What We Found
Page 24
I eased away from Mom and went to stand beside Kyle. Mom watched with a slight frown, but then she met my eyes and gave a resigned smile.
“Well?” Nancy’s gruff voice rumbled. “Is anyone going to tell us what happened? Who got shot?”
“No one,” I said. “Except Thomas Bain with bug spray in the eyes. But I think it’s safe to say that we know who killed Bethany, and we can prove it.”
A moment of silence followed. The victory was bittersweet. It wouldn’t bring back Bethany. But maybe those who cared for her could take comfort that some kind of justice would be found.
“Oh!” I suddenly remembered the phone still in my front pocket. I pulled it out and checked—still recording. I ended the recording with a grin at Ricky. “Nice trick. I got it all on tape.”
Kyle laughed and pulled me closer to his side. “That’s my girl!”
Movement caught my eye, and I turned to see Lia Bain hesitating where the side path entered the clearing. She ducked her head and started to skirt our group.
“Wait!” I said.
She pressed her lips together and her chin trembled, but she managed to lift it in that little act of defiance as she looked up.
“Thank you,” I said. “You probably saved our lives.”
She blinked rapidly, her eyes shiny with tears. Had she really thought we would blame her? Maybe she’d lied at first, and had accidentally led me into danger, but she’d been willing to stand against her own father when she knew he was wrong. She’d done what had to be done.
Nancy and Daniel converged on the girl. “Then we owe you our thanks as well,” Nancy said. Daniel, give her your handkerchief.” Lia cringed away from the falcon, but Nancy soon had her talking about it, and Lia even ran a finger lightly down the bird’s wing.
I leaned into Kyle. “Maybe Nancy will take her hunting some time. It might be good for her. I know it’s been good for me.”
His arm tightened. “We’ll do whatever you want.”
I turned to face him and put my hands on his shoulders. “Does that offer last until tonight?”
His eyes gleamed. “At least.”
I brushed my cheek against his to whisper in his ear. “Good. Because I’m starting to figure out what I want. And I’m ready to go after it.”
Dear Readers,
Several years ago I was hiking in the wilderness with two friends when we stumbled on a dead body. Of course we reported it at once. I then took pages of notes on all the thoughts and feelings that went through our minds in the days that followed. (I didn’t know when or how I would use these notes, but for a writer, all of life is research.)
I heard later that many people do not report crime scenes. How could someone simply ignore a sight like that? That question and the powerful experience of uncovering the death of a murdered stranger inspired this book. All the characters in What We Found are fictional, however.
I am grateful to falconer Matt Mitchell for his kindness and generosity in introducing me to the world of falconry. The scenes with falcons and hawks are based on my experiences interviewing or observing him at work, though any mistakes are mine alone, of course. If you would like to see photos of falcons and hawks, including baby pictures, please visit my website page for What We Found.
You can also learn about my other books and read sample chapters either on my website or on my Amazon page.
I hope you’ll keep an eye out for my future books. Visit my website at www.krisbock.com to sign up for a newsletter announcing new releases.
About The Author
Kris Bock writes action-packed romantic suspense, often involving outdoor adventures and Southwestern landscapes. Her previous books include Whispers in the Dark and Rattled.
Ordinary Women, Extraordinary Adventures
Whispers in the Dark
A young archaeologist seeking peace after an assault stumbles into danger as mysteries unfold among ancient Southwest ruins. Can she overcome the fears from her past, learn to fight back, and open herself to a new romance?
Tomorrow would be soon enough for scientific method, for testing and hypothesizing. Tonight I only wanted to touch the magic of this ancient world. I closed my eyes and tried to feel some ancient presence, to hear whispers from the past. The air seemed to tremble with possibilities. If only I believed in magic—
A shout slashed the air. I twisted so fast I tumbled onto my backside.
I gaped up at the man towering over me. Bare chest, muscular and bronzed. Black hair pulled back from a face full of sharp planes and angles. Dark eyes fierce under scowling brows.
My heart jolted painfully. I’d come face to face with an ancient warrior. He was gorgeous.
And furious.
At me.
Praise for Whispers in the Dark:
“This book was a delight from start to finish!”
“Whispers in the Dark has a hefty dose of adventure and mystery, as well as a strong main character.”
“This book kept me turning pages until the end. The plot was full of twists and turns, always keeping the reader rooting for the heroine. Excellent read!”
Rattled
A legendary treasure hunt in the dramatic—and deadly—New Mexico desert....
The lost Victorio Peak treasure is the stuff of legends—a heretic Spanish priest’s gold mine, made richer by the spoils of bandits and an Apache raider.
When Erin, a quiet history professor, uncovers a clue that may pinpoint the lost treasure cave, she prepares for adventure. But when a hit-and-run driver nearly kills her, she realizes she’s not the only one after the treasure. And is Drew, the handsome helicopter pilot who found her bleeding in a ditch, really a hero, or one of the enemy?
Just how far will Erin go to find the treasure and discover what she’s really made of?
Praise for Rattled:
“The action never stopped .... It was adventure and romance at its best.”
“The story has it all—action, romance, danger, intrigue, lost treasure, not to mention a sizzling relationship....”
“I couldn’t put this book down. You’ll love it.”
Buy Kris Bock books on Amazon.
To read the opening chapters or learn more about Kris Bock’s latest work, visit www.krisbock.com.
Ms. Bock also writes for young people under the name Chris Eboch. The Eyes of Pharaoh is a fast-paced mystery set against the exotic backdrop of ancient Egypt. In The Well of Sacrifice, a Mayan girl in ninth-century Guatemala rebels against the High Priest who sacrifices anyone challenging his power.
The Haunted series follows a brother and sister who travel with their parents’ ghost hunter TV show and try to help the ghosts. In The Ghost on the Stairs, an 1880s ghost bride haunts a Colorado hotel, waiting for her missing husband to return. The Riverboat Phantom features a steamboat pilot still trying to prevent a long-ago disaster. In The Knight in the Shadows, a Renaissance French squire protects a sword on display at a New York City museum.
Browse Chris Eboch books on Amazon.
Learn more or read excerpts at www.chriseboch.com.
All rights reserved. For information about permission to reproduce selections from this book, contact the author through her website at www.krisbock.com.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.