Scene Of The Crime: Means And Motive
Two hardheaded investigators chase danger—and each other—in New York Times bestselling author Carla Cassidy’s newest Scene of the Crime caseGabriel Walters didn’t need some know-it-all FBI agent charging in on his territory. But Jordon James wasn’t about to let some local police chief derail her, not with three unsolved murders over at the Diamond Cove B&B. If she just immersed herself in the investigation, she could avoid the troubles she’d left back home…and run head-on into some new ones with Gabriel. He didn’t want to discover a fourth victim, which, if the note slid under Jordon’s bedroom door was to be believed, would be her. Now it will take their full cooperation to catch a killer–before they strike again.
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Two hardheaded investigators chase danger—and each other—in New York Times bestselling author Carla Cassidy’s newest Scene of the Crime case
Gabriel Walters didn’t need some know-it-all FBI agent charging in on his territory. But Jordon James wasn’t about to let some local police chief derail her, not with three unsolved murders over at the Diamond Cove B and B. If she just immersed herself in the investigation, she could avoid the troubles she’d left back home…and run head-on into some new ones with Gabriel. He didn’t want to discover a fourth victim, which, if the note slid under Jordon’s bedroom door was to be believed, would be her. Now it will take their full cooperation to catch a killer—before he strikes again.
“There is also a killer using this bed-and-breakfast as his personal playground.”
“All the more reason for me to stay here,” she replied.
Gabriel frowned. “I really don’t like the idea. I think it would be much better if you stayed somewhere else.”
“I’ll be fine here. I’m armed and I’m trained. Just get me a key and point me to a room.”
The burn in his gut intensified. Even though he barely knew Jordon, he recognized the stubborn upward thrust of a chin, the resolute shine in her eyes.
The killer was savvy enough not to leave any evidence behind. In savagely murdering three people, he hadn’t made any mistakes that Gabriel had been able to find.
The last thing Gabriel wanted was for FBI Special Agent Jordon James to become the fourth victim.
CARLA CASSIDY is an award-winning, New York Times bestselling author who has written more than one hundred and twenty novels for Mills & Boon. In 1995, she won Best Silhouette Romance from RT Book Reviews for Anything for Danny. In 1998, she also won a Career Achievement Award for Best Innovative Series from RT Book Reviews. Carla believes the only thing better than curling up with a good book to read is sitting down at the computer with a good story to write.
Jordon James—An FBI agent who has come to Branson to solve a trio of murders. She quickly becomes marked by the killer as the next victim.
Gabriel Walters—Chief of police. Can he protect Jordon from the killer and still hang on to his heart?
Kevin Rollings—The former owner of Diamond Cove. Has his need for revenge turned him into a cold-blooded murderer?
Ed Rollings—Is the handyman really doing his brother’s dirty work?
Ted Overton—Has the present owner of the bed-and-breakfast hatched an evil plot to get his family back where they belong?
Billy Bonds—The groundskeeper has secrets… Is one of them deadly?
To Bob and Jenny Offutt, thanks for the wonderful hospitality we received when we stayed with you at your beautiful resort, Crystal Cove Bed and Breakfast in Branson.
Contents
FBI Special Agent Jordon James hated two things—winter and murder—and she was about to be immersed in the middle of both. She frowned and stared out the small window of the helicopter that had carried her from Kansas City to the rousing tourist town of Branson, Missouri.
When they’d left Kansas City the ground had been winter brown and the temperature had been a balmy forty-five. Unfortunately, as they approached the Branson airport, the temperature had dropped into the teens and four inches of snow had fallen in the small vacation destination overnight.
As the helicopter circled for the landing, visions of a beach with a bright sun, a chaise lounge and a fruity alcoholic drink flirted in Jordon’s head. She’d booked a long-awaited vacation in Florida for the end of next week. Hopefully, this mess in Branson could be cleaned up soon enough that she wouldn’t have to postpone the long-awaited vacation.
She was here only in an advisory position as a favor between her FBI director and the Branson mayor. All she knew was that there had been three murders in as many months committed in a popular bed-and-breakfast. The latest murder victim had been stabbed to death and discovered by a maid in her room the day before.
Jordon played nice with others when it was absolutely necessary, but she preferred to work alone. She had a feeling that Director Tom Langford had tapped her for this job, knowing that she would have to try to work with a police chief who probably didn’t want her here.
“It builds character to step out of your comfort zone.” She wished she had a dime for every time Tom had said that to her in the last couple of years. “Don’t be a cowboy, Jordon. That’s what nearly got you killed a year ago,” he’d reminded her right before she’d left.
The heart-shaped pattern of cigarette-burn scars on her left hip itched as memories of an old cellar and a serial killer named Ralph Hicks flashed in her head.
