Lynette Eason - Her Stolen Past

A STOLEN BABY

When Sonya Daniels finds a kidnapped baby’s birth certificate hidden in her late mother’s home, she’s shocked. What was her family’s connection to the child, still missing for over two decades? And what happened to the little girl? Sonya hires detective Brandon Hayes to help her get to the truth. But someone doesn’t want the truth to come out and will stop at nothing to keep them from investigating. Sonya knows the guarded cop won’t rest until he unravels the mystery—but the answers could be more than she can bear alone.

Family Reunions: Bringing loved ones back together

Brandon escorted Sonya to her car, his nerves alert, senses sharp.

She started to slide in the driver’s seat when he noticed a small square of paper about the size of an index card under her windshield wiper. “What’s this?”

He handed it to her and leaned in to read along with her. “Stop looking for Heather Bradley. She doesn’t want to be found.”

Sonya gaped. The baby kidnapped twenty-eight years ago. “Well, I guess we’re making someone kind of nervous.”

A muscle jumped in his jaw as he stared at the note.

“So what do we do?” she asked.

Brandon lifted a brow. “Do you want to stop looking for her?”

“No way.”

She glanced around the parking lot, wondering if the person who’d left the note was watching. Shivers slid up and down her spine.

Spooked, she stayed close to the person who seemed to represent the only security she could find in a world that had shifted on its axis once again. First the death of her father, then her mother. Now someone was sending her threats.

LYNETTE EASON

makes her home in South Carolina with her husband and two children. Lynette has taught in many areas of education over the past ten years and is very happy to make the transition from teaching school to teaching at writers’ conferences. She is a member of RWA (Romance Writers of America), FHL (Faith, Hope, & Love) and ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers). She is often found online and loves to talk writing with anyone who will listen. You can find her at www.facebook.com/lynette.easonor www.lynetteeason.com.

Her Stolen Past

Lynette Eason

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out,

that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.

—Acts 3:19

To my wonderful, crazy family.

I love y’all so much. I couldn’t do this without you. Thank you for being willing to put up with my deadline frenzies and take-out food.

To my awesome editor, Emily Rodmell.

It’s been a while since I said thanks in a dedication, so here you go. Thank you for pulling me out of the slush pile back in 2007 and giving me a shot at my dreams. :-)

To my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

I love you more every day. Thank you for my gift of writing. Thank you for letting me do it for you. May you continue to bless me with stories and ideas so I can reach others for you.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text A STOLEN BABY When Sonya Daniels finds a kidnapped baby’s birth certificate hidden in her late mother’s home, she’s shocked. What was her family’s connection to the child, still missing for over two decades? And what happened to the little girl? Sonya hires detective Brandon Hayes to help her get to the truth. But someone doesn’t want the truth to come out and will stop at nothing to keep them from investigating. Sonya knows the guarded cop won’t rest until he unravels the mystery—but the answers could be more than she can bear alone. Family Reunions: Bringing loved ones back together

Introduction Brandon escorted Sonya to her car, his nerves alert, senses sharp. She started to slide in the driver’s seat when he noticed a small square of paper about the size of an index card under her windshield wiper. “What’s this?” He handed it to her and leaned in to read along with her. “Stop looking for Heather Bradley. She doesn’t want to be found.” Sonya gaped. The baby kidnapped twenty-eight years ago. “Well, I guess we’re making someone kind of nervous.” A muscle jumped in his jaw as he stared at the note. “So what do we do?” she asked. Brandon lifted a brow. “Do you want to stop looking for her?” “No way.” She glanced around the parking lot, wondering if the person who’d left the note was watching. Shivers slid up and down her spine. Spooked, she stayed close to the person who seemed to represent the only security she could find in a world that had shifted on its axis once again. First the death of her father, then her mother. Now someone was sending her threats.

About the Author LYNETTE EASON makes her home in South Carolina with her husband and two children. Lynette has taught in many areas of education over the past ten years and is very happy to make the transition from teaching school to teaching at writers’ conferences. She is a member of RWA (Romance Writers of America), FHL (Faith, Hope, & Love) and ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers). She is often found online and loves to talk writing with anyone who will listen. You can find her at www.facebook.com/lynette.eason or www.lynetteeason.com .

Title Page Her Stolen Past Lynette Eason www.millsandboon.co.uk

Bible Verse Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord. —Acts 3:19

Dedication To my wonderful, crazy family. I love y’all so much. I couldn’t do this without you. Thank you for being willing to put up with my deadline frenzies and take-out food. To my awesome editor, Emily Rodmell. It’s been a while since I said thanks in a dedication, so here you go. Thank you for pulling me out of the slush pile back in 2007 and giving me a shot at my dreams. :-) To my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I love you more every day. Thank you for my gift of writing. Thank you for letting me do it for you. May you continue to bless me with stories and ideas so I can reach others for you.

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

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Epilogue

Dear Reader

Questions for Discussion

Extract

Copyright

ONE

Sonya Daniels heard the sharp crack and saw the woman jogging four feet in front of her stumble. Then fall.

Another crack.

Another woman cried out and hit the ground.

“Shooter! Get down! Get down!”

With a burst of horror, Sonya caught on. Someone was shooting at the joggers on the path. Terror froze her for a brief second. A second that saved her life as the bullet whizzed past her head and planted itself in the wooden bench next to her. If she’d been moving forward, she would be dead.