Christmas Cover-Up. Lynette Eason

      

      HER STOLEN SISTER

      Seven-year-old Lucy Randall had been kidnapped in broad daylight fourteen years ago, and now Detective Katie Randall is determined to solve her sister’s case. Her only option is to team up with the man whose family hates her. Former FBI agent Jordan Grey knows the beautiful cop isn’t to blame for his brother’s death, but he can’t risk causing his parents more pain by falling for Katie. He’ll have to focus on finding Lucy. But when Katie and Jordan uncover the truth, will this kidnapper turn killer?

      Family Reunions: Bringing loved ones back together

      “Someone’s either been in my house or is still there.”

      Katie gestured to the open door. “Jordan, will you cover me?”

      He didn’t waste time chastising her for not waiting on him. “What’s the layout?”

      “Foyer leads straight into the great room. Two bedrooms and a bath to the right, kitchen and dining to the left. My bedroom is also to the left, behind the garage.”

      “I’ll go right, you go left.”

      Katie stepped into her house and caught her breath. Chaos greeted her. Cushions pulled off her couch and slashed. Bookcase overturned and coffee table shoved on its side. The Christmas tree lay on its side, ornaments crushed from one end of the room to the other.

      A thud from the back of the house caused her to stiffen and shoot a glance at Jordan. “You hear that?” she whispered.

      Suddenly a crash. Running footsteps.

      The French doors swung open, and the intruder halted when he realized Katie had him cut off. She pointed her weapon. “Freeze! Police!”

      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.

      Christmas Cover-Up

      Lynette Eason

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

      MILLS & BOON

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      For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.

      —Ephesians 2:8

      To my Lord and Savior, who loves me unconditionally and died so I could live.

      Thanks to my ACFW Suspense Loop friends for your brainstorming help on this series. So many great ideas and suggestions went into this story. Couldn’t have done it without 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

       EXCERPT

      ONE

      Keys clutched in her left hand, Detective Katie Randall stared at her vandalized front door. She hadn’t noticed it when she’d pulled into the drive; she’d been too busy thinking about her sister’s cold case and the man who’d been assigned to help her work on it. Lucy had disappeared fourteen years ago from her front yard and it was time Katie and her family found closure.

      Now she’d come home to this.

      She’d parked in the drive and grabbed her stuff from the car, still thinking about canceling the meeting she had coming up in about five minutes.

      It was only when she’d gotten closer to the house that she’d seen the splintered wood around the doorknob. And the Christmas wreath lying on the porch.

      The hair on the nape of her neck spiked, and she stepped back. She set her briefcase and keys on the porch. The chilly December wind found its way under her collar, and she shivered as she mentally flipped through her options at lightening speed.

      Her nerves tightened, muscles bunched. She pulled her weapon from