Hearts on the Line. Margaret Daley

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      “Do you think there’s a connection between the fire chief, the museum curator and Baltasar Escalante?” Becca asked her partner.

      Her mind spun with the incidents that had occurred over the past few months in Colorado Springs, all wrapped up in the Vance and Montgomery families, who had been instrumental in Escalante’s downfall the year before.

      When she thought of the drug lord being alive, she grew chilled. Once again she pictured Quinn Montgomery, with his chocolate-brown eyes and a smile that could melt a woman’s heart. He could take care of himself, but worry over his safety took hold and she couldn’t shake off her concern. Someone had tried to burn his business down and had nearly succeeded. What if he’d been in the shop when it had been set on fire?

      FAITH AT THE CROSSROADS: Can faith and love sustain two families against a diabolical enemy?

      A TIME TO PROTECT—Lois Richer (LIS#13)

      THE DANGER WITHIN—Valerie Hansen (LIS#15)

      THROUGH THE FIRE—Sharon Mignerey (LIS#17)

      IN THE ENEMY’S SIGHTS—Marta Perry (LIS#19)

      STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL—Terri Reed (LIS#21)

      HEARTS ON THE LINE—Margaret Daley (LIS#23)

      MARGARET DALEY

      feels she has been blessed. She has been married more than thirty years to her husband, Mike, whom she met in college. He is a terrific support and her best friend. They have one son, Shaun.

      Margaret has been writing for many years and loves to tell a story. When she was a little girl, she would play with her dolls and make up stories about their lives. Now she writes these stories down. She especially enjoys weaving stories about families and how faith in God can sustain a person when things get tough. When she isn’t writing, she is fortunate to be a teacher for students with special needs. Margaret has taught for over twenty years and loves working with her students. She has also been a Special Olympics coach and participated in many sports with her students.

      Hearts On The Line

      Margaret Daley

      Special thanks and acknowledgment are given to Margaret Daley for her contribution to the FAITH at the CROSSROADS miniseries.

      To Therese, Vickie, Jan, Caron and Gloria

       Thank you for all your support and friendship.

      To Captain Carole Newell

       Thank you for all your help in researching what

       a hostage negotiator does.

      Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid; for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; He also has become my salvation.

      —Isaiah 12:2

      CONTENTS

      CAST OF CHARACTERS

      PROLOGUE

      CHAPTER ONE

      CHAPTER TWO

      CHAPTER THREE

      CHAPTER FOUR

      CHAPTER FIVE

      CHAPTER SIX

      CHAPTER SEVEN

      CHAPTER EIGHT

      CHAPTER NINE

      CHAPTER TEN

      CHAPTER ELEVEN

      CHAPTER TWELVE

      EPILOGUE

      DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

      CAST OF CHARACTERS

      Quinn Montgomery—The target of vandalism and arson, the head of Montgomery Construction was ready for a break from all the tension. But with a madman on the loose gunning for the entire Montgomery clan, Quinn needed his faith to get him through….

      Rebecca Hilliard—The Colorado Springs police detective had been busy for months investigating the various crimes perpetrated against the Vance and Montgomery families. Was she too busy for romance with Quinn?

      Baltasar Escalante—The drug lord was hiding out in Colorado Springs with a new face, plotting to take back his only living heir. He’d vowed to destroy his hated enemies for taking his son away from him…but would he succeed?

      Ritchie Stark—The small-time criminal had moved himself up in the crime world. Was he El Jefe, the brains behind the drug operation, or was he just a small fish in a large, deadly pond?

      PROLOGUE

      “Did anyone follow you?” Baltasar Escalante stepped out from the shadows cast by the pine trees.

      Dahlia Sainsbury came to a halt on the trail path, feeling out of place in high heels and a pale-blue silk suit, but then she hadn’t had time to change since leaving her office, having spent the past few days trying to convince the police she knew nothing about the drugs being moved beneath the museum. “No, I made sure before turning into the park.” She smoothed a few strands of her hair that had come loose from her chignon.

      Pausing in front of Baltasar, she scanned the area, half expecting the police to surround them after the incident with Alessandro and Colleen in the mine tunnels. “We can still leave for England, especially now that the authorities know about your involvement with the drugs.” Her time in Colorado Springs was coming to an end. A little more time to cover her tracks and set a trap for Escalante, then she would be gone.

      “I am not leaving until I’ve finished what I came here for.”

      The steel thread woven through his words sent a shiver down Dahlia. In the nearly full moon she saw his whipcord body stiffen, his hands fisted at his sides. “They know you’re behind everything that’s happening in Colorado Springs. Every police officer in the city is looking for you. Is the revenge worth getting caught?” She knew his answer even before he said anything because it was the same as hers. He would pay for having her half brother killed. They were alike in a lot of ways.

      “I will not get caught. I have a place to hide out until I carry out the rest of my plans because, my dear, revenge is sweet. The Vances and Montgomerys will pay for destroying my life. They will suffer as I have.”

      She couldn’t help the chill that rippled through her again.

      “Cold, querida?” Escalante moved into her personal space, drawing her into his embrace.

      The wind picked up and teased the few stray strands of her hair. “Just worried about you,” she said in a voice filled with sincerity. She was getting good at lying. She agreed revenge would be sweet once he was dead.

      Tilting up her chin, Escalante looked into her eyes as though delving beneath the surface to discover the true person behind the facade she presented. He dipped his head forward and brushed his lips across hers. She suppressed the shudder and tried to return his kiss with the feelings expected of a lover. But his cold kiss left her chilled.

      Baltasar shifted. Something pressed into her chest. Then he backed away a few paces. In the moonlight Dahlia saw the gun in his hand. A gun pointed at her heart.

      She couldn’t take her eyes off the weapon. “Why?”

      “You are Alistair Barclay’s sister. Did you think I wouldn’t find out? I wanted to double-cross you first.”

      The icy declaration sealed her fate. She whirled to run. A deafening sound pierced the air at the same time as the force of the bullet propelled her forward. She went down on her knees. Pain gripped her as blackness hovered….

      ONE

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