He rolled the weight of those two words around in his mind, feeling them, savoring them. Heâd actually felt like a father tonight. Or at least, the way he imagined being a father would feel.
And he had Melanie to thank.
In Cordâs entire life, no one had believed he was worth a damn. No one except Mel. And here she was believing again, after all that had happened, after all heâd done.
He wanted to lie down on the bed next to her and let the sway of the boat beneath them lull him into a dreamworld from which he never had to wake.
Too bad that wasnât possible.
To John, who holds my hand
while we watch our sons sleep. And special thanks to the Middleton Police Department for filling my notebook with answers to my many questions.
Ever since she was a little girl making her own books out of construction paper, Ann Voss Peterson wanted to write. So when it came time to choose a major at the University of Wisconsin, creative writing was her only choice. Of course, writing wasnât a practical choiceâone needs to earn a living. So Ann found jobs ranging from proofreading legal transcripts, to working with quarter horses, to washing windows. But no matter how she earned her paycheck, she continued to write the type of stories that captured her heart and imaginationâromantic suspense. Ann lives near Madison, Wisconsin, with her husband, her two young sons, her border collie and her quarter horse mare. Ann loves to hear from readers. E-mail her at [email protected] or visit her Web site at annvosspeterson.com.
Cordell âCordâ TurnerâAn ex-convict, Cord doesnât believe he has much to offer. But when his father, serial killer Dryden Kane, threatens the woman he loved and lost as a teen, Cord canât help making a vow to protect herâ¦and the son he never knew he had.
Melanie FristâWhen Cord was imprisoned for killing another teen in a gang fight, Melanie cut off all contact, even when she learned she was pregnant with his child. Now she will do anything to protect her son, from Dryden Kaneâ¦and from following in Cordâs footsteps.
Dryden KaneâWhen a horrible accident sets the notorious serial killer free, he takes stock of what is most important. And to him, the most important thing in the world is family. Right up there with manipulation, domination and control.
Ethan FristâLike any nine-year-old boy, Ethan needs a dad.
Reporter Aidan PowellâHe seems to have a source on the inside. Who is it?
Detective Reed McCaskeyâHe is determined to bring Dryden Kane down. Once and for all.
Detective Nikki ValducciâAs ambitious as she is beautiful, she is determined to build her career on the capture of Dryden Kane.
Detective Stan PerrethâSomeone is in the disagreeable detectiveâs sights. Dryden Kane? Or Reed McCaskey?
Officer HernsâHe believes people who mess with serial killers deserve what they get.
Meredith UngerâThe ace attorney wanted Kane as a client to share in his notoriety. With his escape, is the exposure getting too hot?
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Epilogue
Corrections Officer Dale Swiggum would have to tell his grandkids about this one.
Of course, it might help to actually have kids. Hell, it might help to have a regular girlfriend. But with this story in his arsenal, he was sure to impress that sexy little brunette who manned the checkout at the Piggly Wiggly.
He was going to be transferring Dryden Kane down to the county lockup to stand trial.
He leaned back in the driverâs seat and smiled. When heâd been notified of the transport just an hour ago, he knew the convict he was hauling had to be important. Most convicts were transported by bus in broad daylight when they had a court date. When an assignment came down in the middle of the night, it had to be something big. But Dryden Kane? The most notorious Wisconsin serial killer since Jeffrey Dahmer? That was bigger than even Dale could dream.
He peered out the bug-spattered windshield of the state van as the giant steel door slid open and four correctional officers led Kane into the underground garage. The killer looked small in his baggy, dayglow-orange jumpsuit. He did the prisoner shuffle, his legs shackled, hands cuffed and locked to a waist chain.
If Dale met him walking down the street, heâd never guess this average-size, good-looking guy with silver hair was a monster who had killed at least a dozen women. Hunted them like deer. And spread them out for the world to find.
Dale would have a story to tell, all right. He wouldnât have to pretend he was âabout somethingâ as the cons liked to say. He was about something.
The correctional officers led the shackled killer into the back of the van. After securing Kane to the bench, two officers climbed into the cage with him. The third climbed up front with Dale, and the fourth joined the chase car.