Love Inspired Suspense June 2014 Bundle 2 of 2: Forced Alliance\Out for Justice\No Place to Run (41 page)

JT reached the edge of his property and turned toward the house he'd just left.

Who exactly had been on the other end of that call to bring such terror to Faith McKenzie's eyes? The way she reacted to his sudden appearance, even after she realized he posed no threat, pointed to someone who didn't know her stalker's identity. If so, then every stranger she met would represent a possible risk.

The detective in him wanted to know what she was hiding in her past. A woman so young didn't move to an isolated town like Hope Island without just cause.

Whatever it was, it has nothing to do with you
, he said to himself. He had offered his help. If she didn't accept it, there wasn't much else he could do.

Still, out of curiosity, JT grabbed his cell phone and called Derek Thomas, his good friend and one of the founding members of Wyatt Securities.

“Hey, I need you to do me a favor,” JT said without bothering to return Derek's hello. “Can you do a background check on someone?”

It wasn't unusual for JT to ask for Derek's help in this manner. After all, he was a computer genius and could uncover anyone's secrets no matter how deeply hidden. “Sure, pal, whatever you need. Who do you want me to check on?”

“Her name is Faith McKenzie. She rented the old Fitzgerald house down the beach from me.”

“I see. What's your concern with her?” He could tell from Derek's tone that he thought it odd JT wanted a background check done on his neighbor.

“I'm not sure.” He briefly filled in his friend on the chase that ensued after he stopped by Faith's place to return her dog to her. “From her over-the-top reaction, I think someone is stalking her and my gut tells me this isn't the first time it's happened, either.”

Six months after his wife's death, JT had left the police force because he couldn't bear the constant reminder of how he'd let Emily down. He'd founded Wyatt Securities along with Derek and another close friend, Teddy Warren. He hadn't been able to help Emily, but he was determined not to let such a tragedy befall another innocent person on this island.

“I want to know what she's hiding. If it's any help, she has a very distinctive Texas accent. She's obviously lived there at some time in her past.”

After a slight hesitation, Derek said, “I'll get started on it right away.”

“Good. What were you up to before I interrupted your evening?” JT could hear the TV in the background.

“Listening to the Weather Channel mostly. There's a tropical storm building strength in the Atlantic.”

JT blew out a sigh. “Yeah, I heard.” The storm in question was all over the radio lately. Every time the Weather Bureau issued a warning, people up and down the coast went on full alert. With everything going on at work, this was the last thing JT needed. If the storm kept gaining strength, he'd have to stockpile necessities and weatherproof the house just in case.

“If it keeps on the path it's on now, the entire East Coast is within its strike zone. Who knows where it'll hit. I'm still praying it will lose strength before it gets close.” Derek paused. “Well, I'd better get a move on. I'll give you a call as soon as I have something on your neighbor.”

“Thanks, buddy. I don't know what I'd do without you.” JT disconnected the call and unlocked the back door. As he stepped inside the house, his cell phone rang again. Liz's number popped up on the caller ID. She worried about him; that's what big sisters did. He touched the ignore button. He would call her back tomorrow. Right now, he couldn't get his mind off the terrified woman down the beach.

Was he simply trying to find redemption for failing Emily by helping a stranger in need? Possibly, yet there was something different about Faith McKenzie.

Get her out of your mind, Wyatt. You have plenty of real concerns in your life to be worried about.
He grabbed his laptop and cleared off enough space at the kitchen table to set up shop, while ignoring the reminders scattered around the house of things he should be doing. Like finishing the drywall in the great room, not to mention getting the cabinets hung in the kitchen so he could finally put dishes away.

Instead, he started brewing a pot of coffee and dove into work. In the security world, business was booming. On average, over the past year, the company had a couple of new clients sign on every month. If things kept growing at this rate, he would need to hire additional staff just to keep up.

JT was halfway through writing a proposal for the global energy firm when Derek called back.

“That was fast.”

As usual, his friend didn't mince words. “It took some doing, but I was able to find a copy of her lease agreement for the house. Since the Fitzgeralds didn't have any living relatives, the county commissioned a real estate agency to sell the house. In the current market, selling a house that size is next to impossible so the agency agreed to put it up for rent, which meant the agreement was on file at county records.” Derek cleared his throat. “Apparently, the leasing agent didn't do a credit check, because the name McKenzie didn't match up with the social security number on the application. That social corresponds to a Faith Davenport who was originally from Oklahoma City, but moved to Austin, Texas when she was a teenager.”

This bit of news wasn't a surprise. “Figures. She changed her name because she's running from someone.”

“Probably,” Derek confirmed. “Her past is sketchy. Parents died when she was ten and she ended up in foster care. She ran away to Texas when she was a teenager. It appears she turned her life around. Finished school and got an accounting degree from the University of Texas—all online. She doesn't appear to have much of a presence online now. I'm still digging. I'll know more soon.”

“Good.”

“So what are you thinking about doing?” Derek asked the expected question. He knew JT well enough to know he hadn't wanted the information just to satisfy his curiosity.

JT stared out the kitchen window. In the darkness, all he could see was his own troubled reflection. “I'm not sure, but if anyone needs our help it's Faith McKenzie.”

Copyright © 2014 by Mary Eason

ISBN-13: 9781460333877

OUT FOR JUSTICE

Copyright © 2014 by Carol J. Post

All rights reserved. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical,
now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada M3B 3K9.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either 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. This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

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www.Harlequin.com

“DON'T THINK YOU CAN GET AWAY WITH IT.”

Just when she started to feel safe, small-town librarian Lorie Narramore begins receiving threatening notes. They prove that her worst fears have come true—her dark past has followed her to Arkansas. And someone wants her to pay for what she's done. As the threats turn into full-scale attacks, Lorie has no choice but to rely on deputy sheriff Matt MacGregor's protection. But after her harrowing ordeal with the law, can she truly trust a cop? And can Matt trust her to tell him the truth when the threats claim she's gotten away with murder?

Lorie's cell phone rang.

Lorie checked the display, then looked at Matt. “I don't know who this is.”

Matt flipped open the phone and hit the answer button, putting it on speaker.

“You have been a very naughty girl, haven't you, going to the law like that. Shame on you.” The robot-processed voice was back.

Lorie turned pale. Matt put a finger to his lips.

“But then you know that, don't you? I'm surprised at you, trusting a deputy. When he finds out the truth, you'll finally be accountable.”

Combined with the call Gerhardt had fielded, all
Matt's dark suspicions came flooding back.
Was
she responsible for more than justifiable homicide? Lorie's expression held no hint of guilt, just confusion and fear.

“Why are you tormenting me?” Lorie demanded. “What did I ever do to you?”

“Why, you killed Grayson, of course. You have to be punished for that, since the court let you go. You'll finally get what you deserve. I hope your life insurance is up-to-date.”

MARION FAITH LAIRD

shares a house with her mom and a gazillion books. She plays assorted musical instruments, including the organ at her church, composes and arranges music, sings, acts, and occasionally indulges in artwork. She's always had characters running around in her brain, and is glad she has a new way to share them with others.

In addition to the arts, Marion loves making things. She'd time-travel to the Renaissance if she could to study art technique, but she'd always come back home for her computer.

Growing up in a navy family, Marion has lived from one end of the U.S. to the other, and changed schools and curricula like some kids change shoes. Her peripatetic upbringing has given her a lifelong love of travel and learning, as well as awareness that while people's customs may differ, their hearts are the same.

Marion is a member of Romance Writers of America and American Christian Fiction Writers.

NO PLACE TO RUN

Marion Faith Laird

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

—John
14:27

For Mom, who inspired me to read because she always was, and to write because she wrote and told amazing stories! I'm glad she's here to read this.

And for Dad, who always encouraged me to follow my dreams. I wish he could hold a copy of this book, but I'm sure he knows.

Acknowledgments

Special thanks to my friend Anne, who introduced me to Love Inspired books back when they were Steeple Hill. I believe I can safely say that if it wasn't for her, this book wouldn't have been written. She'll always have a special place in our hearts' albums.

I'm indebted to the generous writers who helped me fine-tune my first chapter and cover blurb entry in Harlequin/Mills & Boon's annual So You Think You Can Write contest, especially Laura Hamby, Valerie Parv, Rachel J. Stevens and Kathi Robb Harris. I also thank Danica Favorite, who assured me that the editors would contact anyone whose work they wanted to see, even if the manuscript didn't make it past the first round of voting. Many thanks to Tina James, who requested the full manuscript and a synopsis, Lynette Eason, who helped me improve my synopsis, and to Elizabeth Mazer, my editor, who called and bought the book! Through the revision process, she's helped make it so much better than it was in its beginning!

Thanks also to Cheryl Wyatt. I've started many a story from her writing challenges (although not this one). I also appreciate the writing challenges
on
the Community Boards at Harlequin, and the interactive novel writing at PanHistoria.com. It's been said it takes a village to raise a child. I'm beginning to think it takes a village to nurture a writer! Many thanks to all my “villages,” and to more of my “villagers,” (in alphabetical order) Diana Cosby, Margaret Daley, Nell Dixon, Rachelle McCalla, Shirlee McCoy, Camy Tang and Janet Tronstad.