Susan Sleeman - No Way Out

WHO CAN SHE TRUST?

Alyssa Wells has uncovered evidence that her police officer husband was murdered by his partner—a dangerous claim in a small town. After two tours in Iraq, protecting Alyssa and her children shouldn’t be a problem for private investigator Cole Justice. Alyssa feels drawn to him, but how can she trust anyone after everything she’s been through? Cole’s sure his heart is closed off to love, but Alyssa and her children seem to have found a way in. As the killer draws closer, Alyssa realizes she’s trusting Cole with more than her safety.

The Justice Agency: Family and law enforcement go hand in hand­­­­­­

“You’re too close to the windows,” Cole said softly as if he understood everything going through her mind and didn’t want to intrude, but needed to keep her safe.

Alyssa looked up at him and for the first time she really understood the law enforcement mentality. Police officers were strong protectors and they always wanted to be ready to help. Even being married to an officer for seven years, she hadn’t really felt the weight of the burden they bore until this dangerous situation invaded her life.

She glanced at the black wall of windows Cole had warned her away from. “Guess you’re wishing you’d rented a house with fewer windows.”

“I have to admit it would be easier,” he said with steel in his voice. “But I’m not going to let these windows stop me. I’ll do everything within my power to protect you, even if it means giving up my life.”

She knew he spoke the truth and she feared before all of this was over, he would have to choose between protecting her and putting his life on the line.

SUSAN SLEEMAN

grew up in a small Wisconsin town where she spent her summers reading Nancy Drew and developing a love of mystery and suspense books. Today she channels this enthusiasm into hosting the popular internet website TheSuspenseZone.com and writing romantic-suspense and mystery novels.

Much to her husband’s chagrin, Susan loves to look at everyday situations and turn them into murder-and-mayhem scenarios for future novels. If you’ve met Susan, she has probably figured out a plausible way to kill you and get away with it.

Susan currently lives in Florida, but has had the pleasure of living in nine states. Her husband is a church music director and they have two beautiful daughters, a very special son-in-law and an adorable grandson. To learn more about Susan, please visit www.SusanSleeman.com.

No Way Out

Susan Sleeman

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.

—Isaiah 26:3

For my sister and brother, Linda and Jeff Becker, the siblings in my life who inspired me to write about the dynamics of the Justice family.

Additional thanks to

My family: my husband, Mark, who willingly makes sacrifices so I can devote my time to writing; my daughter Emma who helps me work through plot issues and Erin for her graphic design expertise.

My patient, sweet and talented editor, Tina James. Thank you for continuing to have faith in my writing.

The very generous Ron Norris—retired police officer with the LaVerne Police Department—who gives of his time and knowledge in both police procedures as well as military information. Thank you for always answering my questions so thoroughly and so promptly. You go above and beyond, and I can’t thank you enough! Any errors in or liberties taken with the technical details Ron so patiently explained to me are all my doing.

And most importantly, thank you God for my faith and for giving me daily challenges to grow closer to you.

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

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

EPILOGUE

DEAR READER

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

ONE

A storm was coming.

Alyssa Wells slowed and glanced across the road at waves angrily pounding the deserted Oregon beach. A sudden movement on the jogging path below caught her attention. Nearly finished with her run, she looked down at a clearing where hikers often stopped to gaze over the ocean.

But not at this time of night. Not with ominous clouds building over the horizon.

Angry voices swirled out of the soupy fog that had rolled in with the setting sun. The harsh words cut through the night and wound their way up the hill. She stopped in surprise when she recognized one of the voices as that of Nolan Saunders, her neighbor and her deceased husband’s partner on the Pacific Bay police force.

What was Nolan doing out here with a storm on its way?

She recalled that he was on duty tonight—he must have responded to a call here. No matter—she needed to get home to her twins before the clouds burst. She continued ahead on the trail, grateful for tiny solar lights mounted on wooden landscape beams that cast a dull light over her feet and kept her path unobscured.

“You’re in too deep to walk away, Gibson.” Nolan’s raised voice, now sharp and clear, sent a whisper of unease down her back, and she came to a stop directly above them. She could make out the shadows of three men. The “Gibson” Nolan talked to must be fellow officer Frank Gibson, but who was the third guy?

“C’mon, Saunders, I have to get out,” Frank said, sounding desperate.

Nolan stepped closer, and Alyssa saw him stab his finger into Frank’s chest. “That’s not gonna happen, pal. Once a meth dealer, always a meth dealer.”

Meth? Her husband, Todd, had died on the job from a fatal gunshot to the chest, but the resulting investigation found meth in his blood. They also linked him to a meth distribution ring, and he’d been branded a dirty cop.

Had Todd worked with Nolan and Frank to distribute drugs? Was the whole Pacific Bay police force dirty?

“You came to me, remember?” Nolan continued. “Said you needed the money.”

“That’s because Danny was sick.” Alyssa had been praying for Frank’s son in his battle with leukemia. “Now that he’s in remission we’re caught up on our bills and I want out.”

“See, here’s the problem.” Nolan moved closer to Frank. “There was no time limit on our association. You said you were with us for the long haul. Now a few of our dealers are busted and you want to run home to mama. Too bad. You belong to me now.”

“Just let me walk away, man,” Frank pleaded. “I don’t want to go to jail, but I can’t live with the guilt anymore. I’ll turn you in if that’s my only way out.”

“What makes you think I’ll let you rat us out?” Nolan’s volume had dropped, but it held twice the threat. “There’re other options if you decide to bail.”

“Like what?” Frank paused, and she could imagine him glaring at Nolan. “Fine. You’re too chicken to say it so I will. I’ll end up a homicide statistic and framed as a drug dealer just like Todd.”