Today's Reading
PROLOGUE
Someone had to stop her. She was going to ruin everything if left to do what she had planned. He clenched the steering wheel and narrowed his eyes. He'd have to be subtle. He couldn't let her find out he was involved. He couldn't let anyone find out. The price was too high.
And he was already paying a very high price—one he couldn't afford to pay anymore. Refused to pay it. He could run. At the thought, he kept one hand on the wheel and reached out with the other to touch the bag on the passenger seat. He had enough money to leave, but a life of always looking over his shoulder wasn't for him. And she'd never stop looking for him. No, it was better this way. Get rid of her once and for all.
His gut tightened, nerves thrumming as he followed her. If he was truthful, he was afraid of her. Of what she would do if she caught him...
But no. His plan was solid. She'd never know it was him. And at this point, he had no choice. He had to risk it. She had to be stopped. He fingered the bag once more and thought of all the years of pain and abuse. Of what the bag's contents meant.
It was his means to the end. Period.
Without putting himself at risk.
He took a deep breath and went to implement the first step in the plan.
CHAPTER ONE
JANUARY
MONDAY NIGHT
7:00 P.M.
Deputy State Fire Marshal Jesslyn McCormick surveyed the charred remains of the building that used to house a thriving church community—her church community. It had burned last night, and firefighters had worked tirelessly to put the blaze out.
This afternoon, she'd been able to do her walk-through with the structural engineer and established a safe path from one end of the scene to the other while she examined and collected what she could. It had been enough.
Now she stood in silence, helmet on the ground beside her, gloves tucked into her protective coat pockets, working hard to contain her anguish. And even harder to suppress her tears at the thought of sweet Mr. Christie, a member of the cleaning service, lying in the hospital with second-degree burns and smoke inhalation that might very well kill him.
FBI Special Agent Nathan Carlisle stepped up beside her. "Are you all right?" His compassionate blue eyes nearly destroyed what was left of her composure. She wasn't supposed to cry on the job.
"No." Maybe she couldn't cry, but she could be honest. Nathan and his partner, Andrew Ross, had been called in because burning a church was considered a hate crime. She wouldn't be able to prove that intent until the suspect was caught, but best to bring in the FBI right from the start. ATF was also involved, along with the Lake City Police Department.
He placed a hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry. I mean it, Jesslyn."
His kind eyes said he really did. "Thanks."
"Do you need to sit this one out?" he asked, his voice low. "I'm sure another marshal wouldn't mind taking this one off your hands."
She shook her head. "No way. This one's personal." Which meant she probably should sit it out, but... nope. Not unless she was forced to.
"I don't blame you. I'd feel the same way."
She'd met Nathan a few months ago. He and Detective James Cross had become good friends during a law enforcement training event two years ago. When James needed a temporary partner at the Lake City Police Department, he put in for it while waiting for a position with the FBI. He was fortunate to get assigned to the Asheville, North Carolina, resident agency not long ago. There was some drama with his family, that much she knew, but no details were shared. Which was fine because the more she knew about him, the more she liked him. If she was honest with herself, she'd admit she'd grown fond of Nathan in record time. Too fond? Probably, but she wasn't going there. Not today.
...
