Suspense, Suspicion, Sensuality
Shadows of Council Creek
Screams in the Night
(Book Two of
Shadows of Council Creek)
An excerpt:
Prologue…
Friday, January 11th, 2019
Kate took a breath, driving slowly enough to keep the tires from skidding on I-55. She had left the clinic in plenty of time to drive down to Jackson to the jewelry shop, but before she came back outside, what had started as beautiful flakes had begun to pile up and stick. Before she made it back onto I-55 again, the roads were slick.
It had only grown worse. She glanced down at the bag in the passenger seat, taking her eyes just long enough from the road to pick it up and reach inside.
The bracelet twinkled in the waning light, making her smile. It had belonged to her sister Amy. It was Amy who had been the light of her life and Amy who had encouraged her to go to Nurse Practitioner School when she finished nursing school.
Dear God, how she missed her.
Setting the bracelet down in the seat inside the bag, she returned her concentration to the road. She’d put off repairing the clasp on the bracelet during the two awful years since her sister’s murder. It was time to stop thinking about Amy’s death; no amount of wishing or grieving would bring her back. Now, it was time to get on with life. But could she?
Ironic that the jeweler had called this morning to let her know the clasp was fixed and it could be picked up this afternoon. This day, the two-year anniversary of Amy’s death.
She glanced in the rear-view mirror at the blanket of white. There were faint signs of headlights showing, looking ghostly in the mirror. In the ten miles during the trip home the snow had turned into a blizzard. I-55 was now a crawling parking lot, and cars were sliding off in the ditches and the medians left and right.
“Be careful out there, ladies and gentlemen,” said the voice on the radio. “There’s a 40-car pile-up on I-55 just south of St. Genevieve. Stay tuned for more details as the afternoon progresses…”
South of St. Genevieve? It was exactly where she was going.
Suddenly the announcer’s voice disappeared into a hum. She reached over to turn the radio down a bit. But the hum grew louder and reached a lower pitch. Before she could touch the knob to turn it down, her hand froze in the air. The sound of a whispered gasp, and a voice saying a surprised, “It’s you!” there was another gasp, and the voice grew more frightened “No…” it said, “no!”
Kate’s hands tightened on the wheel, and her knuckles grew white as the feeling of terror descended over her. She knew what was about to happen next. The sound of breaking glass was heard, followed by a cry.
Her sister’s cry.
“No,” she said, gripping the wheel tighter and repeating the last phrase of the whispered voice. “No…”
The blood-curdling scream filled the car, echoing off everything and swirling in the air around her. It seemed to go on forever and ever, before dying away to a gurgled gasp.
This was the last voice she’d heard from Amy.
Kate froze as her hands gripped the wheel, her knuckles white. The scream had seemed to linger on and echo in her ears long after it had actually stopped. Her mind froze, too. Before she realized what was happening, the car had begun to veer out of control.
She tried to remember the advice about steering into a skid, however, her foot was already on the brake, and she shoved down even harder out of instinct. Her small SUV fishtailed first one way, then the other before it finally slid to a stop in the ditch.
And stayed there.
Chapter One
“Council Creek, 882?”
“Northbound, south of the Council Creek exit. Go ahead, Council Creek.”
“Good position. Report of a possible white late model SUV in the ditch, northbound. Occupied. Lights on. I-55, south of Council Creek exit.”
Eli already knew about the 40-car pile-up just north. Everyone they had would be up there and busy.
“10-4.”
“KAB675.” The response cleared the airway.
He looked up ahead in the whiteout. The exit was over the crest of the hill. He could see car after car up ahead, but they all seemed to be moving, although slowly.
He wasn’t sure whether to be upset at the delay or relieved. Glancing at the clock, he realized he was going to be late for his date with Sharon this evening. He hadn’t had a date in weeks, and Sharon wasn’t his first choice. She was self-centered and demanding. Still…
He was glad he was driving the patrol car today. He could have driven his own, but at least this way he had flashing lights. He turned them on and eased out into the left lane.
It didn’t help much. The traffic was still moving slow, as they should be in this weather.
As he approached the top of the hill, he could barely see the car they had referred to. It was partially in and partially out of the ditch, and the rear of it was sticking out into the road. Other vehicles were moving into the left lane, then back. But no one was stopping.
He couldn’t see the occupant until he was even with the car; it was a young woman in a white coat. Her eyes were wide, and she was staring straight ahead in terror. He pulled over in into the exit lane just in front of the SUV and stopped. Grabbing his jacket, he put the car in park and ran to her door. The ditch wasn’t steep, he was thankful at least for that.
Her hands were clasped on the wheel in a death grip.
“Ma’am? Are you all right?”
No answer.
“Ma’am?” He reached for the door handle, but it was either locked or frozen shut. He began pounding on the window. “Ma’am? Roll down the window.” He was shouting now.
As he pounded once again, she blinked, and turned toward him. Suddenly she locked eyes with him. She was absolutely beautiful.
“Are you all right?”
She looked as if she might cry. Her lower lip trembled, and she gave a small “no” as tears threatened to spill over. Inside the car the radio was blaring.
The window began to lower. When it was down low enough, he reached inside and pulled up on the knob to unlock it. Then he turned the radio off.
“Come with me, young lady. Let me get you into the patrol car, and I’ll take you home.”
She nodded, and he opened the door to give her room to exit before reaching in to turn off the engine and remove the keys. Then he took her hand.
“Grab your purse.”
She stared at him as if she didn’t quite understand his instructions. Finally, she reached for her purse and put it over her shoulder. As soon as he led her out of the car, he noticed she had no coat on, only a white lab jacket with the name K. Willows, SNP embroidered on it. He took off his jacket, throwing it over her shoulders as he led her to the passenger side of the patrol car.
“But… you need your coat,” she stammered, as he put her inside.
“I’ll be fine. Don’t move.” He ignored her protest and closed the door of the patrol car. Managing to get her SUV off the road was no easy task, but finally, he was back in his own vehicle and thankful for the heat.
He turned to her. “Do you want me to have the office call a wrecker for you?”
“Um… No. I should be able to come back and get it.”
He stared at her. She obviously was in no shape to drive it tonight. Ignoring her he grabbed his cell phone and called the office. The telecom answered.
“It’s Garrison. Just picked up the young lady at the Council Creek exit and I’ll need to get her home. The vehicle is off the road, but it’ll have to stay where it is. There’s nothing else I can do. Unless you have a wrecker that’s free to move it?” He glanced at her, but she was trying to open the door, and he grabbed her wrist and held on.
“Where do you think you’re going, young lady?”
The look she gave him was frantic. “Th—the bracelet. It was Amy’s. I can’t leave it there.”
He knew the sound of his voice was incredulous. “Bracelet? What bracelet?”
“Yes. It’s my sister’s, and I can’t leave—”
“I heard what you said. All right, all right, I’ll go back and look for it, but you need to stay in the car.”
She was shaking her head vehemently. “But—”
“Hear me, young lady. No buts. You’re not to move an inch out of this car, or I’ll handcuff you and lock you up in the back. Understand me?”
There was a flash of defiance in her eyes as she looked back at him. “I promise I’ll stay. Please, just go get it.”
Eli was out of the car in an instant with his flashlight, but he was halfway around the car when he heard the passenger door open.
What the hell was she doing? He turned back abruptly to face her, and she stopped.
“I… was just going to tell you,” she said, innocently, “I put it in the passenger seat.”
He lowered his voice. “Get in the car,” he said sternly.
Subdued, she sat down and closed the door.
Eli muttered under his breath. Beautiful or not, she didn’t obey instructions worth a damn.
Don't miss: "Screams in the Night"!
Prologue…
Friday, January 11th, 2019
Kate took a breath, driving slowly enough to keep the tires from skidding on I-55. She had left the clinic in plenty of time to drive down to Jackson to the jewelry shop, but before she came back outside, what had started as beautiful flakes had begun to pile up and stick. Before she made it back onto I-55 again, the roads were slick.
It had only grown worse. She glanced down at the bag in the passenger seat, taking her eyes just long enough from the road to pick it up and reach inside.
The bracelet twinkled in the waning light, making her smile. It had belonged to her sister Amy. It was Amy who had been the light of her life and Amy who had encouraged her to go to Nurse Practitioner School when she finished nursing school.
Dear God, how she missed her.
Setting the bracelet down in the seat inside the bag, she returned her concentration to the road. She’d put off repairing the clasp on the bracelet during the two awful years since her sister’s murder. It was time to stop thinking about Amy’s death; no amount of wishing or grieving would bring her back. Now, it was time to get on with life. But could she?
Ironic that the jeweler had called this morning to let her know the clasp was fixed and it could be picked up this afternoon. This day, the two-year anniversary of Amy’s death.
She glanced in the rear-view mirror at the blanket of white. There were faint signs of headlights showing, looking ghostly in the mirror. In the ten miles during the trip home the snow had turned into a blizzard. I-55 was now a crawling parking lot, and cars were sliding off in the ditches and the medians left and right.
“Be careful out there, ladies and gentlemen,” said the voice on the radio. “There’s a 40-car pile-up on I-55 just south of St. Genevieve. Stay tuned for more details as the afternoon progresses…”
South of St. Genevieve? It was exactly where she was going.
Suddenly the announcer’s voice disappeared into a hum. She reached over to turn the radio down a bit. But the hum grew louder and reached a lower pitch. Before she could touch the knob to turn it down, her hand froze in the air. The sound of a whispered gasp, and a voice saying a surprised, “It’s you!” there was another gasp, and the voice grew more frightened “No…” it said, “no!”
Kate’s hands tightened on the wheel, and her knuckles grew white as the feeling of terror descended over her. She knew what was about to happen next. The sound of breaking glass was heard, followed by a cry.
Her sister’s cry.
“No,” she said, gripping the wheel tighter and repeating the last phrase of the whispered voice. “No…”
The blood-curdling scream filled the car, echoing off everything and swirling in the air around her. It seemed to go on forever and ever, before dying away to a gurgled gasp.
This was the last voice she’d heard from Amy.
Kate froze as her hands gripped the wheel, her knuckles white. The scream had seemed to linger on and echo in her ears long after it had actually stopped. Her mind froze, too. Before she realized what was happening, the car had begun to veer out of control.
She tried to remember the advice about steering into a skid, however, her foot was already on the brake, and she shoved down even harder out of instinct. Her small SUV fishtailed first one way, then the other before it finally slid to a stop in the ditch.
And stayed there.
Chapter One
“Council Creek, 882?”
“Northbound, south of the Council Creek exit. Go ahead, Council Creek.”
“Good position. Report of a possible white late model SUV in the ditch, northbound. Occupied. Lights on. I-55, south of Council Creek exit.”
Eli already knew about the 40-car pile-up just north. Everyone they had would be up there and busy.
“10-4.”
“KAB675.” The response cleared the airway.
He looked up ahead in the whiteout. The exit was over the crest of the hill. He could see car after car up ahead, but they all seemed to be moving, although slowly.
He wasn’t sure whether to be upset at the delay or relieved. Glancing at the clock, he realized he was going to be late for his date with Sharon this evening. He hadn’t had a date in weeks, and Sharon wasn’t his first choice. She was self-centered and demanding. Still…
He was glad he was driving the patrol car today. He could have driven his own, but at least this way he had flashing lights. He turned them on and eased out into the left lane.
It didn’t help much. The traffic was still moving slow, as they should be in this weather.
As he approached the top of the hill, he could barely see the car they had referred to. It was partially in and partially out of the ditch, and the rear of it was sticking out into the road. Other vehicles were moving into the left lane, then back. But no one was stopping.
He couldn’t see the occupant until he was even with the car; it was a young woman in a white coat. Her eyes were wide, and she was staring straight ahead in terror. He pulled over in into the exit lane just in front of the SUV and stopped. Grabbing his jacket, he put the car in park and ran to her door. The ditch wasn’t steep, he was thankful at least for that.
Her hands were clasped on the wheel in a death grip.
“Ma’am? Are you all right?”
No answer.
“Ma’am?” He reached for the door handle, but it was either locked or frozen shut. He began pounding on the window. “Ma’am? Roll down the window.” He was shouting now.
As he pounded once again, she blinked, and turned toward him. Suddenly she locked eyes with him. She was absolutely beautiful.
“Are you all right?”
She looked as if she might cry. Her lower lip trembled, and she gave a small “no” as tears threatened to spill over. Inside the car the radio was blaring.
The window began to lower. When it was down low enough, he reached inside and pulled up on the knob to unlock it. Then he turned the radio off.
“Come with me, young lady. Let me get you into the patrol car, and I’ll take you home.”
She nodded, and he opened the door to give her room to exit before reaching in to turn off the engine and remove the keys. Then he took her hand.
“Grab your purse.”
She stared at him as if she didn’t quite understand his instructions. Finally, she reached for her purse and put it over her shoulder. As soon as he led her out of the car, he noticed she had no coat on, only a white lab jacket with the name K. Willows, SNP embroidered on it. He took off his jacket, throwing it over her shoulders as he led her to the passenger side of the patrol car.
“But… you need your coat,” she stammered, as he put her inside.
“I’ll be fine. Don’t move.” He ignored her protest and closed the door of the patrol car. Managing to get her SUV off the road was no easy task, but finally, he was back in his own vehicle and thankful for the heat.
He turned to her. “Do you want me to have the office call a wrecker for you?”
“Um… No. I should be able to come back and get it.”
He stared at her. She obviously was in no shape to drive it tonight. Ignoring her he grabbed his cell phone and called the office. The telecom answered.
“It’s Garrison. Just picked up the young lady at the Council Creek exit and I’ll need to get her home. The vehicle is off the road, but it’ll have to stay where it is. There’s nothing else I can do. Unless you have a wrecker that’s free to move it?” He glanced at her, but she was trying to open the door, and he grabbed her wrist and held on.
“Where do you think you’re going, young lady?”
The look she gave him was frantic. “Th—the bracelet. It was Amy’s. I can’t leave it there.”
He knew the sound of his voice was incredulous. “Bracelet? What bracelet?”
“Yes. It’s my sister’s, and I can’t leave—”
“I heard what you said. All right, all right, I’ll go back and look for it, but you need to stay in the car.”
She was shaking her head vehemently. “But—”
“Hear me, young lady. No buts. You’re not to move an inch out of this car, or I’ll handcuff you and lock you up in the back. Understand me?”
There was a flash of defiance in her eyes as she looked back at him. “I promise I’ll stay. Please, just go get it.”
Eli was out of the car in an instant with his flashlight, but he was halfway around the car when he heard the passenger door open.
What the hell was she doing? He turned back abruptly to face her, and she stopped.
“I… was just going to tell you,” she said, innocently, “I put it in the passenger seat.”
He lowered his voice. “Get in the car,” he said sternly.
Subdued, she sat down and closed the door.
Eli muttered under his breath. Beautiful or not, she didn’t obey instructions worth a damn.
Don't miss: "Screams in the Night"!
Danger in Shadow
Book Two
of
Shadows of
Council Creek
photocredit of couple: Goran Bogicevic
of background: Olga Simonova
Artwork: Tessa Carr
of background: Olga Simonova
Artwork: Tessa Carr
Laurie Lancey has always loved the old picturesque bridge over Council Creek; it's that beauty which gave the town its name.
But then...
A near miss... A chinese fortune cookie with a deadly warning
A murdered co-worker
She knows now the serenity is just a deception. Something sinister is going on here,
And it's all around her.
Investigator Nick Allyn barely manages to save her when the shots are fired.
"This tells me only one thing, young lady," he tells her firmly.
"Those bullets were meant for you.
And only you."
Danger in Shadow... The Shadows of Council Creek (Book Two)
by Tessa Carr
But then...
A near miss... A chinese fortune cookie with a deadly warning
A murdered co-worker
She knows now the serenity is just a deception. Something sinister is going on here,
And it's all around her.
Investigator Nick Allyn barely manages to save her when the shots are fired.
"This tells me only one thing, young lady," he tells her firmly.
"Those bullets were meant for you.
And only you."
Danger in Shadow... The Shadows of Council Creek (Book Two)
by Tessa Carr
A sneak peek at Danger in Shadow...
“I should never have brought you here.” His voice was dark and masculine, filled with emotion. His hands tightened around her. “I don’t think I can keep my hands off you if you’re here.”
“Then don’t,” she whispered. “I want your hands on me.”
His pupils flared, then narrowed. “You don’t know what you’re asking,” he said, his voice lower now. “I’m not a gentle lover.”
“Gentle is overrated.”
“Don’t tempt me, Laurie.” There was a stern, warning tone to his voice that stirred her deep inside. The feeling went all the way down, bringing up the emotions she’d been trying to suppress since the first moment she saw him. She realized she wanted him to be rough; perhaps she even craved it.
“I’m not a flower you have to worry about crushing,” There was a challenge to her voice.
His hands tightened even more about her. “Oh, child. You do tempt me.”
“Child?” She laughed. “I’m anything but a child, Nick Allyn.”
“I’m quite aware of that.”
“I should never have brought you here.” His voice was dark and masculine, filled with emotion. His hands tightened around her. “I don’t think I can keep my hands off you if you’re here.”
“Then don’t,” she whispered. “I want your hands on me.”
His pupils flared, then narrowed. “You don’t know what you’re asking,” he said, his voice lower now. “I’m not a gentle lover.”
“Gentle is overrated.”
“Don’t tempt me, Laurie.” There was a stern, warning tone to his voice that stirred her deep inside. The feeling went all the way down, bringing up the emotions she’d been trying to suppress since the first moment she saw him. She realized she wanted him to be rough; perhaps she even craved it.
“I’m not a flower you have to worry about crushing,” There was a challenge to her voice.
His hands tightened even more about her. “Oh, child. You do tempt me.”
“Child?” She laughed. “I’m anything but a child, Nick Allyn.”
“I’m quite aware of that.”
|
Faces in Shadow Book One of Shadows of Council Creek |
|
Faces in Shadow
Book One of
The Shadows of Council Creek
photo credit: Alla Serebrina @ deposit photos.com
Artwork by Tessa Carr.
Artwork by Tessa Carr.
A sneak peek at Faces in Shadow...
Four o’clock. The hospital table was next to the bed, and she raised up on one elbow and reached through the rails, opening it to see the mirror.
Her eyes immediately widened, and she snapped it shut again.
“Oh dear God,” she whispered. She looked awful, with her hair plastered to her scalp and dried. Fighting shakiness, she sat up in bed and crossed her legs Indian-style, wondering if she could get the rails down and make it to the bathroom on her own. The IV line was attached to a bag on a pole at the head of the bed.
She yanked at the rail to her left, trying to get it down.
“What do you think you’re doing, young lady?”
The deep male voice from her right made her jump. Leaning over the side of the bed, she stared down at the man who spoke. Steely blue eyes, so dark they were almost navy, stared up at her with an expression that hinted of warning. He was lying flat in the fold-up recliner beside the bed, his long legs hanging over the edge.
“What are you doing here? I thought you’d left.”
“I’m waiting until you feel like making a statement.”
She narrowed her eyes. “You’re crazy.”
“No one’s disputing that. You said to wait. So, I’m waiting.”
“Oh. Well, you can wait a little longer.” She glanced toward the bath. She really needed the use of the toilet now.
“And if you’re considering walking to the bathroom by yourself, you’re not as smart as you look. Don’t even think about it.” He sat up and raised a brow as she glared.
Yes. Definitely a warning.
“I don’t think you have the right to tell me what to do.”
He ignored her statement. Instead, he stood to his feet, his jaw set in a stern expression.
“I’ll carry you if you need to go, or you can call for a nurse, but you’re not walking by yourself.” He leaned over the rail slightly and looked down, and she felt her cheeks grow hot.
Reaching for her call button, she pressed it. “I’ll…” She licked her lips nervously, “just call for the nurse, then.”
He remained where he was. “Good girl.”
Molly realized, even though she was sitting straight up in a bed high off the floor, she was forced to crane her neck upward to make eye contact. He was intimidating, this man who towered over her. His demeanor sent a shiver down her spine. His dark hair was slightly long, and she fought the urge to run her fingers through it.
Get a grip, Molly. He might be gorgeous, but you’re not exactly a catch.
* * *
Four o’clock. The hospital table was next to the bed, and she raised up on one elbow and reached through the rails, opening it to see the mirror.
Her eyes immediately widened, and she snapped it shut again.
“Oh dear God,” she whispered. She looked awful, with her hair plastered to her scalp and dried. Fighting shakiness, she sat up in bed and crossed her legs Indian-style, wondering if she could get the rails down and make it to the bathroom on her own. The IV line was attached to a bag on a pole at the head of the bed.
She yanked at the rail to her left, trying to get it down.
“What do you think you’re doing, young lady?”
The deep male voice from her right made her jump. Leaning over the side of the bed, she stared down at the man who spoke. Steely blue eyes, so dark they were almost navy, stared up at her with an expression that hinted of warning. He was lying flat in the fold-up recliner beside the bed, his long legs hanging over the edge.
“What are you doing here? I thought you’d left.”
“I’m waiting until you feel like making a statement.”
She narrowed her eyes. “You’re crazy.”
“No one’s disputing that. You said to wait. So, I’m waiting.”
“Oh. Well, you can wait a little longer.” She glanced toward the bath. She really needed the use of the toilet now.
“And if you’re considering walking to the bathroom by yourself, you’re not as smart as you look. Don’t even think about it.” He sat up and raised a brow as she glared.
Yes. Definitely a warning.
“I don’t think you have the right to tell me what to do.”
He ignored her statement. Instead, he stood to his feet, his jaw set in a stern expression.
“I’ll carry you if you need to go, or you can call for a nurse, but you’re not walking by yourself.” He leaned over the rail slightly and looked down, and she felt her cheeks grow hot.
Reaching for her call button, she pressed it. “I’ll…” She licked her lips nervously, “just call for the nurse, then.”
He remained where he was. “Good girl.”
Molly realized, even though she was sitting straight up in a bed high off the floor, she was forced to crane her neck upward to make eye contact. He was intimidating, this man who towered over her. His demeanor sent a shiver down her spine. His dark hair was slightly long, and she fought the urge to run her fingers through it.
Get a grip, Molly. He might be gorgeous, but you’re not exactly a catch.
* * *
