by Liliana Hart
Agatha snickered and grabbed a water from the fridge, taking a seat in one of the other cushioned wicker chairs.
“I’ve got to tell you,” she said. “I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around this whole thing. I didn’t sleep at all last night.”
“I think we’re all a bit shell shocked,” Coil said. “It’s not every day you have to arrest a cop you’ve mentored and trained. And I can say for sure it’s something I never want to do again.”
“It’ll take a while for the community to recover too,” Hank said. “Kim and Tyler were loved by a lot of people around here.”
“You know,” Coil said. “I’ve been thinking maybe you two have something special. Nicole Green’s murder isn’t the only cold case around here.
Hank got caught in Agatha’s gaze. Had her eyes always been that pretty shade of bluish green? “What do you think, Aggie?”
“I think you call me Aggie to annoy me. And I think I have to finish this book before I do much else.” She paused and took another sip of water. “But I’m open to the suggestion.”
“What about you, Coil?” Agatha asked. “How are you doing through all this?”
Coil shook his head and it was impossible to miss the myriad of emotions that crossed his face—sadness and anger being the most prominent.
“I think this was my fault. I was so fixed on it being her daddy that the real murderer not only got away with it, but he came to work right under my nose. How arrogant is that? Maybe what happened in Austin messed me up more than I thought. Or maybe I’m not the cop I thought I was.”
Hank understood how Coil was feeling. When you were in charge, the responsibility lied with you. It was a heavy burden to bear.
“You did your job,” Hank said. “Sometimes the facts we’re given is all we have to work with. It throws a wrench in the works when the people we trust lie and alter the facts. You can’t know everyone’s deepest secrets or their pain. Look how many people suffered loss because of this. We can only take the facts known to us and do the best we can to piece them together until the puzzle is complete. You didn’t have all the pieces of the puzzle. And thank goodness you didn’t try to force the pieces to point to Walter Green. It would’ve been easy to do that and an innocent man would be in prison. Despite what your heart wanted, you did the right thing.”
“I failed to serve justice.”
“No, my friend,” Hank said. “Justice was slow, but it was indeed served.”
Sneak Peek: A Tisket A Casket
October 29, 2010
Orange flames danced through the attic with viciousness—devouring without prejudice—the monster growing in power as it was fed. Plumes of black smoke swirled into the night sky, and the flames hissed as powerful streams of water tried to destroy the destroyer.
Red lights flashed through the streets, a disorienting symphony of sounds and color. Everyone watched as the battle raged on, wondering who would come out the victor.
The Rio Chino Fire Department was proud of its history—a hundred and forty-five years of serving the public and battling the monsters that threatened their community.
The house was old, nothing more than kindling for the flames that ate it alive. They’d been called soon enough to save some of the structure, but it was the fire department’s own demons that threatened to end the tradition of brotherhood under fire.
Fire Chief Kip Grogan was a thirty-year vet with less than a year until a full and well-earned retirement. His silver shock of thinning hair and round, red cheeks made Kip easily identifiable on any fire scene. Tonight though, he was fighting more than fire.
“Lester, get some spray on the southwest corner. It’s trying to hop houses.” Kip ordered over the radio.
“Trying to sir, but Gage isn’t cooperating.”
“Gauge, what gauge? Everything’s at full pump and pressure. Pour water where I told you.”
“No, it’s Gage, Gage McCoy. This is his house, and he’s not letting us suppress it.”
“Why not?” Kip yelled over the radio and sirens that wailed along the small suburban street.
“Said he lost it in his divorce and hopes it burns to the ground,” Lester said.
“I don’t care what he says,” Kip said. “Arrest him.”
“Except that I’m not a cop,” Lester said. “He is. And he’s armed.”
The roar of the hoses fighting the fire was deafening, but Kip felt the chill cross over his skin—that internal warning that told him something was about to go very, very wrong. The sound of rushing water came to a halt and there was nothing but the sound of crackling flames.
“What’s going on?” he yelled again. He kicked open the doors of the command center truck where he’d been giving orders and was greeted with the sight of 1754 Constantine Drive fully engulfed in flames. His men stood watching. Helpless.
It didn’t take long for Kip to assess the situation and understand why everything had come to a halt. A man stood, silhouetted by flame and shadow, a rifle in his hands.
He and Gage McCoy had gone through trainings together. They’d been friends. But he also knew the job changed a man. Divorce changed a man too, and Gage had gone through a doozy. But friend or no, Gage was putting lives at stake, and he was turning his back on the oath he’d promised to uphold. Well, Gage wasn’t going to destroy the reputation of what he’d help build over the last thirty years.
“Tony.”
“Yes, Kip?”
“Get my gun.” Kip ordered.
“But the cops are on their way.” Tony Leatherman, the battalion chief’s second in command pleaded with Kip.
“Give it to me or get out of my command center.” Kip challenged him.
Reluctant, Tony unlocked the diamond-plated metal cabin that also served as a bench seat. He unboxed Kip’s 45 caliber pistol and handed it to his chief.
“I’ll show that bastard to interfere in a fire fighting operation.” Kip howled.
Kip hefted his bulk one step toward the back of the truck, and fell dead from the doorway and into a puddle of backwashed water.
Continue the Adventure with A Tisket a Casket
About Liliana Hart
Liliana Hart is a New York Times, USA Today, and Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author of more than fifty titles. After starting her first novel her freshman year of college, she immediately became addicted to writing and knew she’d found what she was meant to do with her life. She has no idea why she majored in music.
Since publishing in June 2011, Liliana has sold more than five-million ebooks. All three of her series have made multiple appearances on the New York Times list. Liliana is a sought-after speaker, and she’s given keynote speeches and publishing workshops to standing-room-only crowds from California, to the Library of Congress, to London.
Liliana can almost always be found at her computer writing, or working with her husband, Scott Silverii, on their marriage ministry at Marriage Matters. Scott and Liliana believe in happily-ever-afters and want to help as many marriages succeed as possible, which is one of the reasons Liliana loves writing stories about couples overcoming all obstacles.
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About Scott Silverii
Liliana Hart’s writing partner and husband, Scott Silverii blends over 25 years of heart-stopping policing Special Operations experience.
From deep in
the heart of south Louisiana’s Cajun Country, his action-packed writing style is seasoned by the Mardi Gras, hurricanes and crawfish étouffée.
Don’t let the easy Creole smile fool you. The author served most of a highly decorated career in SOG buying dope, banging down doors, and busting bad guys.
Bringing characters to life based on those amazing experiences, Scott writes it like he lived it.
Lock and Load – Let’s Roll.
Also by Liliana Hart
JJ Graves Mystery Series
Dirty Little Secrets
A Dirty Shame
Dirty Rotten Scoundrel
Down and Dirty
Dirty Deeds
Dirty Laundry
Dirty Money
Addison Holmes Mystery Series
Whiskey Rebellion
Whiskey Sour
Whiskey For Breakfast
Whiskey, You’re The Devil
Whiskey on the Rocks
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot
Whiskey and Gunpowder
The Gravediggers
The Darkest Corner
Gone to Dust
Say No More
The MacKenzies of Montana
Dane
A Christmas Wish: Dane
Thomas
To Catch A Cupid: Thomas
Riley
Cooper
A MacKenzie Christmas
Riley: Fireworks
Cooper: The Ties that Bind
MacKenzie Security Series
Cade
Shadows and Silk
Secrets and Satin
Sins and Scarlet Lace
Sizzle
Crave
Trouble Maker
Scorch
Lawmen of Surrender (MacKenzies-1001 Dark Nights)
1001 Dark Nights: Captured in Surrender
1001 Dark Nights: The Promise of Surrender
Sweet Surrender
Dawn of Surrender
The MacKenzie World (read in any order)
Trouble Maker
Bullet Proof
Deep Trouble
Delta Rescue
Desire and Ice
Rush
Spies and Stilettos
Wicked Hot
Hot Witness
Avenged
Never Surrender
Stand Alone Titles
Breath of Fire
Kill Shot
Catch Me If You Can
All About Eve
Paradise Disguised
Island Home
The Witching Hour
Fortune’s Treasure (Second Chances Anthology)
Books by Liliana Hart and Scott Silverii
The Harley and Davidson Mystery Series
The Farmer’s Slaughter
A Tisket a Casket
I Saw Mommy Killing Santa Claus
Get Your Murder Running
Deceased and Desist
Also by Scott Silverii
Sergeant Joe Boxer Series
Call Of Duty
FAST
Rapid Fire
End Of Watch
A DEA Undercover Thriller series
SAINT
JUSTICE
SINNER
Cajun Murder Mystery Short-Story Series
By The Numbers (#1)
The Shepherd (#2)
Geaux Tiger (#3)
Cajun Cooking (#4)
Crooked Cross (#5)
Cracked Cross (#6)
Double Cross (#7)
Creole Crossroads (#8)
Bayou Backslide: Special Novella Edition
Bayou Roux: The Complete First Season
The Shadow Ops Series
Danger’s Desire
Danger’s Heat
Danger’s Passion