Game On
Game On
Lillian Duncan
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.
Game On
COPYRIGHT 2016 by Lillian Duncan
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author or Pelican Ventures, LLC except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.
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Contact Information: [email protected]
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version
(R),
NIV
(R),
Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.⢠Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com
Cover Art by
Nicola Martinez
Harbourlight Books, a division of Pelican Ventures, LLC
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Harbourlight Books sail and mast logo is a trademark of Pelican Ventures, LLC
Publishing History
First Harbourlight Edition, 2016
Paperback Edition ISBN 9781611169904
Electronic Edition ISBN 9781611169911
Published in the United States of America
Dedication
This and all I do is for God's glory.
As always to my amazing husbandâmy partner in life and in writing!
To the wonderful doctors and nurses who've taken such good care of me since being diagnosed with brain tumors and NF 2, especially Dr. Steven Rosenfeld and Erin Vogan--because of your compassionate and excellent care, I can still hear the words I love to write!
What People Are Saying
DEADLY SILENCE
Deadly Silence is a sweet romance wrapped in page-turning suspense. Lillian Duncan paints enough suspicious characters to keep readers guessing who the villain is until the end. Great characterization and setting descriptions in a story sure to please readers who love suspense.
~Jo Huddleston, author of the West Virginia Mountains series
NO HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
No Home for the Holidays is like curling up with a special cup of coffee and a pumpkin muffin--a warm break for a cool day. Enjoy this quick, feel-good read soon!
~Linda Rondante, author of Looking For Justice
Not your average Christmas story, but the Gospel message still comes through. No Home for the Holidays is the perfect, quick read for the busy Christmas holidays.
~Ruth O'Neil author of the What a Difference a Year Makes series.
Lillian Duncan has outdone herself. "No Home For The Holidays" is a fast read but so enjoyable, I was sad when it ended. The story contains mystery, romance, and plenty of spiritual wisdom. Thank you Lillian for another hit just in time for Christmas.
~Barbara Ann Derksen, author of Shadow Stalker
1
Lucas McMann walked down the street, pretending everything was normal. With his premature gray hair and his expensive suit, he looked the part of a senator even if he wasn't one yet. And he never would beâif something didn't change soon.
Scanning the area, his heart rate increased with every step. Only the strictest discipline kept him from breaking into a run. If he did that, then they'd know he knew.
He didn't know why he'd been chosen to play the game. He didn't know what they wanted. He didn't even know who they were. There were many things he didn't know about the game, but Lucas knew one thing. In the end, he would be the winner.
The situation was intolerable, possibly even dangerous.
As he forced his footsteps to slow, his gaze flitted from person to person. Was the young girl with spiked pink hair one of them? Or the older man dressed as a tourist? Or the well-dressed man pretending to be a businessman?
It could be any of them or all of them. They were everywhere. No matter where he went, he couldn't get away from their prying eyes or their cameras. And now not even his home was safe. As they'd proven last week.
The Washington Monument towered over the city.
After all that he'd lost, his career was the only thing he had left. He'd never become the next US senator from North Carolina if he couldn't stop them. There was no way he could focus on the upcoming election if these people kept hounding him.
It was part of the plan his father had mapped out years before. It had worked perfectly up to this point. First, local government, then the state. He'd been a US congressman for the past four years. Now it was time to move up to the Senate. Each step moved him closer to his ultimate goalâthe White House.
President Lucas McMann? He wasn't even sure how he felt about that anymore. But his father had wanted this so badly, Lucas owed it to his dad to at least try now that he'd passed.
Focusing on the well-known landmark, Lucas regained a little more control of his thoughts, his emotions, and his rationality.
To win this game, he needed a new planâone to stop them.
To end the game for good.
Lucas approached a café. The sidewalk was filled with tourists and residents enjoying springtime in DC after a harsh winter. He bypassed the only empty table and went inside. He chose a seat facing the door. His muscles relaxed.
A waiter came up. “Know what you want?”
“A black coffee and a croissant.”
“Be right back.”
Lucas stared at the door.
A man walked in with a camera and aimed it at him.
Lucas grabbed a menu to put it in front of his face but was too late.
The man gave a wave and walked out with a satisfied grin.
The waiter brought his order.
Lucas gritted his teeth. For weeks, he'd been reacting to them, but no more. It was time for him to step up to the plate and make a game-changing play. It wouldn't be easy since he didn't know the rules, the players, or even the goal. He would have to step out of the box. Do the unexpected so he could take control. Then he would end it.
The waiter stopped at his table. “Need anything else?”
Lucas glanced at his name tag. “Thanks, Nick, I'm fine.”
Lucas fixated on the man's name. Nick. The name conjured up a glimmer of an idea. A person who might be able to help. Could she be the answer?
Lucas paid the bill and walked out. He stopped and blinked several times as if the sunshine was too bright. In reality, he was searching for them. Nobody seemed to be paying attention to him. He sauntered back towards the Capitol Building. Almost time for his appointment.
The plan was for the current senator to announce his retirement tomorrow and throw his support to Lucas. At the same time, Lucas would officially announce his bid for the Senate. Even though he'd unofficially been a candidate for the better part of a year.
A twenty-something woman walked towards him, a camera slung around her neck. She met his gaze and smiled. Actually, more of a smirk. Her hand caressed the camera slung around her neck. Another one.
His pulse rate skyrocketed.
Not waiting for the crosswalk, he zigzagged his way through stopped cars. Once he'd made it to the other side, he half-jogged, half-walked down the block.
“Mr. McMann,” a young voice called. “Mr. McMann.”
He slowed down and turned.
A young boy about eight or nine stood with a camera and a hopeful look. “Can I get a picture of you?”
Was he part of the game? It didn't seem likely. Taking a deep breath, Lucas smiled. “Sure thing, buddy.”
His father walked over. “I told him you'll probably be the next senator from North Carolina. But I didn't mean for him to bother you.”
Lucas smiled. “He's not a bother.”
The boy snapped a few pictures. “Thanks, Senator McMann.”
“I'm not a senator yet, son. But it does have a nice ring to it.” Lucas laughed even as he searched for the woman. She stood on the other side of the street, watching. Woman or not, he wouldn't ruin this boy's day in his nation's capital. “Hey, how about a selfie with the two of us?”
Grinning, the boy ran his hand through his hair as if that could improve his curly brown mop.
Lucas slung an arm around his shoulder while the boy held the phone camera at arm's length. When he was finished, he said, “Wow. My teacher will be impressed.”
“Maybe you'll get some extra credit.”
The woman across the street lifted her camera.
He turned his back and focused on the boy. “Where are you from?”
“We're from Wade, North Carolina.” The boy's grin revealed a missing tooth. “Just like you. It's a really small town.”
“My hometown of Maiden is small too.”
The boy's father shook Lucas's hand. “Nice of you to take time for my son. It's our first visit here.”
“It's a beautiful city.” Lucas glanced back at the woman. “Let me call my assistant and tell her to give you the VIP tour of the Capitol and the White House. What's your name?” After scheduling the VIP tour, Lucas said his goodbyes.
Anger coursed through him. Time to make that game-changing play. He sprinted down the street. Just before he turned the corner, he glanced back. She was still there, running to catch up.
Game on, lady! Let's see who can run faster.
People he passed looked alarmed, but he ignored them. He scanned the crowd. After several deep breaths, he smiled in triumph.
The woman was nowhere to be seen.
Now was the time to gain the advantage. He needed help. Someone he could trust. Someone with investigative experience. Someone those people wouldn't know. His mind flashed back to the waiter's name tag.
If she'd talk to him.
If she'd help him.
If she'd forgotten all about the past.
But those were mighty big ifs.
2
Nikki Kent gritted her teeth as she made a U-turn. What a way to start the day. Well, not exactly the startâit was almost noon. But as a private investigator, her days weren't nine to five. They might start at noon, like today, or at midnight.
On the track of a philandering husband, and she'd forgotten her camera. Oh well, it wouldn't take but a minute to pick up her camera at the office and get back to the seedy motel. They'd still be there, no doubt.
Nikki pulled into the strip mall where her office was located.
A man stood in front of the window that proudly announced this was the home of Kent Investigations. A new client perhaps?
Putting on her professional smile, she stepped out of her car.
He turned towards her.
Their gazes met.
An angry spark ignited inside Nikki. In an instant, the spark grew into a bonfire.
Lucas McMann walked towards her with a smile, his arms moving into position as if to hug her. “Nikki. You look beautiful.”
She sidestepped his outstretched arms. “What are you doing here?”
“Sorry about dropping in on you out of the blue, but I figured if I called, you'd hang up.” His voice had that slow Southern drawl she remembered, like warm honey.
Her heart thumped. She told herself it was only from the shock of him showing up unannounced. Of course, he was right. She would have hung up on him in a heartbeat, then had her phone disconnected. And maybe moved out of the area for good measure. But she wouldn't admit it. “You don't know what I would do or not do.”
“Why don't we go inside so we can talk in private?”
“We have nothing to talk about, and I'm in a hurry. I only stopped here to pick up something.”
Lucas put a hand on her arm. “Don't be that way, Nikki. I know things ended badly with us, but that was years ago. I need your help.”
Ended badly? That was an understatement.
“Need my help?” Her laugh was bitter as she removed his hand from her arm. He hadn't come here to give her a way-overdue apology, but because he needed something. Typical of the Mighty McManns. “That is priceless, but I don't think so.”