Maggie K. Black - Cold Case Secrets

The Canadian wilderness can be deadly

A gripping True North Heroes romance

Solving his sister’s murder is Mountie Jacob Henry’s only priority—until his daring helicopter rescue of Grace Finch leaves them stranded in the Canadian wilderness. Now with a storm raging and escaped convicts in pursuit, Jacob and Grace must rely on each other for survival. But when Jacob discovers Grace’s deadly secret, can he look past it in the fight for their lives?

MAGGIE K. BLACKis an award-winning journalist and romantic suspense author with an insatiable love of traveling the world. She has lived in the American South, Europe and the Middle East. She now makes her home in Canada with her history-teacher husband, their two beautiful girls and a small but mighty dog. Maggie enjoys connecting with her readers at maggiekblack.com.

Also By Maggie K. Black

True North Heroes

Undercover Holiday Fiancée

The Littlest Target

Rescuing His Secret Child

Cold Case Secrets

Amish Witness Protection

Amish Hideout

Military K-9 Unit

Standing Fast

True North Bodyguards

Kidnapped at Christmas

Rescue at Cedar Lake

Protective Measures

Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk.

Cold Case Secrets

Maggie K. Black

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-1-474-09685-0

COLD CASE SECRETS

© 2019 Mags Storey

Published in Great Britain 2019

by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF

All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.

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www.millsandboon.co.uk

Version: 2020-03-02

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“Stop! Police! Let her go!”

Jacob aimed high and fired. The criminal froze like an animal caught in headlights. But Grace didn’t stop for a second. She spun back with her elbows high and struck Cutter in the face. The criminal bellowed and grabbed his nose. She broke free and pelted down the rock face toward Jacob.

“Jacob!” she shouted. “He’s got a semiautomatic! He just needs to reload!”

He ran toward her, reaching the rock face just as she reached the edge. She looked down. “How do I get down from here?”

“Jump! I’ll catch you!”

Her eyes scanned the drop, and then her chin rose. “Okay. I’m coming!”

He shoved his gun back in his holster. She took a deep breath and leaped.

But even as she jumped, Jacob saw the stocky figure of one of the convicts ahead, a fresh gun clutched in his hand. His heart stopped.

He had one convict ahead of them, one behind them, a forest to his right, a rock wall to his left...and a woman he had to protect with his life.

Dear Reader,

As this summer ended, I was sitting outside on a picnic table, working on the book in the hazy warm night. A man came by and asked me what I was working on. So I told him I wrote books for Love Inspired Suspense and started telling him about the Henry brothers. He told me that he was an RCMP officer and that two of his close friends and colleagues were recently killed in the line of duty just a few days earlier. I folded up my laptop and he told me about his friends—one male and one female officer—what they’d been like as officers, and what had driven them each to serve in law enforcement. Then after a while, he started telling funny stories about the line of duty too, like being called out to rescue a skunk who’d gotten a McFlurry cup stuck on its head.

Thank you so much to all of you who’ve shared the journey of Jacob, Trent, Max and Nick with me. Something affected me really deeply about these brothers—how their sister’s death impacted them, the way they were driven to serve others and the strong, extraordinary women who fell in love with them. I like how they each found healing, purpose, love and faith. I will miss writing about them very much. Thank you so much to all of you who wrote letters to me about these books, especially Nancy Tekulve, who asked me to include Trent and Chloe’s wedding, and Merianne Bawden, who asked for an update on Daniel and Olivia.

I’m also grateful for everything I’ve learned about Canada’s military, paramedics and law enforcement through writing these books, and the deeper appreciation I’ve developed for the work they do. May we always remember to appreciate the real heroes and heroines in our midst.

Thank you so much for sharing this journey with me,

Maggie

For I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil.

—Jonah 4:2b

With thanks to Constable Eran Schwartz for showing me around his helicopter, training with me at the dojo and answering countless questions. You are a shining example of the kind of person all those in law enforcement should be. Thanks to Pastor Josh Darsaut for the Bible verse and your unexpected grace on a rough day. Thanks as always to my agent, Melissa Jeglinski, and editor, Emily Rodmell, for your help and support on this journey. And finally, thanks to all of you who were there for me while I was writing this difficult book. I hope you enjoy it.

Contents

Cover