Out for Justice

THE NEXT TARGET

Tracking a serial killer in Harmony Grove turns personal for Detective Lexi Simmons when her cousin becomes a victim. It turns nearly impossible when she’s teamed up with Officer Alan White—the almost-fiancé whose heart she broke six years ago. Alan can’t understand how two people so right for each other didn’t end up together. But they have more pressing matters of the past to attend to: a vengeful killer and a decade-old incident on a college campus. Now Lexi fits the profile of the next name on the hit list. And Alan finds himself not only engaged in a fight for her love—but for her life.

“Lexi, you’re the spitting image of the target. I’m worried about you.”

She tensed. “I know. I saw the photo.”

“What if the killer has realized that fact, too?”

“I’m being careful.” She put her hands on his cheeks. “If we’re going to make this work, you have to accept the risks and trust me to make the right decisions.”

“All right.” Alan should probably step back and give her space. But he couldn’t get his feet to obey.

She brushed a kiss across his lips. “I’ll call when I get home. I promise.”

He stood frozen, fighting for control. Finally, he stepped away and forced a smile.

“All right. If I don’t hear from you within thirty minutes, I’m sending out the search party.”

As he watched her back out the drive, his heart stuttered. Somewhere out there was a killer. And Lexi was vulnerable.

After six long years, he was so close to winning her back. He couldn’t lose her again.

CAROL J. POST

From medical secretary to court reporter to property manager to owner of a special events decorating company, Carol’s résumé reads like someone who doesn’t know what she wants to be when she grows up. But one thing that has remained constant through the years is her love for writing. She started as a child, writing poetry for family and friends, then graduated to articles, which actually made it into some religious and children’s publications. Several years ago (more than she’s willing to admit), she penned her first novel. In 2010, she decided to get serious about writing fiction for publication and joined Romance Writers of America, Tampa Area Romance Authors and Faith, Hope & Love, RWA’s online inspirational chapter. She has placed in numerous writing contests, including RWA’s 2012 Golden Heart®.

Carol lives in sunshiny central Florida with her husband (who is her own real-life hero) and writes her stories under the shade of the oaks in her yard. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business and professional leadership, which doesn’t contribute much to writing fiction but helps a whole lot in the business end of things. Besides writing, she works alongside her music minister husband singing and playing the piano. She also enjoys sailing, hiking, camping—almost anything outdoors. Her two grown daughters and grandson live too far away for her liking, so she now pours all that nurturing into taking care of three fat and sassy cats and one highly spoiled dog.

Out for Justice

Carol J. Post

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

—Proverbs 3:5–6

Thank you to my family for your unending support and encouragement. And thanks to my sister Kim, who helped me plot this story during Christmas vacation.

Thank you to my critique partners, Karen Fleming, Dixie Taylor and Sabrina Jarema. You always help me make my stories better.

And thank you to my editor, Rachel Burkot, and my agent, Nalini Akolekar. You’re both the best!

Thank you to my husband, Chris. After 34 years, you still put romance into my life.

Contents

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

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

DEAR READER

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

Extract

ONE

“We’ve found another victim.”

Lexi Simmons tensed at Sergeant Tomlinson’s words flowing through her Bluetooth. Not again. She eased to a stop at a red light and gripped the steering wheel more tightly. “Where this time?”

“A couple miles outside Harmony Grove.”

Harmony Grove. Home. She closed her eyes, dread sifting over her.

Tomlinson continued, “Look, you’re from there. You might know the victim. So if you need to be excused from this one, all you’ve got to do is say the word.”

She swallowed back the bile rising in her throat. Criminals who preyed on women were the worst. And Tomlinson was right. She probably did know the victim. Harmony Grove was a tiny town.

“No, I’m all right. I can handle it. Give me what you’ve got.”

A horn sounded behind her and she stepped on the gas. She had left Polk County Sheriff’s Office five minutes earlier, looking forward to a girls’ night out with her cousin Kayla. Dinner and a movie.

Her plans had just changed.