Virginia Vaughan - Cold Case Cover-Up

She’ll risk everything to uncover her past

The first thrilling Covert Operatives tale

An infant is believed to have been murdered thirty years ago—but investigative journalist Dana Lang is convinced she’s that baby. Now someone’s willing to kill to stop her investigation. And only secretive deputy Quinn Dawson, whose grandfather may have faked Dana’s death to protect her, can keep her safe. But a killer’s dead set on burying the past—and them—for good.

VIRGINIA VAUGHAN is a born-and-raised Mississippi girl. She is blessed to come from a large Southern family, and her fondest memories include listening to stories recounted around the dinner table. She was a lover of books from a young age, devouring tales of romance, danger and love. She soon started writing them herself. You can connect with Virginia through her website, virginiavaughanonline.com, or through the publisher.

Also by Virginia Vaughan Contents Cover Back Cover Text About the Author Booklist Title Page Copyright Introduction Dear Reader Bible Verse Dedication ONE TWO THREE FOUR FIVE SIX SEVEN EIGHT NINE TEN Extract About the Publisher

Covert Operatives

Cold Case Cover-Up

Rangers Under Fire

Yuletide Abduction

Reunion Mission

Ranch Refuge

Mistletoe Reunion Threat

Mission Undercover

Mission: Memory Recall

No Safe Haven

Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk

Cold Case Cover-Up

Virginia Vaughan

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-1-474-08562-5

COLD CASE COVER-UP

© 2018 Virginia Vaughan

Published in Great Britain 2018

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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“Get down!” Quinn hollered as a shot rang out, hitting the back of his truck’s bed.

He grabbed hold of Dana and pushed her to the seat.

“Who are they?” she shouted.

Gripping the steering wheel, Quinn kicked in to survival mode, swerving on the road to make them more difficult to hit. He glanced out the mirror at the pursuing car and saw both the driver and passenger were wearing masks. “I wish I knew.”

Another shot sounded, this one shattering the back window. Dana covered her head with her hands as she crouched by the seat as best she could.

A third shot hit the tire. Quinn heard the pop of the rubber blow, then the truck veered sharply to the right, sending them spinning. He turned into the spin, doing his best to right the vehicle, but the truck was going too fast.

“Hang on,” he managed to shout before the truck smashed into the guardrail and tilted into the air. His seat belt locked as he was thrown forward, and he heard Dana scream as the truck plummeted down the embankment, rolling with each sickening second.

Dear Reader Contents Cover Back Cover Text About the Author Booklist Title Page Copyright Introduction Dear Reader Bible Verse Dedication ONE TWO THREE FOUR FIVE SIX SEVEN EIGHT NINE TEN Extract About the Publisher ,

Is there anything more fun than finding a new series to delve into? It’s the same for writers!

I’m so thankful to have the opportunity to start this new series, Covert Operatives, with Quinn and Dana’s story. These were two such independent characters that at times they were difficult for even me to understand. But they both needed the same thing we all do—love and family. Coming from a rather large family myself, I sometimes wish I had the freedom to pick up and go and do my own thing without having to worry about family obligations, but when I delve into a story like this one and remember there are so many people out there like Dana—possibly even some of my readers—who are searching for the very thing I often take for granted, I’m humbled and thankful.

I hope you enjoyed this story and will continue with me on this journey into this new series.

I love hearing from my readers! You can connect with me online through my website virginiavaughanonline.comand at Facebook.com/ginvaughanbooks.

Sincerely,

Virginia Vaughan

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

—Jeremiah 29:11

To Jon Michael and Carter.

You’ve given my life new meaning. I love you.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text She’ll risk everything to uncover her past The first thrilling Covert Operatives tale An infant is believed to have been murdered thirty years ago—but investigative journalist Dana Lang is convinced she’s that baby. Now someone’s willing to kill to stop her investigation. And only secretive deputy Quinn Dawson, whose grandfather may have faked Dana’s death to protect her, can keep her safe. But a killer’s dead set on burying the past—and them—for good.

About the Author VIRGINIA VAUGHAN is a born-and-raised Mississippi girl. She is blessed to come from a large Southern family, and her fondest memories include listening to stories recounted around the dinner table. She was a lover of books from a young age, devouring tales of romance, danger and love. She soon started writing them herself. You can connect with Virginia through her website, virginiavaughanonline.com , or through the publisher.

Booklist Also by Virginia Vaughan Contents Cover Back Cover Text About the Author Booklist Title Page Copyright Introduction Dear Reader Bible Verse Dedication ONE TWO THREE FOUR FIVE SIX SEVEN EIGHT NINE TEN Extract About the Publisher Covert Operatives Cold Case Cover-Up Rangers Under Fire Yuletide Abduction Reunion Mission Ranch Refuge Mistletoe Reunion Threat Mission Undercover Mission: Memory Recall No Safe Haven Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk