by Blake Pierce
L E F T
T O
F E A R
(An Adele Sharp Mystery—Book Ten)
B L A K E P I E R C E
Blake Pierce
Blake Pierce is the USA Today bestselling author of the RILEY PAGE mystery series, which includes seventeen books. Blake Pierce is also the author of the MACKENZIE WHITE mystery series, comprising fourteen books; of the AVERY BLACK mystery series, comprising six books; of the KERI LOCKE mystery series, comprising five books; of the MAKING OF RILEY PAIGE mystery series, comprising six books; of the KATE WISE mystery series, comprising seven books; of the CHLOE FINE psychological suspense mystery, comprising six books; of the JESSE HUNT psychological suspense thriller series, comprising nineteen books; of the AU PAIR psychological suspense thriller series, comprising three books; of the ZOE PRIME mystery series, comprising six books; of the ADELE SHARP mystery series, comprising thirteen books; of the EUROPEAN VOYAGE cozy mystery series, comprising six books (and counting); of the new LAURA FROST FBI suspense thriller, comprising four books (and counting); of the new ELLA DARK FBI suspense thriller, comprising six books (and counting); of the A YEAR IN EUROPE cozy mystery series, comprising nine books; of the AVA GOLD mystery series, comprising three books (and counting); and of the RACHEL GIFT mystery series, comprising three books (and counting).
ONCE GONE (a Riley Paige Mystery--Book #1), BEFORE HE KILLS (A Mackenzie White Mystery—Book 1), CAUSE TO KILL (An Avery Black Mystery—Book 1), A TRACE OF DEATH (A Keri Locke Mystery—Book 1), WATCHING (The Making of Riley Paige—Book 1), NEXT DOOR (A Chloe Fine Psychological Suspense Mystery—Book 1), THE PERFECT WIFE (A Jessie Hunt Psychological Suspense Thriller—Book One), IF SHE KNEW (A Kate Wise Mystery—Book 1), and MURDER (AND BAKLAVA) (A European Voyage Cozy Mystery—Book 1) are each available as a free download on Amazon!
An avid reader and lifelong fan of the mystery and thriller genres, Blake loves to hear from you, so please feel free to visit www.blakepierceauthor.com to learn more and stay in touch.
Copyright © 2021 by Blake Pierce. All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior permission of the author. This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictionally. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Jacket image Copyright Annette Shaff, used under license from Shutterstock.com.
BOOKS BY BLAKE PIERCE
RACHEL GIFT MYSTERY SERIES
HER LAST WISH (Book #1)
HER LAST CHANCE (Book #2)
HER LAST HOPE (Book #3)
AVA GOLD MYSTERY SERIES
CITY OF PREY (Book #1)
CITY OF FEAR (Book #2)
CITY OF BONES (Book #3)
A YEAR IN EUROPE
A MURDER IN PARIS (Book #1)
DEATH IN FLORENCE (Book #2)
VENGEANCE IN VIENNA (Book #3)
A FATALITY IN SPAIN (Book #4)
SCANDAL IN LONDON (Book #5)
AN IMPOSTOR IN DUBLIN (Book #6)
SEDUCTION IN BORDEAUX (Book #7)
JEALOUSY IN SWITZERLAND (Book #8)
A DEBACLE IN PRAGUE (Book #9)
ELLA DARK FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER
GIRL, ALONE (Book #1)
GIRL, TAKEN (Book #2)
GIRL, HUNTED (Book #3)
GIRL, SILENCED (Book #4)
GIRL, VANISHED (Book 5)
GIRL ERASED (Book #6)
LAURA FROST FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER
ALREADY GONE (Book #1)
ALREADY SEEN (Book #2)
ALREADY TRAPPED (Book #3)
ALREADY MISSING (Book #4)
EUROPEAN VOYAGE COZY MYSTERY SERIES
MURDER (AND BAKLAVA) (Book #1)
DEATH (AND APPLE STRUDEL) (Book #2)
CRIME (AND LAGER) (Book #3)
MISFORTUNE (AND GOUDA) (Book #4)
CALAMITY (AND A DANISH) (Book #5)
MAYHEM (AND HERRING) (Book #6)
ADELE SHARP MYSTERY SERIES
LEFT TO DIE (Book #1)
LEFT TO RUN (Book #2)
LEFT TO HIDE (Book #3)
LEFT TO KILL (Book #4)
LEFT TO MURDER (Book #5)
LEFT TO ENVY (Book #6)
LEFT TO LAPSE (Book #7)
LEFT TO VANISH (Book #8)
LEFT TO HUNT (Book #9)
LEFT TO FEAR (Book #10)
LEFT TO PREY (Book #11)
LEFT TO LURE (Book #12)
LEFT TO CRAVE (Book #13)
THE AU PAIR SERIES
ALMOST GONE (Book#1)
ALMOST LOST (Book #2)
ALMOST DEAD (Book #3)
ZOE PRIME MYSTERY SERIES
FACE OF DEATH (Book#1)
FACE OF MURDER (Book #2)
FACE OF FEAR (Book #3)
FACE OF MADNESS (Book #4)
FACE OF FURY (Book #5)
FACE OF DARKNESS (Book #6)
A JESSIE HUNT PSYCHOLOGICAL SUSPENSE SERIES
THE PERFECT WIFE (Book #1)
THE PERFECT BLOCK (Book #2)
THE PERFECT HOUSE (Book #3)
THE PERFECT SMILE (Book #4)
THE PERFECT LIE (Book #5)
THE PERFECT LOOK (Book #6)
THE PERFECT AFFAIR (Book #7)
THE PERFECT ALIBI (Book #8)
THE PERFECT NEIGHBOR (Book #9)
THE PERFECT DISGUISE (Book #10)
THE PERFECT SECRET (Book #11)
THE PERFECT FAÇADE (Book #12)
THE PERFECT IMPRESSION (Book #13)
THE PERFECT DECEIT (Book #14)
THE PERFECT MISTRESS (Book #15)
THE PERFECT IMAGE (Book #16)
THE PERFECT VEIL (Book #17)
THE PERFECT INDISCRETION (Book #18)
THE PERFECT RUMOR (Book #19)
CHLOE FINE PSYCHOLOGICAL SUSPENSE SERIES
NEXT DOOR (Book #1)
A NEIGHBOR’S LIE (Book #2)
CUL DE SAC (Book #3)
SILENT NEIGHBOR (Book #4)
HOMECOMING (Book #5)
TINTED WINDOWS (Book #6)
KATE WISE MYSTERY SERIES
IF SHE KNEW (Book #1)
IF SHE SAW (Book #2)
IF SHE RAN (Book #3)
IF SHE HID (Book #4)
IF SHE FLED (Book #5)
IF SHE FEARED (Book #6)
IF SHE HEARD (Book #7)
THE MAKING OF RILEY PAIGE SERIES
WATCHING (Book #1)
WAITING (Book #2)
LURING (Book #3)
TAKING (Book #4)
STALKING (Book #5)
KILLING (Book #6)
RILEY PAIGE MYSTERY SERIES
ONCE GONE (Book #1)
ONCE TAKEN (Book #2)
ONCE CRAVED (Book #3)
ONCE LURED (Book #4)
ONCE HUNTED (Book #5)
ONCE PINED (Book #6)
ONCE FORSAKEN (Book #7)
ONCE COLD (Book #8)
ONCE STALKED (Book #9)
ONCE LOST (Book #10)
ONCE BURIED (Book #11)
ONCE BOUND
(Book #12)
ONCE TRAPPED (Book #13)
ONCE DORMANT (Book #14)
ONCE SHUNNED (Book #15)
ONCE MISSED (Book #16)
ONCE CHOSEN (Book #17)
MACKENZIE WHITE MYSTERY SERIES
BEFORE HE KILLS (Book #1)
BEFORE HE SEES (Book #2)
BEFORE HE COVETS (Book #3)
BEFORE HE TAKES (Book #4)
BEFORE HE NEEDS (Book #5)
BEFORE HE FEELS (Book #6)
BEFORE HE SINS (Book #7)
BEFORE HE HUNTS (Book #8)
BEFORE HE PREYS (Book #9)
BEFORE HE LONGS (Book #10)
BEFORE HE LAPSES (Book #11)
BEFORE HE ENVIES (Book #12)
BEFORE HE STALKS (Book #13)
BEFORE HE HARMS (Book #14)
AVERY BLACK MYSTERY SERIES
CAUSE TO KILL (Book #1)
CAUSE TO RUN (Book #2)
CAUSE TO HIDE (Book #3)
CAUSE TO FEAR (Book #4)
CAUSE TO SAVE (Book #5)
CAUSE TO DREAD (Book #6)
KERI LOCKE MYSTERY SERIES
A TRACE OF DEATH (Book #1)
A TRACE OF MURDER (Book #2)
A TRACE OF VICE (Book #3)
A TRACE OF CRIME (Book #4)
A TRACE OF HOPE (Book #5)
CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY THREE
CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR
CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE
CHAPTER TWENTY SIX
CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN
CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT
CHAPTER TWENTY NINE
CHAPTER THIRTY
CHAPTER THIRTY ONE
CHAPTER THIRTY TWO
CHAPTER THIRTY THREE
CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR
CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE
CHAPTER THIRTY SIX
CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN
EPILOGUE
CHAPTER ONE
The heiress to the Akbulut fortune stared across the Danube River, watching the wavering streaks of moonlight reflect off the surface. Zeynep Akbulut hailed from Germany by way of Turkish immigrants. The headscarf she wore, though, was a fashion statement more than a cultural one. The two nose jobs and cheek lifts were neither cultural nor fashionable, but had intended to be so when first administered.
Now, Zeynep's plastic features were arranged in a scowl as she stared across the beautiful water, one white-gloved hand extended over the metal railing, though not quite making contact. Who knew what sort of germs from the general public found their way onto such things?
“Ms. Akbulut,” one of the riverboat attendees was saying over her shoulder, “please, I am happy to carry your bags for you.”
The riverboat swayed and shifted gently with the flow of the water. Couldn't they make these things still? It would give her a stomachache before the night was out. And that horrible, horrible smell? What was that...? Disgusting.
Zeynep turned, lowering her hand from where it had never touched the railing to begin with and fixated a wary eye on the riverboat's attendee.
“Are we still in Austria?” she said, her tone clipped.
The attendee was a young man in a black, silk suit. He winced at her expression, both his hands dangling at his side where he clutched her two suitcases. The small carry-on cage with the fluffy pink warmth sheath sat at his feet where her cat, Kaya, was mewling in the dark.
“No, Ms. Akbulut,” the man replied, quickly. “We're heading towards Regensburg now.”
“What is that?”
He blinked. “Umm, Germany, ma'am. It's near your home town.”
Zeynep was no longer listening though. She wasn't a geography expert—geography was for chauffeurs and poor people. “Well,” she said, “I want to go back. Turn this ship around.”
The attendee blinked, and swallowed, doing his best, it seemed, to keep his tone even. “I... I don't know what to tell you, Ms. Akbulut. We can't turn around. The other passengers—”
“Ugh!” she groaned, rolling her eyes at the thought of others hampering her wishes. “I'll pay you!” she said. “How much do you want? Five hundred. Five thousand? I don't care. Just turn this thing around.”
The attendee winced, shaking his head. “It isn't possible. Please, if you would just let me, I can show you to your room. It's one of the best we have. People rave about the view.”
Zeynep was already shaking her head, though, not that she was listening too closely to begin with. “My rooms are horrible,” she declared. “Absolutely terrible. And they smell funny.”
“They... they smell?” The attendee paused. “How so?”
“They smell like the rest of this little ship.”
“The riverboat, ma'am? Do you mean the water? You don't,” he coughed delicately, “find the scent of the river somewhat pleasant? We could shut your windows for you, if you like.”
Zeynep sniffed. “They're not my windows. Because it isn't my room.” She crossed her arms. “You're the ones who begged me to be on this ship.”
“I'm afraid I don't understand.”
She threw her hands back in frustration, but her knuckles grazed the railing and she yelped, withdrawing her hand and rubbing it in frustration. “I'd like to speak with your manager.”
The man hefted the two suitcases. “I am the manager. That young woman you yelled at earlier, she said you weren't satisfied with your rooms. I could move you to a lower deck, if you'd like.”
“No!” Zeynep said, horrified. “No. That lady, what was her name—Tiffy?”
“Bernice,” the man replied, unblinking.
“Right. Bernie. Well, she said there was a larger room. Above mine. A better room. I want that one. Yes. I want it.”
“I—I'm afraid someone is already staying there. But we do have nice rooms on the same level as yours. Perhaps we could—”
“No! I want the larger one. Now!”
By now, the manager was breathing through his nose, in and out as if counting the number of seconds between inhalations. His lips had tightened somewhat, and his cheeks seemed tinged with red, even in the night beneath the moon. The riverboat continued to churn up the Danube River—this second longest river in Europe moved from Austria into Germany, past the countryside, and the occasional town lining the waterway. Smaller watercraft could occasionally be glimpsed tied to docks or lining the wharf. A couple of boats were being loaded onto the back of a trailer at a dry dock as they passed.
Zeynep didn't much notice any of this. She could feel her temper rising. How dare this little boat man tell her she couldn't have the room! She was an Akbulut! The disrespect alone... If her father was here...
She gritted her teeth, shaking her head and wagging a finger. She was so angry that she couldn't even find the words. “No,” she said, simply. “No!” she said, even louder, yelling in the manager's face. “I want that room! Or I want you to turn this boat around.”
The attendee's posture had changed a bit now. He'd lowered her bags to the deck again, on either side of the little pink cage. His eyes were hooded, his lips tight as he said, softly, “This is not possible, I'm afraid. And no, I cannot take your money, Ms. Akbulut.”
“I want to speak to the captain.”
“This—that isn't how the riverboats work...” he trailed off, though, rubbing his jaw and glancing to the side. A couple o
f lights were on down the side of the boat, but most of the passengers were either sleeping, or in their rooms, or still lingering in the dining hall. After a moment of consideration, the manager seemed to reach a decision. He nodded slowly as if suddenly realizing something and his brow furrowed in consideration. “You know,” he said, snapping his fingers against his silk pants. “Actually, that's a good idea. I'll speak to the, er, captain. You wait here, okay?”
“I don't want to wait! I want that room.”
“Yes... Yes, I understand. I'll be right back. Just hang tight. I'll see what I can do about that room.”
Zeynep smiled now as the manager began to march away, leaving her bags on the deck, next to the railing. She knew she'd get her way eventually. The Akbuluts always did. Her family hadn't built a fashion empire by taking no for an answer. It was the way things had to be.
She watched as the bellhop... busboy? What had he said he was? She snorted. Not that it mattered. As long as she got that room. She didn't like having to wait, standing out in the open, but she supposed it would have to do for now. Of course, she'd lodge a complaint. Maybe try to speak to one of the owners and get the little bellhop fired.
For now, though, she turned, looking over the railing again and frowning at the river. So much water... It was all just too wet. She never should have accepted the invitation for the riverboat. They had wanted her here for the sheer clout of her last name, no doubt. It's how things often went. But this time, they hadn't even comped her with the best room.
She heard the footsteps of the busboy against the metal stairs at the far end of the deck. She watched as he circled, his hand trailing against the metal railing as he moved up a level. As he left, she thought she heard him mutter something beneath his breath before spitting over the railing.
She frowned at this. Now she definitely would speak to the owners about the rude man's job.
She waited... And waited... Nearly five whole minutes passed. Her temper was beginning to wear thin. Five entire minutes. Who did they think she was?
“Hello?” she called up, towards the front of the boat. Above her, from the dining level, she could hear the sounds of footsteps, of passengers moving about.