to help. Even being married to an officer for seven years, she hadnât really felt the weight of the burden they bore until this dangerous situation invaded her life.
She glanced at the black wall of windows Cole had warned her away from. âGuess youâre wishing youâd rented a house with fewer windows.â
âI have to admit it would be easier,â he said with steel in his voice. âBut Iâm not going to let these windows stop me. Iâll do everything within my power to protect you, even if it means giving up my life.â
She knew he spoke the truth and she feared before all of this was over, he would have to choose between protecting her and putting his life on the line.
SUSAN SLEEMAN
grew up in a small Wisconsin town where she spent her summers reading Nancy Drew and developing a love of mystery and suspense books. Today she channels this enthusiasm into hosting the popular internet website TheSuspenseZone.com and writing romantic-suspense and mystery novels.
Much to her husbandâs chagrin, Susan loves to look at everyday situations and turn them into murder-and-mayhem scenarios for future novels. If youâve met Susan, she has probably figured out a plausible way to kill you and get away with it.
Susan currently lives in Florida, but has had the pleasure of living in nine states. Her husband is a church music director and they have two beautiful daughters, a very special son-in-law and an adorable grandson. To learn more about Susan, please visit www.SusanSleeman.com.
You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.
âIsaiah 26:3
For my sister and brother, Linda and Jeff Becker, the siblings in my life who inspired me to write about the dynamics of the Justice family.
Additional thanks to
My family: my husband, Mark, who willingly makes sacrifices so I can devote my time to writing; my daughter Emma who helps me work through plot issues and Erin for her graphic design expertise.
My patient, sweet and talented editor, Tina James. Thank you for continuing to have faith in my writing.
The very generous Ron Norrisâretired police officer with the LaVerne Police Departmentâwho gives of his time and knowledge in both police procedures as well as military information. Thank you for always answering my questions so thoroughly and so promptly. You go above and beyond, and I canât thank you enough! Any errors in or liberties taken with the technical details Ron so patiently explained to me are all my doing.
And most importantly, thank you God for my faith and for giving me daily challenges to grow closer to you.
Contents
ONE
A storm was coming.
Alyssa Wells slowed and glanced across the road at waves angrily pounding the deserted Oregon beach. A sudden movement on the jogging path below caught her attention. Nearly finished with her run, she looked down at a clearing where hikers often stopped to gaze over the ocean.
But not at this time of night. Not with ominous clouds building over the horizon.
Angry voices swirled out of the soupy fog that had rolled in with the setting sun. The harsh words cut through the night and wound their way up the hill. She stopped in surprise when she recognized one of the voices as that of Nolan Saunders, her neighbor and her deceased husbandâs partner on the Pacific Bay police force.
What was Nolan doing out here with a storm on its way?
She recalled that he was on duty tonightâhe must have responded to a call here. No matterâshe needed to get home to her twins before the clouds burst. She continued ahead on the trail, grateful for tiny solar lights mounted on wooden landscape beams that cast a dull light over her feet and kept her path unobscured.
âYouâre in too deep to walk away, Gibson.â Nolanâs raised voice, now sharp and clear, sent a whisper of unease down her back, and she came to a stop directly above them. She could make out the shadows of three men. The âGibsonâ Nolan talked to must be fellow officer Frank Gibson, but who was the third guy?
