Lisa Harris - Fatal Cover-Up

DEADLY CONSPIRACY

Talia Morello moved to Rome for a fresh start—but instead finds herself at the center of a deadly art smuggling ring with everything to lose, including her life. Someone’s dead set on retrieving three priceless paintings believed to have been stolen by Talia’s late husband. And when his unsolved murder is linked to the bullet that killed FBI agent Joe Bryant’s brother during a museum heist, Joe is determined to find out all of Talia’s secrets. When she denies any involvement, Joe’s gut and heart tell him to trust her. But with the target on Talia’s back only growing, there may not be time to uncover the whole truth and save the woman he’s falling for...

“The man gave me seventy-two hours to come up with the paintings.”

“And if you can’t?” Joe asked.

“I don’t know, but they’re clearly not playing games.” Talia glanced back at the photos. “I also called Thomas’s mother. I described the paintings and she thinks she remembers seeing them. If she does still have them, they’re probably somewhere in their apartment.”

Joe started to touch her arm, then pulled back from the too intimate gesture, wishing Talia didn’t look so vulnerable. He knew what it was like to have the life of a sibling threatened. Knew what it was like to lose a brother. And personal or not, he would see that neither she nor her sister were hurt.

“I’m going to make sure we find those paintings, and that nothing happens to either one of you in the meantime.”

“You can’t guarantee that.”

“Maybe not.” He pulled out his phone, hating the fact that she was right. “But I can promise I’ll do everything in my power to stop whoever’s behind this.”

LISA HARRISis a Christy Award winner and winner of the Best Inspirational Suspense Novel for 2011 from RT Book Reviews. She and her family are missionaries in southern Africa. When she’s not working she loves hanging out with her family, cooking different ethnic dishes, photography and heading into the African bush on safari. For more information about her books and life in Africa, visit her website at lisaharriswrites.com.

Fatal Cover-Up

Lisa Harris

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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For He gives His sunlight to both the evil and the good, and He sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.

—Matthew 5:45

To my kids. I’ll never forget our own Italian adventure. Famous landmarks, cross-country train rides, gelato, scorching heat, more gelato...

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text DEADLY CONSPIRACY Talia Morello moved to Rome for a fresh start—but instead finds herself at the center of a deadly art smuggling ring with everything to lose, including her life. Someone’s dead set on retrieving three priceless paintings believed to have been stolen by Talia’s late husband. And when his unsolved murder is linked to the bullet that killed FBI agent Joe Bryant’s brother during a museum heist, Joe is determined to find out all of Talia’s secrets. When she denies any involvement, Joe’s gut and heart tell him to trust her. But with the target on Talia’s back only growing, there may not be time to uncover the whole truth and save the woman he’s falling for...

Introduction “The man gave me seventy-two hours to come up with the paintings.” “And if you can’t?” Joe asked. “I don’t know, but they’re clearly not playing games.” Talia glanced back at the photos. “I also called Thomas’s mother. I described the paintings and she thinks she remembers seeing them. If she does still have them, they’re probably somewhere in their apartment.” Joe started to touch her arm, then pulled back from the too intimate gesture, wishing Talia didn’t look so vulnerable. He knew what it was like to have the life of a sibling threatened. Knew what it was like to lose a brother. And personal or not, he would see that neither she nor her sister were hurt. “I’m going to make sure we find those paintings, and that nothing happens to either one of you in the meantime.” “You can’t guarantee that.” “Maybe not.” He pulled out his phone, hating the fact that she was right. “But I can promise I’ll do everything in my power to stop whoever’s behind this.”

About the Author LISA HARRIS is a Christy Award winner and winner of the Best Inspirational Suspense Novel for 2011 from RT Book Reviews. She and her family are missionaries in southern Africa. When she’s not working she loves hanging out with her family, cooking different ethnic dishes, photography and heading into the African bush on safari. For more information about her books and life in Africa, visit her website at lisaharriswrites.com .

Title Page Fatal Cover-Up Lisa Harris www.millsandboon.co.uk

Bible Verse For He gives His sunlight to both the evil and the good, and He sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. —Matthew 5:45

Dedication To my kids. I’ll never forget our own Italian adventure. Famous landmarks, cross-country train rides, gelato, scorching heat, more gelato...

ONE

TWO

THREE

FOUR

FIVE

SIX

SEVEN

EIGHT

NINE

TEN

ELEVEN

TWELVE

THIRTEEN

FOURTEEN

FIFTEEN

SIXTEEN

SEVENTEEN

EIGHTEEN

Dear Reader

Extract

Copyright

ONE

Talia Morello stared out across Rome’s ancient Colosseum, unable to shake the uneasiness she’d felt all afternoon. Someone was watching her. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up as she glanced around the massive stone amphitheater with its iconic vaulted arches. Drawing in a steadying breath, she told herself she was simply being paranoid. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t shake the eerie feeling.

She wiped off a row of sweat from her forehead. Of course, it was impossible to know for certain if someone really was watching her. Four million tourists visited this historical monument every year, and today, even with the steamy July heat, the Colosseum seemed busier than normal, with its never-ending lines snaking around the outside of the monument.

She lifted the bright orange flag she was carrying a few inches higher to ensure the fifteen enthusiastic tourists who had shown up in the heart of Rome to visit the famous site didn’t get separated from her in the crowd. It was her job to see that they left having experienced the best tour of the ruins—even if dismissing the feeling that someone was watching her was proving impossible.

She studied the crowd as she led them toward the last stop of the tour. Someone from a group of Japanese tourists was holding up a selfie stick for a photo. A small crowd clustered together at one of the open spaces overlooking the floor of the Colosseum. Her attention shifted to a man standing against one of the stone walls to the left. He wasn’t a part of the group, and didn’t seem to be paying attention to his surroundings. Had she seen him before today? Normally, she wouldn’t have given him more than a passing glance, but while most of the tourists had cameras or cell phones to take photos, he didn’t. A second later he smiled and hurried toward to a woman holding on to two little girls.