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CONTENTS

Title Page

Copyright Notice

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Stay Tuned

Also by Iris Johansen

About the Author

Copyright

CHAPTER

1

Goldfork, Colorado

7:35 A.M.

HE WAS READY.

Jim Doane drew a deep breath as he locked the front door of the small cedar house behind him. All the searching and planning was at an end, and now it was time to put the plan into action.

Soon, Kevin. I know it’s been a long time, but I had to be sure before I moved forward. Everything has to be in place.

He threw his suitcase into the trunk of the car, then carried his metal toolbox and shoved it onto the passenger seat. Then he climbed into the driver’s seat and started the car.

“Doane, wait.” His neighbor Ralph Hodder was running toward him across the postage stamp–sized lawn that separated their houses. “Did you think you were going to get away before I saw you?” He was breathing heavily as he stopped beside Doane’s car. He was overweight, and even the short run had robbed him of breath. “No way, man.”

“Yeah?” He tensed, then deliberately forced himself to relax. Hodder was no threat. He was overreacting. “Do you need something, Ralph?”

“Yeah, I need to thank you. My son said that you were going to be gone for quite a while, and I just wanted you to know I’d keep an eye on your place.” He clapped him on the shoulder. “We’ll miss you. You’ve been a good friend to Matt, a real role model, and Leah and I appreciate it. Raising a teenage kid is always a headache, but having you next door, helping him work on that old car, and letting him talk to you has made it easier.”

“No problem. Matt’s a fine boy, and I was glad to help. In the end, the most precious things we have are our children.”

“You’re right there.” His smile faded. “Matt said you were leaving because you had family trouble. I hope that everything will be okay.”

“It will be fine. But it may take a little while, so I’m grateful that you’re going to watch the place.” He’d better pretend to be concerned. It wouldn’t do to let Hodder know he’d been tempted to burn the place to the ground. “I’ll call you now and then and check on it if that’s all right.”

“We’ll be glad to hear from you. I’ll have Matt cut your grass until you get back.” He stepped back from the car. “You’ve been a great neighbor, Doane. I’ll try to be one, too. Thanks for being good to my son.”

“Take care of that boy,” Doane said as he backed down the driveway. “You never realize how much you love them until you lose them. Believe me, I know.”

But that wasn’t true; he had known how much he had loved his son from the moment he had been born. It hadn’t taken loss to drive that truth home. His Kevin had been extraordinary in every way, and being his father had dominated his life.

Until that bastard had taken away his son.

He controlled the flare of rage that went through him. He could not afford anger now that the game had begun. Everything must go according to plan. All the sorrow and rage must be put away until he had the weapon he needed to satisfy it.

He checked his GPS, which was already set for Atlanta, Georgia, and pulled out his address book. He hesitated, then carefully looked around him before he reached over and unfastened the large tool chest on the passenger seat and flipped open the lid.

He needed to share this first moment of the journey with his son. They had both waited far too long. He drew back the velvet cover he had draped over the silk nest he had built in the interior of the tool chest. “We’re on our way, Kevin. I’m keeping my promise.”

The empty eyeholes of the burned and blackened skull gazed up at him.

Pain shot through him. After all these years, you would have thought he’d become accustomed to the horror, but there were still moments like this when it hit home. He remembered what a handsome boy Kevin had been and his sweet smile and the way he … Tears stung his eyes. He reached out and deliberately touched the skull. “Forgive me. I still love you. I’ll always love you.” His gaze lifted to the photo of the woman taped to the lid of the tool chest. “She’ll give you back to me the way you were.” His lips tightened. “And then she’ll give us the son of a bitch who did this to you.” He gave one last look at the skull before he closed the lid. “She can do it all, Kevin. We’ll see that she makes it happen.”

He reached forward to the GPS and typed in Eve Duncan’s address.

*   *   *

DARKNESS! SMOTHERING. No breath! Can’t breathe.

“Hey, wake up.” Joe’s lips brushed Eve’s as he cuddled her closer in the bed. “Nightmare alert.”

Her eyes flew open, and she stared up at him. Joe. Smiling. Safety. She immediately relaxed and drew a deep breath. “I’m awake. Sorry.”

“Nothing to be sorry about. You were just panting as if someone were trying to smother you.” He stood up. “I thought you should wake up and get back to the real world.”

Smothering. Yes, she vaguely remembered that sensation. Darkness closing in and something, someone, fighting to keep the smothering suffocation away from her. “I’m duly grateful.” She sat up in bed. “Not a pleasant dream.” She tilted her head. “You’re already dressed. Are you going in to the precinct this morning? I thought you had a plane to catch. That Miami court case.”

“Later today. Paperwork this morning.” He pulled her from bed. “Come on. Have coffee with me before I leave.”

“Gladly. I definitely don’t want to go back to sleep.” She grabbed her robe and followed him out of the bedroom. “And I have to work on Ryan’s reconstruction anyway. I made a lot of headway last night, and I might finish today.” She passed the worktable and dais where the little boy’s skull was placed, waiting for the final forensic sculpting. “It’s going well.”

“They all go well.” He handed her a cup of coffee. “They wouldn’t dare do anything else. You’re the best, aren’t you?”

“One of the best.” She took the coffee and went out on the porch. The early-morning sunlight was shimmering on the lake, and the air was cool and clear. “And they do not all go well. Sometimes things seem to get in the way. Why are you being so complimentary?”

“What can I say? I’m just a man.” He chuckled as he sat down in the swing and pulled her into his arms. “I’m encouraging you to have good thoughts while I’m gone so that I can look forward to one hell of a homecoming celebration.”

“You’re only going to be gone two days,” she said dryly. “I’ll hardly have time to miss you.”

“You really know how to hurt a guy.”

“I’ll miss you,” she whispered as she cuddled closer. Moments like this were precious. They had been together for so many years, and yet the love kept deepening with the passing of time. “Maybe. Who knows? I might have another nightmare.” She gave him a quick kiss. “You’re my hero.”

“It was that bad?”