Paula Graves - Secret Keeper

HER MISSING MEMORIES COULD BLOW THEIR CASE WIDE OPEN

Although a missing Annie Harlowe and her entire family were at the forefront of a Cooper Security investigation, Wade Cooper never expected to stumble upon the half-conscious beauty in his own backyard. Thankfully, Annie had somehow escaped her captors. Unfortunately, she had no memory of the past three weeks. Before long, the memories slowly began to return—and the threats to her life turned deadlier. And although her well-being was becoming more than just an assignment, Annie’s safety remained the battle-scarred marine’s top priority. Still, for a man who’d avoided the risks a relationship was bound to bring, could Wade really walk away once this case was closed? And what could his future possibly hold if he did?

“We’re a pair,” she said with a smile. “You’re all bitter and gimpy, and I’m muddle-headed and weak as a kitten.”

He laughed aloud, as if surprised by her blunt candor. “Bitter and gimpy, huh?” He pushed away from the tree trunk and patted the pistol he had tucked into a waistband holster attached to his jeans. “Well, that’s where the Glock comes in handy. The great equalizer.”

She eyed the gun, realizing for the first time that she’d allowed herself to go out in the woods alone with an armed stranger. Just how desperate had she become to find someone to trust?

Even now, with the possibility of treachery placed firmly in her head, she didn’t feel afraid of Wade Cooper. Every instinct she had told her he was one of the good guys.

But could she really trust her instincts, with so much of her memory missing?

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Alabama native Paula Graves wrote her first book, a mystery starring herself and her neighborhood friends, at the age of six. A voracious reader, Paula loves books that pair tantalizing mystery with compelling romance. When she’s not reading or writing, she works as a creative director for a Birmingham advertising agency and spends time with her family and friends. She is a member of Southern Magic Romance Writers, Heart of Dixie Romance Writers and Romance Writers of America.

Paula invites readers to visit her website, www.paulagraves.com.

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CAST OF CHARACTERS

Annie Harlowe—The D.C.-based reporter has no memory of the past three weeks of her life, or what happened to her parents, who had disappeared with her. Now Wade Cooper says she can trust him to keep her safe. But how can she trust anyone?

Wade Cooper—A war injury has left the former marine feeling like anything but a hero, but when a kidnapped woman escapes her captors and needs his help just to stay alive, can Wade rediscover his inner warrior?

General Emmett Harlowe—The air force general was one of three generals in charge of a dangerous peacekeeping mission in a war-plagued country in Central Asia. Are the national security secrets he possesses the reason for his recent abduction? Or does it have something to do with a mysterious coded journal?

General Edward Ross—The late army general kept a coded journal during his last few years of service. Now a whole lot of dangerous people want to get their hands on the journal. What secrets does it contain?

Security Services Unit (SSU)—MacLear Security’s secret unit disbanded when the company fell to scandal. But many of the operatives are still working as mercenaries, with no moral code to guide them besides greed, making them extremely dangerous.

Jesse Cooper—Wade’s brother is determined to figure out the secrets in the coded journal, certain the answer could help protect the country against dangerous forces aligned against it. But how far will he go, what will he risk, for the answers?

Evie Marsh—The daughter of U.S. Marine Corps general Baxter Marsh is convinced her father holds a key to the coded journal. But can she convince her stubborn parent to share what he knows with Cooper Security?

For my fellow Intrigue authors,

who are a fine bunch of writers and an endless source

of encouragement, experience and support.

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Excerpt

Chapter One

Stars glittered across the vast wasteland spreading in front of her, blurred by the rain pouring down her face and into her eyes.

No, she thought, struggling for lucidity. Not stars. Couldn’t be stars. Not on the ground.

Water. Must be water.

Water. Water everywhere....

A large, dark shape loomed ahead, slumbering in the downpour. No lights there, she thought bleakly. Just a hulking black nothing that should have been her salvation.

Marsh. The name came to her fuzzy brain, clawing for a foothold. General Marsh. Get General Marsh. General Marsh can help.

But General Marsh wasn’t home.

She stumbled forward, coming to a stop only when she crashed sideways into the rough clapboard siding of the dark, silent house.

Maybe they were sleeping.

Her eyes drifted shut. Sleep. She needed sleep.

Some remnant of purpose slithered like a serpent deep inside her, jerking her back to unwanted consciousness. Her head throbbed in protest, but she pushed to her feet and weaved across the soggy ground to the front of the house.

The porch was wide but low slung, accessible by a couple of stumbling steps upward. She landed with a half tumble and caught herself on the old cane-bottomed rocker sitting by the front wall. Somehow avoiding an ungainly slump to the floor, she banged three times on the door. Cheek pressed against the solid wood, she listened for any sounds of movement from inside.

She heard nothing.

Tears burned her aching eyes, but she blinked them back, telling herself it was only the rain. Harlowes didn’t cry.

She banged her hand against the door again with a sobbing gasp.

No answer.

She shoved away from the door, swaying toward the porch stairs. As she gripped the slick railing, the world seemed to twirl around her for a moment. Somehow, she made it safely to the bottom step.

But she didn’t see the flagstone hidden in the rain-washed gloom.

Her toe caught the edge of the stone and she pitched forward. She tried to catch herself but her hand slipped on the wet grass and she hit hard, headfirst, on another flat stone.

Pain arced through her with a shower of bright sparkles. She pressed her hand to the side of her forehead and felt warm liquid mingling with the cold rain.

In the low light gleaming off the water, she saw rivulets of darkness spreading over her pale fingers. As she stared at the confusing sight, another drop of blackness splashed onto her palm. She had to wipe it off.

She dug her hands in the pockets of her jeans. The left side was empty, but in the right, she felt something thin and silky stuffed down into the bottom. She pulled it free and found herself holding a scarf.