Mitch stiffened as he tried to deflect the sound of Stephanie Sheltonâs anguished sobs. His stomach felt as if it were lined with hot tar. The only thing that made the situation bearable was the hope that sheâd soon be reunited with her lost child.
Careful to allow her some dignity, he kept his gaze averted from her moist eyes. âPack a bag for you and your daughter.â
âWhy?â Her tone was charged with rebellion.
Then Mitch made the mistake of looking at her.
Her green-gold eyes were as dangerous as riptide and fringed with long sooty lashes. He was none too happy that he was making personal observations about the length of her eyelashes.
He was too seasoned a cop to let himself get sucked in by a pair of pleading eyes. Deliberate detachment firmed his voice.
âYouâre coming with me. Youâre both under my protection until this is over.â
Dear Harlequin Intrigue Reader,
We wind up a great summer with a bang this month! Linda O. Johnston continues the hugely popular COLORADO CONFIDENTIAL series with Special Agent Nanny. Donât forget to look for the Harlequin special-release anthology next month featuring USA TODAY bestselling author Jasmine Cresswell, our very own Amanda Stevens and Harlequin Historicals author Debra Lee Brown. And not to worry, the series continues with two more Harlequin Intrigue titles in November and December.
Joyce Sullivan concludes her companion series THE COLLINGWOOD HEIRS with Operation Bassinet. Find out how this family solves a fiendish plot and finds happiness in one fell swoop. Rounding out the month are two exciting stories. Rising star Delores Fossen takes a unique perspective on the classic secret-baby plot in Confiscated Conception, and a very sexy Cowboy PI is determined to get to the bottom of one womanâs mystery in an all-Western story by Jean Barrett.
Finally, in case you havenât heard, next month Harlequin Intrigue is increasing its publishing schedule to include two more fantastic romantic suspense books. Thatâs six titles per month! More variety, more of your favorite authors and of course, more excitement.
Itâs a thrilling time for us, and we want to thank all of our loyal readers for remaining true to Harlequin Intrigue. And if you are just learning about our brand of breathtaking romantic suspense, fasten your seat belts for an edge-of-your-seat reading experience. Welcome aboard!
Sincerely,
Denise OâSullivan
Senior Editor, Harlequin Intrigue
Joyce Sullivan credits her lawyer mother with instilling in her a love of reading and writingâand a fascination for solving mysteries. She has a bachelorâs degree in criminal justice and worked several years as a private investigator before turning her hand to writing romantic suspense. A transplanted American, Joyce makes her home in Aylmer, Quebec, with her handsome French-Canadian husband and two children. A visit to the castles populating the Thousand Islands in the St. Lawrence Seaway gave her the inspiration for THE COLLINGWOOD HEIRS series.
Ross and Lexi CollingwoodâHe was the Baron of Wall Street. Their precious baby daughter was kidnapped thirty months ago and never returned. One month after the Collingwoods are tragically murdered in an explosion, the Find Riana Foundation receives a ransom demand for the child.
Stef SheltonâHer world is shattered when she discovers that the daughter she has been raising is not her flesh-and-blood child.
Mitch HalloranâThe Guardian hired this determined LAPD detective to bring Riana home safe and sound.
Keely SheltonâSheâs Riana Collingwood by birth.
EmmaâWould Stefâs real daughter be found alive?
Brad SheltonâHad he switched his infant daughter with Riana Collingwood?
The GuardianâRoss Collingwood had been his best friend and had entrusted him with his childrenâs lives.
Juliana GoodhewâShe was looking forward to raising Lexiâs daughter as her own.
Annette YorkâSheâd killed her sister and brother-in-law out of hatred. Was she behind Rianaâs kidnapping, as well?
Sable HoldenâRoss Collingwood had ruthlessly taken over her familyâs company. To what lengths would she go to get her company back?
For my friend Jude, my emotional barometer. And for Rickey, critique partner par excellence.
My sincere thanks to the generous people listed below who answered my tedious questions about their lives and their jobs for this story:
Mathematician extraordinaire Tom McCormick, W. J. Van Dusen, Professor of Management, UBC Commerce.
Sergeant John Martinez, one of LAPDâs finest.
Detective Bob Arbour, Ottawa-Carleton Regional Police Service, and former bomb tech.
Dr. Steven W. Maclean,
who saves my wounded heroes and heroines.
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen