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Dangerous
By: Patricia Rosemoor
Releasing January 6th, 2015
Loveswept
Blurb
Fans of Linda Howard will love
Dangerous, the story of a driven female cop who teams up with an irresistible
ex-con to bring a killer to justice—and discovers that breaking the rules is
hotter on the wrong side of the law.
Dangerous, the story of a driven female cop who teams up with an irresistible
ex-con to bring a killer to justice—and discovers that breaking the rules is
hotter on the wrong side of the law.
Chicago
homicide detective Camille Martell will stop at nothing to track down “Angel,”
a sexual predator who has already butchered two young victims—even after her
off-the-books investigation leads to her suspension. But when her relentless
attempts to contact Angel online puts her teenage neighbor in mortal danger,
Camille’s worst fears are realized. Panicked and overwhelmed with guilt,
Camille needs help—even if it comes from the one man she swore she’d do
anything to forget.
homicide detective Camille Martell will stop at nothing to track down “Angel,”
a sexual predator who has already butchered two young victims—even after her
off-the-books investigation leads to her suspension. But when her relentless
attempts to contact Angel online puts her teenage neighbor in mortal danger,
Camille’s worst fears are realized. Panicked and overwhelmed with guilt,
Camille needs help—even if it comes from the one man she swore she’d do
anything to forget.
After
serving time for a trumped-up charge, private investigator Drago Nance doesn’t
trust cops. Nothing will change that, not even the steamy weekend with Camille
that burned itself into his memory. But with an innocent girl’s life at stake,
Drago can’t ignore the need in Camille’s eyes, or the heated promise in her
touch. He agrees to help—if she’s willing to play by his rules. He just never
suspected that seducing his partner could be just as thrilling as chasing a madman.
serving time for a trumped-up charge, private investigator Drago Nance doesn’t
trust cops. Nothing will change that, not even the steamy weekend with Camille
that burned itself into his memory. But with an innocent girl’s life at stake,
Drago can’t ignore the need in Camille’s eyes, or the heated promise in her
touch. He agrees to help—if she’s willing to play by his rules. He just never
suspected that seducing his partner could be just as thrilling as chasing a madman.
Author Info
With 90 novels and more than seven million books in print,
Patricia Rosemoor is fascinated with “dangerous love” – combining
romance with danger. She has written various forms of romantic and paranormal
romantic thrillers, even romantic horror, bringing a different mix of thrills
and chills to her stories.
Patricia Rosemoor is fascinated with “dangerous love” – combining
romance with danger. She has written various forms of romantic and paranormal
romantic thrillers, even romantic horror, bringing a different mix of thrills
and chills to her stories.
Patricia has won a Golden Heart from Romance Writers of
America and two Reviewers Choice and two Career Achievement Awards from RT
BOOKreviews, and in her other life, she teaches Popular Fiction and
Suspense-Thriller Writing, credit courses at Columbia College Chicago. Three of
her Columbia grad students and two students from other venues are now published
in novel-length fiction
America and two Reviewers Choice and two Career Achievement Awards from RT
BOOKreviews, and in her other life, she teaches Popular Fiction and
Suspense-Thriller Writing, credit courses at Columbia College Chicago. Three of
her Columbia grad students and two students from other venues are now published
in novel-length fiction
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EXCERPT
But what made
her hold her breath was the IM block at the bottom of the screen. Angel had
tried contacting her—rather Morrigan. Sandy must have been checking her email
when the IM came in.
her hold her breath was the IM block at the bottom of the screen. Angel had
tried contacting her—rather Morrigan. Sandy must have been checking her email
when the IM came in.
Camille
focused on the last exchange. Sandy asking where Angel wanted to meet her . . .
Angel saying the coffee stand at the new Riverfront Shopping Center at five
thirty . . . Sandy saying she would be there.
focused on the last exchange. Sandy asking where Angel wanted to meet her . . .
Angel saying the coffee stand at the new Riverfront Shopping Center at five
thirty . . . Sandy saying she would be there.
What the
hell!
hell!
Camille sat
stunned for a moment, not believing her eyes. Her heart drummed so fast the
beat filled her ears.
stunned for a moment, not believing her eyes. Her heart drummed so fast the
beat filled her ears.
She should
have been the one who’d seen the instant message from Angel, not Sandy. And
Sandy was fourteen years old—what was she doing agreeing to meet a man she
didn’t know?
have been the one who’d seen the instant message from Angel, not Sandy. And
Sandy was fourteen years old—what was she doing agreeing to meet a man she
didn’t know?
Rather
Morrigan, her own alter ego, had accepted.
Morrigan, her own alter ego, had accepted.
Angel thought
he was meeting her . . .
he was meeting her . . .
And Sandy
would have known that!
would have known that!
Horrified,
Camille flew from the chair and grabbed her keys. No time to call the kid’s
mom. She raced to the door. Max beat her there.
Camille flew from the chair and grabbed her keys. No time to call the kid’s
mom. She raced to the door. Max beat her there.
“Sorry, boy.”
She ruffled
his fur and blocked him from going outside as she turned and left. It was
nearly five thirty now.
his fur and blocked him from going outside as she turned and left. It was
nearly five thirty now.
Camille
pulled away from the curb turning on her flashing headlights and siren so other
drivers would pull their vehicles to the side. Her gut clenched and her throat
closed. She had to get there on time. Had to! Her hands were trembling
uncontrollably, so she gripped the steering wheel tighter, slowing only at
intersections long enough to make sure they were clear.
pulled away from the curb turning on her flashing headlights and siren so other
drivers would pull their vehicles to the side. Her gut clenched and her throat
closed. She had to get there on time. Had to! Her hands were trembling
uncontrollably, so she gripped the steering wheel tighter, slowing only at
intersections long enough to make sure they were clear.
Throughout
the drive, Camille tried not to panic. She could feel the adrenaline rushing
through her—her breathing was erratic. All she could think about was that a
girl’s life was at stake.
the drive, Camille tried not to panic. She could feel the adrenaline rushing
through her—her breathing was erratic. All she could think about was that a
girl’s life was at stake.
Her fault . .
. all her fault . . .
. all her fault . . .
Focus!
Panic would
render her useless, and Sandy would suffer for it. Why hadn’t she locked her
computer so the girl couldn’t access it? Had Sandy used her computer before and
Camille just hadn’t realized it? Lord knows what else she may have seen.
Camille often sent herself notes from the office about her cases so she could
review them as needed.
render her useless, and Sandy would suffer for it. Why hadn’t she locked her
computer so the girl couldn’t access it? Had Sandy used her computer before and
Camille just hadn’t realized it? Lord knows what else she may have seen.
Camille often sent herself notes from the office about her cases so she could
review them as needed.
She should
have talked to the girl, gotten to know her better, but getting close to people
was something Camille avoided. In her world, she skirted personal relationships
and focused on understanding criminals and how they worked so she could track
them down, arrest them, and get them off the street. Relationships were for
other people. Camille was her job.
have talked to the girl, gotten to know her better, but getting close to people
was something Camille avoided. In her world, she skirted personal relationships
and focused on understanding criminals and how they worked so she could track
them down, arrest them, and get them off the street. Relationships were for
other people. Camille was her job.
Arriving at
the shopping center in record time, she parked curbside and raced to the
upper-level entrance where she’d have the best view. Once in the center of the
mall, she ran to the rail and scanned the lower level. Chest tight now and
barely breathing, she searched for a familiar blond ponytail around the coffee
stand. No Sandy.
the shopping center in record time, she parked curbside and raced to the
upper-level entrance where she’d have the best view. Once in the center of the
mall, she ran to the rail and scanned the lower level. Chest tight now and
barely breathing, she searched for a familiar blond ponytail around the coffee
stand. No Sandy.
Her fault . .
. all her fault . . .
. all her fault . . .
Swallowing
hard, she raced to the down escalator, her gaze skipping from one part of the
mall to the next. No Sandy. No man who appeared to be a predator, though how
would she know? They came in all shapes and sizes. She could be staring
straight at him now and not recognize him.
hard, she raced to the down escalator, her gaze skipping from one part of the
mall to the next. No Sandy. No man who appeared to be a predator, though how
would she know? They came in all shapes and sizes. She could be staring
straight at him now and not recognize him.
At the coffee
stand, she pulled out her star and flashed it at the wiry teenager behind the
counter. “Detective Camille Martell. How long have you been working this
afternoon?”
stand, she pulled out her star and flashed it at the wiry teenager behind the
counter. “Detective Camille Martell. How long have you been working this
afternoon?”
“Um, I didn’t
do nothin’ wrong.”
do nothin’ wrong.”
“I’m not
accusing you. I’m just looking for someone who might be in trouble . . .” She
glanced at his name tag. “. . . Keshawn. How long?”
accusing you. I’m just looking for someone who might be in trouble . . .” She
glanced at his name tag. “. . . Keshawn. How long?”
“A-after
school. Four.”
school. Four.”
The kid could
be a witness, then. Angel’s message had instructed her to be here at
five-thirty. It was now a little before six.
be a witness, then. Angel’s message had instructed her to be here at
five-thirty. It was now a little before six.
“Do you
remember serving a girl with long blond hair?” She was looking around again,
hopeful that she could still spot Sandy. “Always wears it in a ponytail. A
fresh-faced fourteen-year-old.”
remember serving a girl with long blond hair?” She was looking around again,
hopeful that she could still spot Sandy. “Always wears it in a ponytail. A
fresh-faced fourteen-year-old.”
“Lotsa kids
hang out here.”
hang out here.”
Indeed, three
girls occupied a nearby table.
girls occupied a nearby table.
She stared
hard into the kid’s deep brown eyes filled with suspicion, no doubt because she
was a cop. “Think hard, Keshawn. This is really important. Pretty. Blue eyes.
Blond ponytail. Maybe a half hour ago. She was probably alone to start, but she
was meeting someone. Not a boy. A man.”
hard into the kid’s deep brown eyes filled with suspicion, no doubt because she
was a cop. “Think hard, Keshawn. This is really important. Pretty. Blue eyes.
Blond ponytail. Maybe a half hour ago. She was probably alone to start, but she
was meeting someone. Not a boy. A man.”
His dark face
pulled into a frown. “A man? Yeah, maybe I saw her. I thought it was kind of
weird, ’cause the guy was way old for her, but she got all blushy and giggly.
She was sittin’ with her coffee over there . . .” He pointed to an empty table.
“Then the man got up from where he’d been over there . . .” He pointed in the
other direction. “. . . and joined her.”
pulled into a frown. “A man? Yeah, maybe I saw her. I thought it was kind of
weird, ’cause the guy was way old for her, but she got all blushy and giggly.
She was sittin’ with her coffee over there . . .” He pointed to an empty table.
“Then the man got up from where he’d been over there . . .” He pointed in the
other direction. “. . . and joined her.”
“What did he
look like?”
look like?”
“Longish
blond hair. Kinda curly. Okay lookin’, I guess, for a white guy. He was tall
and kinda built, like he works out.”
blond hair. Kinda curly. Okay lookin’, I guess, for a white guy. He was tall
and kinda built, like he works out.”
Her stomach
knotted. “How long ago did they leave?”
knotted. “How long ago did they leave?”
“Five . . .
ten minutes, maybe.” He indicated the closest exit, making Camille’s stomach
free fall. “Looked like they were goin’ to the parking lot, but I got busy with
a customer.”
ten minutes, maybe.” He indicated the closest exit, making Camille’s stomach
free fall. “Looked like they were goin’ to the parking lot, but I got busy with
a customer.”
“I’m calling
this in.” She pulled out her cell phone and walked backward toward that parking
lot. “You don’t leave, Keshawn. Another officer will be here shortly to talk to
you. You may just have saved a girl’s life. Thank you.”
this in.” She pulled out her cell phone and walked backward toward that parking
lot. “You don’t leave, Keshawn. Another officer will be here shortly to talk to
you. You may just have saved a girl’s life. Thank you.”
With that,
she whipped around and connected to Dispatch and gave them her ID. “We may have
another victim in the Chat Room Predator Case. The suspect may have taken a
fourteen-year-old girl out of the Riverfront Shopping Center. I need uniforms
and crime scene investigators here as soon as possible to follow up.”
she whipped around and connected to Dispatch and gave them her ID. “We may have
another victim in the Chat Room Predator Case. The suspect may have taken a
fourteen-year-old girl out of the Riverfront Shopping Center. I need uniforms
and crime scene investigators here as soon as possible to follow up.”
Someone
official needed to talk to Keshawn and to get prints from that table. Too much
to hope for DNA.
official needed to talk to Keshawn and to get prints from that table. Too much
to hope for DNA.
Heading out
the door, she quickly scanned the parking lot. No Sandy. What had she expected?
Certainly not for a levelheaded girl to leave with a man she’d just met.
the door, she quickly scanned the parking lot. No Sandy. What had she expected?
Certainly not for a levelheaded girl to leave with a man she’d just met.
The thought
slammed her with a memory she would rather forget. How she’d instantly fallen
for Drago Nance. How she’d left the bar with him after one drink.
slammed her with a memory she would rather forget. How she’d instantly fallen
for Drago Nance. How she’d left the bar with him after one drink.
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