Sharon Sala - For Her Eyes Only Part 2

As a devastating summer storm hits Grand Springs, Colorado, the next thirty-six hours will change the town and its residents forever….

Ever since she blacked out at Squaw Creek Lodge the night of the storm, Jessica’s been having visions. What does it mean? If only she could have a vision about where things are going between her and Stone—but that’s still a mystery. And since her last vision of Stone in danger, she has even more to worry about.

Stone’s glad to have Jessica back in his life. And since he found out the truth about the mayor’s death, he’s taking her visions seriously. But if Olivia’s death wasn’t an accident, there’s a killer out there, and Jessica might be in danger….

The story concludes in For Her Eyes Only Part 3.

Dear Reader,

In the town of Grand Springs, Colorado, a devastating summer storm sets off a string of events that changes the lives of the residents forever….

Welcome to Mills & Boon exciting new digital serial, 36 Hours! In this thirty-six part serial share the stories of the residents of Grand Springs, Colorado, in the wake of a deadly storm.

With the power knocked out and mudslides washing over the roads, the town is plunged into darkness and the residents are forced to face their biggest fears—and find love against all odds.

Each week features a new story written by a variety of bestselling authors like Susan Mallery and Sharon Sala. The stories are published in three segments, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and the first segment of every three-part book is free, so you can get caught up in the mystery and drama of Grand Springs. And you can get to know a new set of characters every week. You can read just one, but as the lives and stories of each intertwine in surprising ways, you’ll want to read them all!

Join Mills & Boon E every week as we bring you excitement, mystery, fun and romance in 36 Hours!

Happy reading,

Sharon Sala is a native of Oklahoma and a member of Romance Writers of America. She is a New York Times,USA TODAY, Publisher's Weekly and Waldenbooks mass-market bestselling author of eighty-five-plus books written as Sharon Sala and Dinah McCall. She's a seven-time RITA® Award finalist, Janet Dailey Award winner, five-time National Reader's Choice Award winner, four-time Career Achievement Award from RT Book Reviews winner and a four-time winner of the Colorado Romance Writers Award of Excellence.

Sharon Sala

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Ever since hitting her head during the blackout, Jessica didn’t understand what was happening. All of a sudden she was having visions: her friend’s kitchen was on fire, her sister’s keys were in the car, her neighbor was going to get hit by a car.… And then there was the main picture in her mind: Olivia Stuart didn’t have a heart attack. She was murdered by a tall woman who smelled like gardenias. But no one believed her, not even Stone, the love of her life. Everyone was already thinking she was a freak. Would Stone be next on that list? She just got him back. Would this send him packing? And what if the woman who killed Olivia came after Jessica, since Jessica was the only “witness” to the crime?

“Well, I’ll be damned.”

There was little else Dr. Noah Howell could think to say about the small dark bruise he found on the back of Olivia Stuart’s leg.

Det. Stone Richardson forced himself to focus on the tiny portion of bruised flesh, and not on what was left of the woman she’d been.

“So, Doc, without an autopsy, give me a best-guess scenario. What do you think could have caused that bruise?”

Noah looked up at Stone in disbelief. He still couldn’t believe what he was seeing, then he looked back down, staring intently at the small purple spot. Even through his surgical gloves, he could feel the cold morbidity of Olivia’s flesh. He shook his head and pulled the sheet back over her body.

“Without actual proof, it would be hard to—”

“Damn it, Doc, I asked for a guess, not a thesis.”

Noah looked up. “I’d probably guess it was a needle mark.”

Stone had been expecting him to say it, and yet when it came, he reeled backward in shock.

“Son of a bitch.”

Noah pushed the body back into the drawer, then shut the door. He shivered. “I’ll inform the coroner’s office and order an autopsy immediately.”

Stone stared at the wall of drawers. Olivia Stuart awaited her disbursement into the earth behind door seventeen. Knowing her as he had, he was certain her spirit was already in a better place, but what was left of her body deserved more than it was about to receive.

Did someone really kill the mayor just before she could attend her son’s wedding? Why else would she have a needle mark on the back of her leg? Damn.

“And I’ll handle it from my end,” he said, then turned toward the door without waiting to see if Noah followed. “Let’s get out of here. This place gives me the creeps.”

Only after they were in the elevator on their way up to ground level, did Stone speak again.

“I need a copy of the autopsy report on my desk within twenty-four hours.”

Noah shook his head. “No way. We’re so behind now that—”

Stone put a hand on the doctor’s shoulder. “Listen, Doc, if what we suspect is true, someone already thinks they’ve gotten away with murder. I don’t want to wait a minute longer than necessary to start an investigation. Understand?”

Noah nodded, his shoulders slumping. “I’ll do what it takes to get the job done, even if I have to do it myself.”

The elevator doors opened and Stone stepped out. “Coming?”

Noah shook his head, pointing to the floors above. “I’m late for surgery as it is.”

Stone paused in the door of the elevator, bracing his hands against the doors to keep them from closing.

“Doc, I need you to do me one more favor.”

A wry grin spread across Noah Howell’s face. “Why am I not surprised.”

Stone’s expression darkened. “Keep this quiet. I don’t want speculation to supercede facts.”

“Of course.”

Stone stepped back and the doors closed immediately, taking Noah to the floors above.

A few minutes later, Stone slid into the seat of his car and then stared blindly out the window in disbelief. How had Jessica known this? She hit her head during the powerful storm that had crippled Grand Springs and now she’s having visions. And because she had, another, more serious problem dawned. In a way, she was witness to a murder. If word got out, she could be in danger herself. And with that thought came still another. Thinking of Jessie in danger made him sick with fear. He wiped a shaky hand across his face and closed his eyes, trying to remind himself that he had no claims on her other than the fact that she was just another innocent citizen he’d sworn to protect. But he kept remembering the way she laughed and the way she made love. As he broke out in a cold sweat, he groaned.

“Damn it,” he muttered, “I don’t need this,” then he started the car and headed back to the station.

He’d already decided he wasn’t saying anything to anyone but Sanderson until the autopsy report was in his hands. And he could just imagine how the chief was going to take the news. How does one tell the chief of police that some woman had a psychic vision and Stone had decided to act upon it? He shook his head. It sounded crazy, even to him.