Murder in the River City (20 page)

John asked, “Have you figured out exactly how they were using the charities to launder money?”

Hooper glanced his watch. “I have some ideas, but I’m meeting Jason Butler at the law office. He’s going to help my team put it all together. We suspect the donations are being paid back in services that aren’t actually performed, like shipping supplies in third world countries. Very hard to trace most of the stuff and easy to falsify. Davis was definitely the brains behind the operation, but the rest of the law firm was privy to much of it.”

He stood, shook hands with John and Sam, and took both of Shauna’s hands into his own. “You did a great job yesterday. I’m sorry I put you in danger.”

“You didn’t,” she said. “I’m glad it’s over and Mack’s killer is going to prison.”

“So am I. I hope to see you both again”—he glanced at Sam—“in much better circumstances.”

“Come by Dooley’s anytime you want,” Shauna said.

Hooper grinned. “I’d like that. My wife would love it.”

He said his good-byes and left.

John said to Sam, “For your first week, you certainly made an impression on the chief.”

“Does that mean I get time off?”

John laughed. “You have the weekend. Enjoy it. I’ll see you bright and early Monday morning.” He gave Shauna a hug. “Take care of yourself.”

Sam walked John out. Shauna lay down on the couch and closed her eyes. She was so grateful she was alive, so grateful no one else was hurt. What an emotionally and physically intense week.

Sam said good-bye to John and walked back into the dining room. He stared at Shauna, resting so peacefully, love and relief flowing through him.

She’s safe.

“You’re watching me.”

He leaned over and kissed her lightly on the lips. “I’ll be watching you for a long, long time.”

She opened her eyes. “How long?”

“Trying to get rid of me so soon?” He hoped after the last few days they’d gotten over all the baggage and problems they’d had in the past. Everything wrong that happened between them was because of timing. That was then, and now he could only think about Shauna.

She took his hand and pulled him down on top of her. “Not today.”

“You know, I don’t really have a place to live. I’ve been staying with an old friend from the force. I haven’t had time to look for an apartment.”

“This place is pretty big. If you don’t mind the heat in the summer and drafty winters.” Her voice was light, but her eyes were serious and apprehensive. As if he would reject her. His heart twisted. He would do anything never to hurt her again.

“I don’t mind at all.”

“The place needs a lot of work.”

“I can help with that. Earn my room and board.”

She grinned and tilted her chin up. “I can think of far more fun ways to earn your keep than renovating this old house.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled his head close to hers.

“More fun than sanding wood and peeling off wallpaper?”

“Well, when you put it that way,” she teased.

He kissed her lightly, his heart pounding. This was it. There was no turning back. And he was good with that. In fact, he felt
great,
as if years of uncertainly disappeared when he looked at Shauna. “I’m all yours. Do with me as you wish.”

“You’re giving me an awful lot of leeway, Detective Garcia. You might want to take that back.”

“Never.”

She rolled him onto the floor and straddled him. She pulled his arms above his head and held them there, her face close to his. “Anything I want?”

“
Anything
.”

Sam looked at Shauna for a long minute. The timing, finally, was perfect.

“I love you, Shauna,” he whispered.

“Love you, too.”

He smiled. “I know you do.”

“Getting cocky, aren’t you?”

“Just a bit.” He kissed her. “But it isn’t every day I get to make love to the woman of my dreams.”

“Well,” Shauna said with a wry grin, “we’ll have to change that now, won’t we?”

# # #

Allison Brennan Booklist

Allison Brennan is a
New York Times
and
USA Today
bestselling author of eighteen books and multiple short stories. She lives in Northern California with her husband and five children. You can read excerpts of all the books below at her website,
www.allisonbrennan.com
.

Romantic Thrillers

The Predator Trilogy

The Prey

The Hunt

The Kill

The No Evil Trilogy

Speak No Evil

See No Evil

Fear No Evil

The Prison Break Trilogy

Killing Fear

Tempting Evil

Playing Dead

The FBI Trilogy

Sudden Death

Fatal Secrets

Cutting Edge

Thrillers

The Lucy Kincaid Series

“Love is Murder” (digital novella)

Love Me To Death

Kiss Me, Kill Me

If I Should Die (also includes “Love is Murder” novella)

Silenced

Stalked (coming October 30, 2012)

Stolen (coming Spring 2013)

Silenced

Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Silenced-ebook

Barnes and Noble:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/silenced

Apple:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/silenced

Stalked

Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Stalked-ebook

Barnes and Noble:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/stalked

Apple:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/stalked

Supernatural Thrillers

The Seven Deadly Sins Series

“Deliver Us from Evil” in What You Can’t See (novella)

Original Sin

“Ghostly Vengeance” free story at sevendeadlysinsbooks.com

Carnal Sin

“Ghostly Justice” in Entangled (digital only)

Short Stories & Novellas

“Killing Justice” originally published in KILLER YEAR edited by Lee Child

“Deliver Us from Evil” in
What You Can’t See
(Seven Deadly Sins series)

“A Capitol Obsession” originally published in
TWO OF THE DEADLIEST
edited by Elizabeth George

“Ghostly Vengeance” free online story (Seven Deadly Sins series)

“Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier” essay in
100 MUST READ THRILLERS
edited by David Morrell (non-fiction)

“Her Lucky Day” in
BLOODLITE II: OVERBITE
edited by Kevin J. Anderson, Horror Writers Association

“Ghostly Justice” in
ENTANGLED
, digital only charity anthology

“Above Reproach” originally published in
GUNS & ROSES
digital only anthology

“Love is Murder” digital novella also printed in
IF I SHOULD DIE
(Lucy Kincaid series)

“Vacation Interrupted” in
LOVE IS MURDER
edited by Sandra Brown (Lucy Kincaid series)

KILLING JUSTICE
anthology of previously published stories “Killing Justice” (2008); “A Capitol Obsession” (2009); “Above Reproach” (2012) (digital only)

MURDER IN THE RIVER CITY
novella (digital only)

Starting July 31, 2012
for a limited time
:

SILENCED, a Lucy Kincaid Thriller, is on sale for $2.99

Lucy Kincaid is back — with a vengeance

A Washington Sex Scandal

It has been seven years since Lucy was attacked—and almost killed—by an online predator. Today, she is well on her way toward a new life.

While waiting to begin her training at the FBI Academy, Lucy’s is tireless in her fight against cyber sex crime. Her current mission: to find out who killed a high-priced call girl linked to a powerful Congressman.

A Cold-Blooded Killer

A number of known prostitutes—with scores of high profile clients—are turning up dead all over D.C. Is this the work of a depraved killer? Or the result of an inside job? Lucy’s investigation will take her into an underground network of prostitutes, the chambers of the country’s most powerful players, and her own dark past to confront an unknown enemy who’s always one step ahead of her. With the help of her P.I. boyfriend Sean Rogan, Lucy must find and protect the only witness who can identify the killer and end the conspiracy, but can the witness be trusted? Lucy will risk everything to expose the truth and ensure justice is served, even if that means putting herself in the line of fire…

“Engrossing.”

—
Publishers Weekly

“Riveting.”

—
RT
Book Reviews

“A world-class nail-biter.”

—Lee Child