He was a stranger. And she didnât careâ¦
Jillian didnât care what it took, she was going to get her sister back. Sheâd lie, steal â do anything she had to. Where was her sister right now? What was happening to her? And what would happen to her â to the other women, too â once the truck reached its destination? As much as Jillian wanted to block out the obvious, she couldnât.
Halfway down the stairs, her vision blurred. Her chest tightened. She couldnât breathe. Another few steps and she plopped down hard, tears starting to flow unchecked. She wiped at them with both hands. She couldnât afford to break down now. Tears didnât solve a thing.
When warm hands grasped her shoulders, she jerked as if to escape, and then she realised it was Rick. She turned and plunged blindly into his arms. He caught her, his arms closing tightly around her.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lori L Harris has always enjoyed competition. She grew up in southern Ohio, showing Arabian horses and Great Danes. Later she joined a shooting league where she competed head to head with police officers â and would be competing today if she hadnât discovered how much fun and how challenging it was to write. Romantic suspense seemed a natural fit. What could be more exciting than writing about life-and-death struggles that include sexy, strong men?
When not in front of a computer, Lori enjoys remodelling her home, gardening and boating. Lori lives in Orlando, Florida, with her very own hero.
CAST OF CHARACTERS
Jillian Sorensen â After fifteen years away, sheâs coming home to Charleston, South Carolina, to confront her past. But one wrong turn on a remote road and Jillian must face something far more terrifying than past demons.
Rick Brady â He has his own agenda, and itâs to find his fatherâs killer. Heâll use whatever measures are necessary â even the beautiful and tenacious Jillian Sorensen. But in order to do so, heâll have to get her to trust him first.
Megan Sorensen â Jillianâs adopted sister. Jillian has always fought Meganâs battles for her, so in her darkest hours, Megan trusts Jillian not to let her down.
Jim Brady â Eight years ago, he was the lead investigator for one of Charlestonâs most horrific crimes â The Midnight Run Murders. It was the one case that this seasoned detective could never walk away from. Even in retirement.
Debra Wert â Sheâs the unknown face that will become the task forceâs first break. And maybe the killerâs next victim.
Randy Gardner â Who hired him to kill Jillian? And when he died, why did he have Jim Bradyâs notebook in his pocket?
Detective Nate Langley â This Charleston County detective has no problem closing cases. But is his most recent one connected to The Midnight Run Murders?
Special Agent Thomas Durwood â Heâs one of the FBIâs best field agents. But is he good enough to save Megan Sorensen and the other victims?
Sheriff Ben Tanner â Heâs New Carlyle County, Pennsylvaniaâs sheriff and a family man.
Chapter One
Monday, 10:56 p.m.
âSo. Are we lost?â Taking her eyes off the dark road, Jillian Sorensen glanced over at her sister.
Theyâd left Cincinnati at eight that morning amid snow flurries, but as theyâd traveled south through North Carolina the temperature had climbed into the lower seventiesâbalmy by Ohio standardsâand theyâd lowered the convertible top.
Megan studied the road map a bit too intently. âWell?â Jillian prompted.
âThat depends.â
Jillian tried to capture the strand of hair that had worked loose from her ponytail. Taking a deep breath, she spoke again. âMegan? Whatâs the map say?â
Without looking up, Megan rotated the map beneath the flashlight beam. âSay? Were you expecting it to talk?â
âI figure the chance of it speaking is roughly the same as your being able to read it.â
The beginnings of a frown formed on Meganâs face. âKeep it upâ¦â
âCome on.â Jillian felt her already depleted patience hit rock bottom. âAfter thirteen hours behind the wheel, I want out of this car for more than the few minutes it takes to eat a meal or fill up the gas tank. Getting lost in a national forest isnât on my agenda.â
âThen youâre not going to like hearing this.â Megan gave a slight shrug. A bad sign. âWeâre on US 17A instead of US 17.â
âHowââ
âDoesnât matter,â Megan cut her off. âItâs no biggie. There should be a shortcut coming up here pretty quickly.â In an effort to read the small print, she held the map closer to her face. âIt looks like County Road 45.â
âLooks like?â Jillian slowed. âShow me.â
Just as Megan thrust the map forward, the flashlight flickered and then died. Dropping the map and the light, Megan pointed at the road ahead instead. âThereâs a sign. Highway 45. Do you see it on the left?â
Jillian made the turn, but then glanced over at her sister. âYouâre absolutely sure about this?â
âTrust me.â
âYou said that the last time you got us lost.â