The Girl Who Disappeared Twice

Praise for New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author

andrea Kane

“Andrea Kane expertly juggles suspense and romance.”

—Iris Johansen

“Kane is a skilled writer, so the romantic complications … between her intelligent and driven main characters never get in the way of the suspense.”

—Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel

“Andrea Kane delivers the kind of edgy suspense and romantic tension that will rev up your pulse and keep you turning the pages.”

—Jayne Ann Krentz

“Tautly written, high-octane thrillers! Andrea Kane sets new standards for suspense.”

—Lisa Gardner

“Andrea Kane delivers a spine-tingling tale.”

—Strand magazine

“A real page-turner! A keep-you-up-all-night romantic suspense.”

—Karen Robards on Run for Your Life

“This chilling page-turner is a winner, with an atmosphere of terror that escalates to a stunning conclusion.”

—RT Book Reviews on I’ll Be Watching You

“Part brilliant character study, part icy thriller, here is a novel laced with romance and suspense.”

—James Rollins on Dark Room

“Kane is an adroit master at romantic suspense, and she keeps the reader guessing to the very end.”

—Booklist

ANDREA KANE’s groundbreaking romantic thriller, Run for Your Life, became an instant New York Times bestseller, paving the way for a series of smash hits focusing on the various cases investigated by NYPD detectives and FBI special agents. With a worldwide following and novels published in nineteen countries, Kane is also the bestselling author of fourteen historical romance novels. She lives in New Jersey with her family, where she is learning new ways to sharpen her firearms and investigative skills like a true FBI agent. Between target practices, she is researching and writing her next supercharged romantic thriller.

www.AndreaKane.com

The Girl Who Disappeared Twice

Andrea Kane

www.mirabooks.co.uk

To Freddy,

the heroic FBI Tactical Canine Dog who was killed in the line of duty. Thank you for protecting our country. I hope my bloodhound, Hero, is a fitting tribute to you and all the other brave service dogs like you.

With deepest gratitude to all those amazing professionals who so graciously gave of their time and helped provide me with the authenticity I needed to write The Girl Who Disappeared Twice. The list is long, and in no specific order. I thank each and every one of you.

Angela Bell, Public Affairs Specialist, FBI Office of Public Affairs (Angela, you’re the exception to my rule—you’re always first, because you’re the most extraordinary central contact I could ever hope for!)

Arthur Cummings II, Former Executive Assistant Director, FBI National Security Branch

SSA James McNamara, FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit 2

SA Konrad Motyka, FBI New York

SA James Margolin, FBI Office of Public Affairs, New York Field Office

SSA Michael Harkins, Coordinating Supervisor, Violent Crime/Gangs Branch, FBI New York Field Office

SSRA Michael Ferrandino, FBI Long Island Resident Agency

SSA Leonard Johns, Formerly of the FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit 3

SSA Thomas Lintner, Chief FBI Laboratory’s Evidence Response Team Unit

SSA Rex Stockham, Program Manager for FBI Laboratory’s Forensic Canine Program

SSRA Edward McCabe, FBI White Plains Resident Agency

SA Tonya DeSa, FBI Newark Division National Academy Coordinator, NCAVC Coordinator, Assistant Training Coordinator

SA Laura Robinson, Senior Team Leader, Evidence Response Team, FBI Newark Field Office

SA Maria Johnson, NCAVC Coordinator, FBI New York Field Office

Retired SA Richard DeFilippo, Violent Crimes Task Force, FBI New York Field Office

Robert D’Angelo, Chief of Police, North Castle, New York

Retired FBI SA Richard Mika

SA Ann Todd, FBI Office of Public Affairs

Retired Detective Mike Oliver, NYPD

Jennifer Michelson, New Jersey Search and Rescue Dog Task Force

Hillel Ben-Asher, M.D.

In addition, I want to thank Adam Wilson, for being a true editorial partner, and Andrea Cirillo and Christina Hogrebe, for being agents and advocates extraordinaire.

And last, but always first, I want to thank my family, who’s there from start to finish … and then some. I love and appreciate you more than you’ll ever know.

Westchester County, New York

Summer, thirty-two years ago

When six-year-old Felicity Akerman went to bed that night, she had no idea that life as she knew it was about to change forever.

She settled under the light cotton blanket and put her head on the pillow, her long blond hair tied back in a ponytail because of the heat. She was wearing her favorite short-sleeve nightshirt with the bright orange soccer balls on it. She had to wear it tonight. It was like a gold star on a perfect spelling test. A prize. A big win.

That’s what today’s game had been. The doctor hadn’t been too sure about letting her play. Neither had her mom and dad. But she’d talked them into it, and gotten the okay she was holding her breath for. No one understood how miserable she’d been, sitting on the sidelines all summer long since she broke her arm. But it was better now. No more cast. No more pain. No reason to wait.