MISSION: PROTECT BABY
Gina Evans knows her brother was murdered—even if the police won’t believe her. After catching a quick glimpse of the evidence her brother had gathered, the same criminals are after her and her baby niece. And Gina’s only hope is the man she left behind. Despite the painful memories, private investigator Derrick Justice won’t fail Gina and her baby. Yet now, the woman he never stopped loving and the baby he’s come to adore are in a killer’s crosshairs. But can Derrick trap the cold-blooded murderer before he strikes again?
The Justice Agency: Family and law enforcement go hand in hand
“Derrick.” The whispered voice over the phone line hit him like a Mack truck.
Gina.
“A man is going to kill me unless you help me,” she whispered.
“What man?” He came to his feet to pace the deck.
“My brother was murdered. The killer just shot my friend Lilly right in front of me. I grabbed Sophia and ran. Derrick, she’s only seven months old. He’ll hurt her, too.”
The Gina he’d known was calm, levelheaded and not prone to exaggeration. She also didn’t panic. Unless the situation called for it. The threat must be real. Unease curdled his stomach. “Where are you?”
“Jantzen Beach.”
“I’m on my way.”
“Thank you,” he heard her say as he disconnected.
Dropping his phone into his pocket, he charged inside and headed straight to his bedroom. He grabbed his gun from the drawer and filled his pocket with ammo.
Child. Gina has a child.
A vise gripped his heart. She had a baby. Should’ve been his child. His daughter.
SUSAN SLEEMAN
grew up in a small Wisconsin town where she spent her summers reading Nancy Drew and developing a love of mystery and suspense books. Today she channels this enthusiasm into hosting the popular internet website www.thesuspensezone.com and writing romantic-suspense and mystery novels.
Much to her husband’s chagrin, Susan loves to look at everyday situations and turn them into murder-and-mayhem scenarios for future novels. If you’ve met Susan, she has probably figured out a plausible way to kill you and get away with it.
Susan currently lives in Oregon, but has had the pleasure of living in nine states. Her husband is a church music director and they have two beautiful daughters, a very special son-in-law and an adorable grandson. To learn more about Susan, please visit www.SusanSleeman.com.
Dark Tide
Susan Sleeman
MILLS & BOON
Before you start reading, why not sign up?
Thank you for downloading this Mills & Boon book. If you want to hear about exclusive discounts, special offers and competitions, sign up to our email newsletter today!
Or simply visit
Mills & Boon emails are completely free to receive and you can unsubscribe at any time via the link in any email we send you.
My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.
—2 Corinthians 12:9
For my family for the support I needed to write this book in the middle of a move. Thanks cannot begin to describe my appreciation, but thank you.
Acknowledgments
A hearty thank-you to my patient and generous agent, Chip MacGregor, for all of his support and encouragement on this book and every area of my career.
Words cannot begin to express my thanks and gratitude to the very generous Ron Norris—retired police officer with the LaVerne Police Department—who gives of his time and knowledge in both police procedures as well as weapons information. But thank you for always answering my questions so thoroughly and promptly. Any errors in or liberties taken with the technical details Ron so patiently explained to me are all my doing.
And most important, thank You, God, for my faith and for giving me this amazing career.
Contents
