SEEKING REFUGE
When her friend is murdered, journalist Mallory Myers knows the killer is coming for her next. The problem is no one believes herâin fact, sheâs considered a suspect. Her news anchor ex-boyfriend has everyone fooled, but Mallory knows what heâs capable of. With no one to trust, she flees to her hometown, where she finds refuge and help from an unexpected source. Fire chief Logan McDaniel is the only one in town willing to believe Mallory. As the murderer toys with her, setting fires and terrorizing her, Logan and Mallory become closer. He vows to protect her and find a way to break the killerâs airtight alibi if itâs the last thing he does.
âDid you check out the window to see who was at the door before you let me in?â Logan asked as he came into the house, pausing to secure the dead bolt again.
âNo, I didnât think of that,â she admitted.
âWell, you probably should,â he said in a somber tone.
âMeaning?â
âMeaning that fire was definitely arson. And to be set that close to a house is different from the other arson fires Iâve investigated recently. Plus, the incendiary device was different, too.â He studied her closely. âI think youâre right to be concerned for your safety, Mallory.â
Strangely enough, she didnât feel nearly as worried as sheâd felt last night. Maybe it was the bright warm sunshine streaming into the house, or the fact sheâd gotten some good sleepâ¦or more likely it was Logan. Seeing him standing there in front of her, tall and strong and handsome, and being so protective of herâ¦it was just what she needed.
MELODY CARLSON has worn many hats, from preschool teacher to political activist to senior editor. But most of all, she loves to write! She has published over two hundred booksâwith sales of over six million copies, and she has received the RT Book Reviews Lifetime Achievement Award. She and her husband have two grown sons and live in Sisters, Oregon, with their Labrador retriever, Audrey. They enjoy skiing, hiking and biking in the Cascade Mountains.
Be gracious to me, O Godâ¦
For my soul takes refuge in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge Until destruction passes by.
âPsalms 57:1
To Christopher Carlson, my husband of 38 years
(and the only earthly man Iâd completely trust with my life).
ONE
Mallory Myers loosened her death grip on the steering wheel. Taking in another deep, calming breath, she peered down the pitch-black road ahead. Even though her intellect told her that it was unlikely she was being followed, her instincts disagreed. In her mindâs eye she could see Brock Dennison in his silver BMW, speeding down the highway, trying to catch her.
And yet, she knew this was preposterous. For one thing, Brock would barely be finished anchoring the eleven oâclock news by now, and she was two hours away from Portland. For another, he was Brock Dennison, the golden boy of the Channel Six News. Just the same, she checked her rearview mirror one last time as she slowed down to turn into her parentsâ darkened driveway. The headlights that had been tailing her were nowhere in sight now. Home safe.
Her parentsâ lodge-style home was nestled in the ponderosa woods, bordering the National Forest. Remote, yes, but a great place to lie low for a while. The perfect place to get her bearings and hopefully some sleep. Having a dad in law enforcement, with a well-stocked gun cabinet, added to her growing sense of security. Home safe.
She glanced over her shoulder as she hurried to the front door. Naturally, she could see nothing out thereâand the tall ponderosa pines made the moonless summer night even blacker. The house was dark, too, but that wasnât unusual since her parents always went to bed with the chickensâeven after theyâd given up the henhouse. She turned her key in the front-door lock and quietly slipped inside, bracing herself for the familiar sounds of Barneyâs startled yips. Her parentsâ chocolate Lab was better than a security system. Nothing sneaked past him.
To her surprise the house remained silent when she entered, and she quickly discovered it was vacant. As she turned on the overhead light in her parentsâ bedroom, staring at the neatly made king-size bed, she remembered the message Mom had left earlier this week. Back before Malloryâs life had fallen completely apart. Her parents were driving cross-country for a family reunion and wouldnât be home for two weeks.
Dadâher protectorâwas probably halfway across the country by now. That explained why he hadnât returned her call. Not wanting to upset her mother with her tearful voice, sheâd left her disturbing message on Dadâs work phone instead of on the landlineâs voice mail that her mother might listen to. But her parents were long gone and oblivious. And Mallory was more alone than ever.