Jennifer Morey - Cold Case Manhunt

When her best friend goes missing...

...who will answer the call for justice?

Burned by betrayal, investigator Cal Chelsey has ruled out romance. He keeps things strictly business...even when he meets intriguing new client Jaslene Chabot, who is desperate for answers about her friend. As the clock runs down, their attraction deepens as they work long hours. Cal is committed to finding the truth for Jaslene, though it may wind up deadly for them both.

Two-time RITA® Award nominee and Golden Quill award winner JENNIFER MOREYwrites single-title contemporary romance and page-turning romantic suspense. She has a geology degree and has managed export programs in compliance with the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) for the aerospace industry. She lives at the foot of the Rocky Mountains in Denver, Colorado, and loves to hear from readers through her website, jennifermorey.com, or Facebook.

Also By Jennifer Morey

Cold Case Detectives

A Wanted Man

Justice Hunter

Cold Case Recruit

Taming Deputy Harlow

Runaway Heiress

Hometown Detective

Cold Case Manhunt

The Coltons of Roaring Springs

Colton’s Convenient Bride

The Coltons of Red Ridge

Colton’s Fugitive Family

Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk.

Cold Case Manhunt

Jennifer Morey

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-1-474-09435-1

COLD CASE MANHUNT

© 2019 Jennifer Morey

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.

By payment of the required fees, you are granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right and licence to download and install this e-book on your personal computer, tablet computer, smart phone or other electronic reading device only (each a “Licensed Device”) and to access, display and read the text of this e-book on-screen on your Licensed Device. Except to the extent any of these acts shall be permitted pursuant to any mandatory provision of applicable law but no further, no part of this e-book or its text or images may be reproduced, transmitted, distributed, translated, converted or adapted for use on another file format, communicated to the public, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher.

® and ™ are trademarks owned and used by the trademark owner and/or its licensee. Trademarks marked with ® are registered with the United Kingdom Patent Office and/or the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market and in other countries.

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Version: 2020-03-02

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“Not all marriages fail.”

“They say fifty percent fail, but I think that number is closer to eighty.”

Jaslene put her forefinger on his chest. “Maybe you should try to get past your divorce.”

Cal was about to slide his arm around her and give her a kiss she wouldn’t forget. “I am past it.”

“No, you aren’t. You think every woman is as untrustworthy as your ex.”

“Not every woman.” Only the ones who cheated. He left that unspoken.

Rising up onto her toes, she said in a husky tone, “I didn’t cheat.”

He wasn’t sure if she deliberately encouraged him or if her attraction led her, but he didn’t question. He just slid his arm around her waist, pulled her against him and kissed her.

He felt her stiffen and heard her sharp indrawn breath. But if she felt the same fire as him, she’d go with him on this expedition. Sure enough, she relaxed against him and moved her lips with his.

* * *

Dear Reader,

Falling for a man jaded by love can be scary even in real life, but in fiction it makes for great conflict. Nobody wants to get hurt and a wall of protection around a man’s heart can be a challenge to break through. Jaslene breaks through Cal’s with finesse in Cold Case Manhunt . She’s the determined friend of a missing woman who is thrown together with the detective helping her solve the case.

I enjoyed writing this book so much because the winning over of hearts was fueled by an intense search for a killer. I hope you share the wonder.

Jennie

For Mom and Dad,

who are together in the afterlife now.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

About the Author

Booklist

Title Page

Copyright

Note to Readers

Introduction

Dear Reader

Dedication

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

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

About the Publisher

The soothing pendant lighting and upscale atmosphere of Pinocchio’s in Chesterville, West Virginia, didn’t cast its usual charm without Payton Everett. Sitting on a leather bistro chair with two of her other friends, Jaslene Chabot would never again joke about their Sex and the City bond. They were one woman short.

Tatum Garvey stirred her speared olives in her martini glass. “I think it’s time to let her go,” Catherine Starr said.

“I can’t let her go.” Jaslene missed Payton terribly and she couldn’t live with the torture of not knowing what had happened to her friend, a reporter for a local newspaper with ambitions, fiery red hair and green eyes. She loved reporting on community issues, ranging from Good Samaritans’ deeds to personal injustices.

“I can’t, either,” Tatum said. A tall, stunning blonde, she’d started her own interior design business and had been featured in a popular home magazine. She dressed to match the part without trying. She had an eye for style. “But why haven’t the cops found her yet?”

Payton had been missing for seven months.

“You two do realize that Payton is dead,” Catherine said. “Right?”