“I’ll drink to that,” Bonnie said.
Harper massaged her left shoulder gingerly. It ached a little—carrying boxes was the biggest workout she’d given it since the cast came off.
“How are things at the paper?” Bonnie inquired, setting her glass down. “Is everyone settling down since the layoffs?”
It had been a tough couple of months at the Daily News. Seven writers had been laid off, along with sportswriters and people in the advertising office. The newsroom felt increasingly hollow. But those who remained—eight news reporters, two lifestyle writers, and five sportswriters—were forming a tight group. One writer had been promoted to junior editor, meaning Baxter no longer had to work fourteen-hour days. It also meant she wasn’t there every night. But Harper was getting used to that.
DJ had been given a split beat, writing about the courts and helping Harper cover the police.
“Baxter did the best she could with a bad situation,” Harper said. “DJ’s happy as a clam, charming all the lawyers. Winning over the cops.”
“What about you?” Bonnie asked. “Are you sleeping better?”
Harper hesitated. She still had nightmares of bright headlights, and the shriek of metal. But things had been getting better since the district attorney decided not to file charges against her. Some nights she slept dreamlessly.
She and her father had spoken only once since the night she killed Dowell. A stiff, uncomfortable conversation that felt like good-bye. Maybe she was ready to move on from her childhood. Ready, at last, to let go of the demons that had haunted her all her life.
“I’m a little better,” she said. “But, you know. Baby steps.”
Bonnie watched her, a tiny crease forming between her eyes. “This is a strange question but, do you ever think about doing anything else? I mean, you’ve been shot. You’ve been stalked. Doesn’t the violence wear you down?”
Harper looked down the dark street. Somewhere in the distance a siren wailed, and her heart quickened in response, as if she were intrinsically connected to that sound. As if it were in her blood.
After all these years, maybe it was.
“This is my job,” she said. “I don’t think I’ll ever do anything else.” She smiled, lifting her glass. “Anyway. Someone’s got to do it.”
ALSO BY CHRISTI DAUGHERTY
THE ECHO KILLING
A BEAUTIFUL CORPSE
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
As a newspaper reporter, CHRISTI DAUGHERTY began covering murders at the age of twenty-two. She worked as a journalist for years in cities including Savannah, Baton Rouge, and New Orleans. Her work eventually took her to England, where she wrote the international bestselling Night School series of thrillers for young adults under the name C. J. Daugherty. The Echo Killing was her first novel for adults. Find out more and win signed books by visiting her website: www.ChristiDaugherty.com. You can also follow Christi on Twitter (@CJ_Daugherty) and Facebook (CJAuthor). Or sign up for email updates here.
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CONTENTS
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Three Months Later
Also by Christi Daugherty
About the Author
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
First published in the United States by Minotaur Books, an imprint of St. Martin’s Publishing Group
REVOLVER ROAD. Copyright © 2020 by Christi Daugherty. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin’s Publishing Group, 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271.
www.minotaurbooks.com
Cover design and photo illustration by David Baldeosingh Rotstein
Cover photograph by Nancy Heffernan
The Library of Congress has catalogued the print edition as follows:
Names: Daugherty, Christi, author.
Title: Revolver road: a Harper McClain mystery / Christi Daugherty.
Description: First edition. | New York: Minotaur Books, 2020. | Series: Harper McClain mysteries; 3
Identifiers: LCCN 2019039542 | ISBN 9781250235886 (hardcover) | ISBN 9781250235893 (ebook)
Subjects: GSAFD: Mystery fiction.
Classification: LCC PS3604.A883 R48 2020 | DDC 813/.6—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019039542
eISBN 9781250235893
Our ebooks books may be purchased in bulk for promotional, educational, or business use. Please contact the Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department at 1-800-221-7945, extension 5442, or by email at [email protected].
First Edition: March 2020
Revolver Road Page 29