Read When the Smoke Clears (Deadly Reunions) Online

Authors: Lynette Eason

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When the Smoke Clears (Deadly Reunions)

BOOK: When the Smoke Clears (Deadly Reunions)
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© 2012 by Lynette Eason

Published by Revell

a division of Baker Publishing Group

P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287

www.revellbooks.com

Ebook edition created 2012

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

ISBN 978-1-4412-3597-8

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Scripture quotations, whether quoted or paraphrased, are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
www.zondervan.com

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

Published in association with Tamela Hancock Murray of the Hartline Literary Agency, LLC.


When the Smoke Clears
is a story about reconnecting with friends, facing the past, and falling in love—with a bit of murder along the way. I highly recommend my friend Lynette’s stories and I love this book. It will keep you guessing until the very end.”

—Dee Henderson, bestselling author

PRAISE FOR WOMEN OF JUSTICE SERIES

 

“The suspense is high; I was turning pages so fast I had to go back and reread a time or two.”


Suspense Magazine
on
Don’t Look Back

“This plot-driven third entry in Eason’s series is sure to appeal to fans of romantic suspense as well as readers who like Joel C. Rosenberg and Ted Dekker.”


Library Journal
on
A Killer Among Us


Too Close to Home
by Lynette Eason is a fast-moving tale filled with nonstop action. No chance to catch your breath with this one!”

—Irene Hannon, bestselling author, the Heroes of Quantico series

“Lynette Eason gives the reader an exciting ride with characters you will care about.”

—Margaret Daley, award-winning Steeple Hill romantic suspense author

“Don’t read Eason’s newest novel late at night! This suspenseful drama is a heart-pounding combination of mystery and romance.”


RT Book Reviews

“Balancing skilled action writing with quality characterization is difficult for many writers, but Eason does both well.”

—Crosswalk.com

“Eason has the ability to make the characters come alive, to use the setting as an additional character, so that it plays into the story, and to keep the suspense strong enough that the pages have to keep turning.”

—ARomanceReview.com

Dedicated to my Savior, Jesus Christ,

who allows me to do all that I do.

Thank you for the words.

May the readers see you on every page.

Contents

 

Cover
Title Page
Copyright Page
Endorsements
Dedication
Epigraph
Prologue

1
    
2
    
3
    
4
    
5

6
    
7
    
8
    
9
    
10

11
    
12
    
13
    
14
    
15

16
    
17
    
18
    
19
    
20

21
    
22
    
23
    
24
    
25

26
    
27
    
28
    
29
    
30

31
    
32
    
33
    
34
    
35

36
    
37
    
38
    
39
    
40

41
    
42
    
43
    
44

Epilogue
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Books by Lynette Eason
Back Ads
Back Cover
So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
—Isaiah 41:10

Prologue

 

June 6, 2002

 

Flames licked higher, swallowing everything in their path. The curtains, the recliner . . . her father and sister.

Blinking the nightmare away, eighteen-year-old Alexia Allen clutched her diploma and looked out over the audience.

The families of five hundred students hovered around their proud teens in the downtown auditorium. Camera flashes nearly blinded her, and she decided she didn’t care a bit that she didn’t have even one family member in the audience.

She had her diploma. That was all that was important. That and the bus ticket she had in the back pocket of her only pair of jeans. She would’ve worn a dress if she’d been able to afford it, but the graduation gown and cap had already taken enough of her savings. A dress wasn’t a necessity.

Jillian Carter sidled up to her. “Are you going to the graduation party?”

“For a few minutes. Then I’ve got a bus to catch.”

“Where are you going?”

Alexia sucked in a deep breath and looked around. “Anywhere that’s not here.”

The flash of pain in her friend’s eyes made her bite her lip and regret her bitter words. The thumb and forefinger of her right hand went to the little silver ring on the pinky of her left hand and twisted it.

Round and round. A nervous habit she’d picked up right after the fire.

“Sorry. You and Serena are the only good things left in this town, but even you guys can’t keep me in that house a minute longer. Every day it’s a constant reminder of . . . well . . . you know. And my mother told me the other day not to let the door hit me on the rear on my way out.” Alexia swallowed and studied her fingers.

“I’m so sorry.”

Jillian’s compassion brought Alexia’s emotions to the surface. Emotions she didn’t want to deal with. “She’s just turned into this bitter old woman and I can’t take it anymore. I tried to help her. I did.” She sighed. “But she doesn’t want help. At least not
my
help.”

And still she couldn’t seem to lose the guilt. If only she’d had more control over her actions. If only . . .

“I don’t blame you.” Jillian’s soft words brought Alexia back to the present.

“I know you don’t.” She paused. “There was something in her eyes when she told me to leave . . . something . . . I don’t know . . .” She let her voice trail off, forced her mother’s face from her mind, then whispered fiercely, “I won’t let him hit me again. I can’t stay there one minute longer. If I do, it’s going to kill me.
He’s
going to kill me.” A shudder wracked her. “I need to get away. Tonight.” She now understood the desperation her brother, Dominic, had felt when he’d run away. She’d been angry with him for a long time, but now . . . she empathized with him. She just wished she knew where he was.

Wished she could take back the spiteful, hurtful words she’d hurled after him as he stomped out the door, and out of her life.

“I wish I had the guts to come with you,” Jillian murmured.

Hope brightened Alexia’s heart for a brief moment before she could stop it. She knew Jillian wouldn’t leave. Her mother needed her too much. However . . . “Call your aunt. Tell her she needs to come help with your mother.”

“I can’t do that and you know it. She’s got my two little cousins to take care of.” Jillian gave a sigh and shook her head. “No, I’d love to go, but . . .” She shrugged and the pain returned to her eyes along with a flash of desperation.

Alexia put a hand on her friend’s arm. “What’s wrong, Jilly?”

“Nothing. Nothing. I’m fine.”

The forced smile said otherwise, but before she had a chance to question her friend further, she spotted Serena Hopkins pushing through the crowd and heading their way.

Giving a rare squeal, the usually dignified Serena waved her diploma and then gave each girl a massive bear hug. “We did it!”

Alexia couldn’t help laughing. Serena could always make her laugh, even when she thought she had nothing to laugh about.

Midnight black hair that looked almost purple danced around her shoulders. Tall, poised, and runway gorgeous, Serena was confident in the dark good looks her Spanish mother had bestowed upon her, not to mention her serene personality and flashing chocolate eyes that drew guys to her like a moth to the flame.

BOOK: When the Smoke Clears (Deadly Reunions)
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