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Authors: Laura Griffin

Exposed

BOOK: Exposed
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“Gritty, imaginative, sexy!
You MUST read Laura Griffin.”

 

—Cindy Gerard
,
New York Times
bestselling author of the Black Ops series

 

SCORCHED

“Dynamite characters, a taut plot, and plenty of sizzle to balance the suspense.”


RT Book Reviews
(4
1
/
2
stars)

 

“An intense and mesmerizing read.”


Night Owl Reviews
(Top Pick)

 

“A sizzling novel of suspense . . . the perfect addition to the Tracers series.”


Joyfully Reviewed

 

TWISTED

“Thrilling, chilling, taut suspense [and] . . . a steamy and stirring love story.”


USA Today

 

“Don’t plan on turning the lights out until you’ve turned the last page.”


RT Book Reviews
(Top Pick)

 

“Griffin excels at detailing the mystery and the chase, and forensic science junkies will love the in-depth look at intricate technology.”


Publishers Weekly

 

“Mesmerizing. . . . Another fantastic roller-coaster ride.”


Night Owl Reviews

 

“Fascinating and compelling . . . kept me guessing until the very end.”

—Fresh Fiction

 

“A masterpiece of romantic suspense.”

—Joyfully Reviewed

 

“Pitch-perfect plotting, taut suspense, compelling characters.”


New York Times
bestselling author Allison Brennan

 

SNAPPED


Snapped
rocks!”


RT Book Reviews
(Top Pick)

 

“Electric chemistry between two believable and interesting characters coupled with the investigative details make this page-turner especially compelling.”


BookPage
(Top Pick for Romance)

 

“You won’t be able to put this book down.”

—Fresh Fiction

 

“This gripping, vivid tale has a great pace that delivers plenty of suspense.”

—Fallen Angel Reviews

 

“A gripping, white-knuckle read.”

—Brenda Novak,
New York Times
bestselling author

 

UNFORGIVABLE

“Features the perfect mix of suspense and romance that make Catherine Coulter, Iris Johansen, and Tami Hoag popular with both women and men.”


Booklist

 

“The science is fascinating, the sex is sizzling, and the story is top-notch, making this clever, breakneck tale hard to put down.”


Publishers Weekly

 

“Strong characters, a tight and complex mystery plot, and nonstop action.”

—RT Book Reviews

 

UNSPEAKABLE

“A page-turner until the last page, it’s a fabulous read.”


Fresh Fiction

 

“A strong-willed heroine, a sexy hero, and a gripping suspense plot.”


All About Romance

 

UNTRACEABLE
Winner of the 2010 Daphne du Maurier Award for Best Romantic Suspense

“Evolves like a thunderstorm on an onimous cloud of evil. . . . Intense, wildly unpredictable, and sizzling with sensuality.”

—Winter Haven News Chief

 

“Taut drama and constant action. . . . The suspense is high and the pace quick.”


Publishers Weekly
(starred review)

 

WHISPER OF WARNING
2010 RITA Winner for Best Romantic Suspense

“Irresistible characters and a plot thick with danger . . . sexy and suspenseful.”


Romance Junkies

 

“A perfectly woven and tense mystery with a . . . compelling love story.”


RT Book Reviews

 

THREAD OF FEAR

“Catapults you from bone-chilling to heartwarming to too hot to handle.”


Winter Haven News Chief

 

“A tantalizing suspense-filled thriller. Enjoy, but lock your doors.”


Romance Reviews Today

 

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For Jen

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
 

I would like to express my appreciation to the many people who help bring my stories to readers. Thanks to Louise Burke at Pocket Books for her ongoing support, as well as the rest of the amazing Pocket team, including Lisa Litwack, Ellen Chan, Jean Anne Rose, Lisa Keim, Parisa Zolfaghari, and my editor, Abby Zidle. Thank you also to my agent, Kevan Lyon.

I’m especially grateful to the people in the fields of forensic science and law enforcement who answered so many of my questions, including Luke Causey, Derek Pacifico, Erik Vasys, and Tom Adair. As always, any mistakes here are mine.

Also, my heartfelt thanks to the readers who make it a joy to write every story. And to my family, for making it all worth it.

CHAPTER 1

 

Maddie Callahan’s newest clients seemed to have everything—youth, looks, money—which was precisely why she doubted their marriage would work. But she kept her opinions to herself as she snapped what she hoped was the final shot of the day.

“That should do it for the church backdrop. So, we’re all set?”

“What about the footbridge?” The bride-to-be smiled up at her fiancé. “I can post it on the blog with our engagement story.”

“Whatever you want, babe.”

Maddie stifled an eye roll and turned to check out the park. It wasn’t overly crowded—just a few people walking dogs—but their light was fading.

“I know it’s getting late.” Hannah held her hands together like a prayer and looked at Maddie. “But could we get something real quick?”

“We can if we hurry,” Maddie said, collapsing her tripod and looping her camera strap around her neck. She waited for a break in traffic and led Hannah and Devon across Main Street to the park, where she deposited her
equipment beside the lily pond. She glanced around, cataloging the details of the composition. The wooden footbridge formed a low arc over the water. Sunlight glistened off the pond’s surface, creating a shimmery, storybook effect that Maddie had taken advantage of before. As one of the few natural backdrops in this congested college town, the park was a good place for wedding photos—or, as in this case, engagement shots. Normally, Maddie liked using it, but this appointment had run way over schedule, and she was anxious to get back to the lab. She opted to skip the tripod and keep this quick.

Maddie composed the shot as Hannah posed her future husband behind her. With matching white dress shirts, faded jeans, and cowboy boots, the couple’s look today was what Maggie thought of as Texas preppy. Hannah settled their clasped hands on the side of the bridge, putting her two-carat diamond on prominent display.

“How’s this?” she asked.

“Perfect.” Maddie snapped the picture. “I think I got it. Just a few more and . . . that’s it. You’re done.”

Both pairs of shoulders relaxed. Devon looked at his watch, clearly relieved to be finished with what he probably thought was a marathon photo shoot. He had no idea what awaited him on his wedding day.

Hannah turned and smiled up at him. “Do I have lipstick on my teeth, sweets?”

He grinned down at her. “No. Do I?”

Maddie lifted her camera one last time as he reached down to brush a lock of hair from his fiancée’s face.

Click
.

And
that
was the money shot. Maddie knew it the instant she took it. The ring wasn’t in the picture, but she hoped they’d order a print anyway. Maybe they’d put it in a frame on their mantel, where they could glance at it occasionally and be reminded of the genuine fondness they’d had for each other before the years set in.

And, really, what more could anyone ask of an engagement picture?

Her mission accomplished, Maddie collected her equipment.

“How soon can we see something?” Hannah asked as she joined her on the grass.

“Oh, I’m guessing—” Maggie checked the time. Damn, it was already 5:40. “I should have these posted to the site tomorrow, plenty of time to pick one for Sunday’s paper.”

The bride-to-be looked crestfallen. “You mean, not by tonight?”

Maddie took a deep breath. She counted to three mentally. Yes, her day job paid the bills, but freelance work was the icing on her cake. And that business relied heavily on referrals.

“I’ll do my best,” she said brightly, even though it meant turning her whole evening upside-down. And that was assuming she wouldn’t get called out for some emergency. “I can probably get you something by midnight. If I do, I’ll e-mail you the password for the gallery.”

“Thank you! I
really
appreciate it. Everyone’s dying to see how these turn out.”

Maddie wasn’t sure who “everyone” was, but she managed to keep a cheerful expression on her face as
they exchanged good-byes. Then she hitched her tripod onto her shoulder and trekked across the park.

Her stomach growled as she headed for the garage where she’d parked. She cast a longing look at the sandwich shop on the corner. Food would have to wait. She needed to get back to the lab and send out half a dozen files before she could possibly call it a day.

She ducked into the shade of the parking garage, avoiding the stairwell in favor of the ramp. The blustery February wind had died down, and the air was thick with car exhaust. Maddie hugged the concrete wall so she wouldn’t get clipped by a driver rounding the corner. She reached the third level and spotted her little white Prius tucked beside a pickup. She dug her phone from her purse and checked for messages. Her boss, her sister, her boss, her boss.

BOOK: Exposed
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ads

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