Thin Ice (35 page)

When he at last emerged into a clearing, breathing harder than he should be after a quarter-mile run, a large, meandering lake stretched before him.

A scream to his right directed his attention to a small cabin perched on a slight rise above the water, a hundred yards away.

Ignoring the protests of his left leg, he sprinted toward the log structure, where light shone from behind curtains in several windows. Not helpful. The element of surprise worked best if you entered in an optimal spot. If he could determine the woman's location . . .

As if on cue, another scream pierced the air.

As best he could tell, she was in the back of the cabin, left side.

Beretta in hand, he raced toward the log structure, staying in the shadows at the edge of the woods. Too bad he didn't have his trusty M4—but that kind of equipment wasn't part of his standard issue anymore. Nor would it be again. He might be unclear about a lot of stuff, but that much he knew.

Still, a Beretta could be as deadly as an assault rifle in a shootout, if it came to that.

He hoped it didn't. He wasn't up for a life-and-death battle, physically or emotionally.

That, however, was a moot point.

Because something bad was going down in this cabin, and ducking out when things got dicey wasn't part of the McGregor DNA.

Bending low, he dashed from the cover of the woods to the structure. Flattening his back against the rough-hewn logs, he eased around the corner, to the rear wall.

All clear.

He crouched lower and edged close to the dim light shining from the window of the room he'd pinpointed. It was open halfway—no wonder the scream had carried in the quiet country air. But the shade was pulled all the way down, and a screen stood between it and him.

Might there be a window open somewhere else that would allow less obvious access?

Circling back to the front of the cabin, he checked every window.

Bingo.

One was cracked.

He pulled his knife out of its sheath, dispensed with the screen, and worked the sash up. A slight tip of the shade revealed that the space on the other side was clear, and he slipped inside—just as another terror-filled scream ricocheted through the house.

Sheathing the blade, he flexed his fingers on the Beretta and slipped noiselessly through the living room, ticking through the factors in his favor as he psyched himself up for a confrontation that was liable to become violent.

The element of surprise was on his side.

He was armed.

He'd led dozens of successful assault and rescue missions.

No matter what he found on the other side of the closed door looming ahead down the hall, he could handle the situation.
Would
handle it.

Whatever it took.

S
uspense books require a great deal of research, and I am indebted to the following people for their generous assistance with
Thin
Ice
.

FBI veteran Tom Becker, now chief of police in Frontenac, Missouri, who answered the countless questions that arose over the many months it took to write this book. Thank you for your speed and thoroughness. Your input gave this book its polish of authenticity.

Captain Ed Nestor from the Chesterfield, Missouri, Police Department, my first law enforcement contact. Thank you for connecting me to amazing sources, who in turn led me to other sources. The incredible network I now have started with you!

I'd also like to thank the following:

The superlative team at Revell. I look forward to doing many more books with you.

My mom and dad—my first fans! God smiled on me the day he made you my parents.

The readers who enjoy my books. Because of you, I get to tell stories for a living . . . and I give thanks for you every day.

And finally, my husband, Tom. The memories of the happy times we've shared are among my greatest treasures.

Irene Hannon
is a bestselling, award-winning author who took the publishing world by storm at the tender age of ten with a sparkling piece of fiction that received national attention.

Okay . . . maybe that's a slight exaggeration. But she
was
one of the honorees in a complete-the-story contest conducted by a national children's magazine. And she likes to think of that as her “official” fiction-writing debut!

Since then, she has written more than fifty contemporary romance and romantic suspense novels. Irene is a seven-time finalist and three-time winner of the RITA award—the “Oscar” of romantic fiction—from Romance Writers of America. She is also a member of that organization's elite Hall of Fame. Her books have been honored with a National Readers' Choice award, three HOLT medallions, a Daphne du Maurier award, a Retailers Choice award, two Booksellers' Best awards, a Carol award, and two Reviewers' Choice awards from
RT Book Reviews
magazine. In addition, she is a two-time Christy award finalist.

Irene, who holds a BA in psychology and an MA in journalism, juggled two careers for many years until she gave up her executive corporate communications position with a Fortune
500 company to write full-time. She is happy to say she has no regrets! As she points out, leaving behind the rush-hour commute, corporate politics, and a relentless BlackBerry that never slept was no sacrifice.

A trained vocalist, Irene has sung the leading role in numerous community musical theater productions and is also a soloist at her church.

When not otherwise occupied, she and her husband enjoy traveling, Saturday mornings at their favorite coffee shop, and spending time with family. They make their home in Missouri.

To learn more about Irene and her books, visit
www.irenehannon.com
. She is also active on Facebook and Twitter.

H
EROES
O
F
Q
UANTICO

Against All Odds

An Eye for an Eye

In Harm's Way

G
UARDIANS
OF
J
USTICE

Fatal Judgment

Deadly Pursuit

Lethal Legacy

P
RIVATE
J
USTICE

Vanished

Trapped

Deceived

M
EN
OF
V
ALOR

Buried Secrets

Thin Ice

That Certain Summer

One Perfect Spring

Hope Harbor

www.IreneHannon.com

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