The Girl Who Cried Murder
A cold case is reopened, placing a witness in the crosshairs–and a bodyguard by her side…Charlie Winters has caught security expert Mike Strong's attention. A member of his self-defense class, she seems to need to know more than just how to protect herself. After a little digging, Mike discovers that the cute redhead has a reason to worry–she may have witnessed a murder. Using all of his connections, Mike tries to solve the cold case. But as Charlie's memories from the past begin to resurface, her future seems marked for death. Offering up his skills as a bodyguard, Mike promises not to leave her side. And Charlie's obvious relief at not having to fight alone convinces him there's much more to this mystery he has yet to uncover.
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A cold case is reopened, placing a witness in the crosshairsâand a bodyguard by her sideâ¦
Charlie Winters has caught security expert Mike Strongâs attention. A member of his self-defense class, she seems to need to know more than just how to protect herself. After a little digging, Mike discovers that the cute redhead has a reason to worryâshe may have witnessed a murder. Using all of his connections, Mike tries to solve the cold case. But as Charlieâs memories from the past begin to resurface, her future seems marked for death. Offering up his skills as a bodyguard, Mike promises not to leave her side. And Charlieâs obvious relief at not having to fight alone convinces him thereâs much more to this mystery he has yet to uncover.
âIf you have any specific questions about how to protect yourself, you can always ask.â
âIf I do, I will,â she said, not sure she meant it. He was giving off all the vibes of a man who was suspicious of her motives as it was. The last thing she needed to do was pique his curiosity.
âSo, Iâll see you this afternoon in the intermediate course?â Mike glanced at her, his expression suggesting he wasnât sure sheâd say yes.
But he wanted her to say yes, she realized. The question was, why?
âYes,â she said finally. âIâll be there.â
âCan you stick around for the rest of the class?â
âI get to be the damsel in distress?â
He shook his head slowly. âThe one thing Iâm pretty sure youâve never been, Charlie, is the damsel in distress.â
PAULA GRAVES, an Alabama native, wrote her first book at the age of six. A voracious reader, Paula loves books that pair tantalizing mystery with compelling romance. When sheâs not reading or writing, she works as a creative director for a Birmingham advertising agency and spends time with her family and friends. Paula invites readers to visit her website, paulagraves.com.
Charlie WintersâTen years ago, her best friend died in a hit-and-run accident. Charlie remembers little of the night, but sheâs convinced Aliceâs death was no accident. But will her decision to uncover the truth put her own life in danger?
Mike StrongâThe Campbell Cove Academy instructor quickly realizes Charlie has an ulterior motive for taking his self-defense course. At first, he sees her as a puzzle to be solved, but when someone makes an attempt on her life, he makes her safety his number one priority.
Alice BeardenâShe was keeping a secret from Charlie the night she died. What was it? Did it lead to her death?
Maddox HellerâOne of Mikeâs bosses, Heller thinks Charlieâs case is a good chance for Mike to hone his investigative skills.
Craig BeardenâAliceâs father has made his daughterâs death a driving reason for his run for political office. How will he react if it turns out her death wasnât what he thought?
Diana BeardenâAliceâs mother has focused her life on her husbandâs political career. Is it a way to cope with the loss of her daughter? Or does she have her own secrets she wants to keep hidden?
Archer TraskâThe police detective has never forgotten Aliceâs death. It was his first case as a detective, and heâs never been convinced it was just an accident.
Randall FeeneyâCraig Beardenâs right-hand man will do anything to protect his boss. Does that include murder?
For Jenn and her mad brainstorming skills.
Contents
Mike Strong scanned the gymnasium for trouble, as he did every time he walked into a room. Fifteen years in the Marine Corps, in war zones from Africa to Central Asia, had taught him the wisdom of being alert and being prepared. All that training hadnât gone out the window when heâd left the Marines for life as a security consultant.
Especially at a company like Campbell Cove Security Services, where preparation for any threat was the companyâs mission statement.
The new 6:00 a.m. class was amateur hourâotherwise unschooled civilians coming in for an hour of self-defense and situational awareness training before heading off to their jobs at the factory or the grocery store or the local burger joint. In all likelihood, none of them would ever have to draw on their training in any meaningful way.
But all it took was once.
His later classes were more advanced, designed to give law enforcement officers and others with previous defense training new tactics to deal with the ever more complicated task of defending the US homeland. Heâd come into this job thinking those classes would be more challenging.
But if the newest arrival was any indication, he might have been wrong about that.
She was tall, red-haired, pretty in a girl-next-door sort of way. Pert nose, a scattering of freckles in her pale complexion, big hazel-green eyes darting around the room with the same âlooking for troubleâ alertness heâd displayed a moment earlier. Beneath her loose-fitting T-shirt and snug-fitting yoga pants, she appeared lean and toned. A hint of coltish energy vibrated through her as she began a series of muscle stretches while her eyes continued their scan of the room.
