Gone Before Goodbye (Love &Mystery in the--6-oh-3 Book 1)

by Nora LeDuc

  Gone Before Goodbye

  By

  Nora LeDuc

  GONE BEFORE GOODBYE—Love and Mystery in the 6-oh-3, Book 1

  The police are stumped. Was she a runaway careening toward disaster or the victim of a predator preying on teenage girls?

  When rebellious seventeen-year-old Lisa Grant vanishes from her bedroom in New Hampshire, her guardian, Teagan Raynes, becomes ensnared in the frantic hunt to find her alive. Search dogs lose the girl’s scent at Pretty Park, where another teenager disappeared three months ago. Teagan and the police fear a stalker is using the park to track and abduct young girls. Soon a mysterious death threat arrives for Teagan, and she reluctantly puts her faith in the lead detective, the notorious Noah Cassidy.

  PRAISE FOR NORA LEDUC

  TRUST ME: “The suspense built steadily and unpredictably. Trust Me is a must read.” ~ Long and Short Reviews

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  DEAD WOMEN TELL NO LIES: “This author writes an outstanding romantic suspense. One of the best I have read in a long time. I would absolutely recommend highly—5 Flowers—I loved this book! It’s on my keeper shelf!”~ It’s Raining Books

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  “STAGING MURDER absolutely kept me glued to my ereader. I was caught up in the suspense, quite curious about the murder, the threats and what they all meant for Ava.” ~ Jennifer Porter, Romance Novel News

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  “Impressively crafted, PICK UP LINES FOR MURDER is an enjoyable suspense thriller.” ~ Josee Morgan, Apex Reviews

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  MURDER CAME CALLING: “A Night Owl Romance Book Review TOP PICK!”

  ~* ~

  MURDER BY HEART: “Tension begins on the first page and doesn’t end until an unexpected culprit is revealed in the last few pages. This cleverly crafted story is filled with sexual tension that neither the hero nor the heroine wants to recognize and an abundance of action as they try to outwit a vicious killer.” ~ Donna M. Brown for Romantic Times Book Reviews

  ~*~

  LOVE’S WICKED JEWEL: “Several of the scenes contain wry humor that binds all into a tidy bundle of compelling and suspenseful romance.” ~ Faith V. Smith, Romantic Times Book Reviews

  GONE BEFORE GOODBYE Copyright © 2014 by Nora LeDuc

  All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/ use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

  Contact Information: NoraLeDuc@yahoo.com

  Cover Art by Beetiful Book Covers

  Formatted by IRONHORSE Formatting

  Publishing History 2014

  Digital ISBN: 978-0-9892090-7-6

  Dedication

  To Susan and Linda who tirelessly answered all my how, when, where, and what questions. Thank you for sharing your awesome knowledge with me.

  Table of Contents

  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

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  About the Author

  Chapter 1

  Lisa Grant was trapped in the dead zone, aka Pretty Park. That’s what the nerds called this place in Hawick Falls, New Hampshire.

  No one remembered why or who named the park. “Stick that fact in your history books,” Lisa mumbled to herself she kicked the burnt-out sparkler leftover from last night’s Fourth of July firework celebration and scanned the open space under the lights.

  Where was Travis? She never should have snuck out to meet him so late at night, but it wasn’t fair she’d been grounded for ‘talking back’. She was seventeen, not a little kid, and should be allowed her opinions.

  The shriek of a cat from the woods nearby startled her. She clenched her jaw. Come on, Travis.

  She should have hitched a ride with him, but she’d wanted to keep him guessing if she’d come. He’d made a big deal about tonight, like something special would happen. She checked her phone one final time, no messages. No way was she texting him.

  Already, she’d wasted more than half an hour hiking the almost two miles from home and standing around to be blown off. If she called the house and admitted she was stranded, Teagan, her legal guardian— no, her guard— would find out she’d taken her phone and slipped out. Lisa would be jailed in her room for the rest of the summer.

  Who could she call? Travis had been her one loyal friend, and he’d deserted her. A jab of pain struck her, and she swallowed the lump of misery.

  It didn’t matter; she’d always been on her own. Still, she was sure Travis was different.

  She thought he’d loved Lisa Grant, the unlovable child abandoned by her parents in foster care when she was two.

  She pivoted around, taking in the jogging path, the lit tennis court on the rise to her left, and the vacant playground in her right. Beyond lay the run-down ball field. She was totally alone in the empty park. If anything bad happened to her, who would know? Goose bumps broke out on her arms.

  She’d give Travis five more minutes before she bolted. A breeze carried the sound of a croaking frog and the warning of rainfall. Lisa paced past the lamppost and brushed against a piece of paper tacked on the pole. Pausing, she glanced at the laminated sheet. Moisture had seeped inside the plastic cover during the rainy spring and hot, humid June and July, but she recognized the fading image of the missing fourteen-year-old girl with a gap between her two front teeth. Kara Linn’s picture had popped up everywhere during April when she vanished at dusk walking her dog in a park.

  This park. Everyone knew horrible things happened to girls who disappeared. Gooseflesh crawled over Lisa’s arms. She should never have come. Anyone could hide in the woods across the street and watch her.

  Screw it. She was going home.

  Movement by the court lights caught her attention. Travis? She let out a breath of relief. Everything would be okay. He must have parked in the lot behind the hill. She’d forgive him for keeping her hanging around after he begged to get back together. Maybe he’d bought her something special for tonight. It could be a necklace. She’d wear it the first day of school. They’d walk side-by-side through the halls and sit next to each other at lu
nch. After classes, they’d ride around in the cool car Travis was going to buy. Lisa ran her damp hands over her cutoff shorts and smiled. She didn’t care that he wasn’t on the honor roll but more likely on the detention list. She loved him.

  The figure paused beneath a light, twenty feet from her. The beam spotlighted a short man, wearing a T-shirt and sweatpants that hung on his body. White hair touched his shoulders. The guy was too old to be Travis and kinda creepy.

  Don’t go into the park after sunset. The caution screeched in her mind. Parents claimed criminals and crazies roamed the place at night. Why hadn’t she listened? What if the guy was a freaked-out murderer who wandered the park searching for victims? What if he’d kidnapped Kara Linn?

  Lisa’s throat grew dry. She shrank from the light. She shouldn’t have worn a white shirt, too obvious in the dark. Nah, forget Travis and shirts. That guy was coming closer. She turned and headed away along the path. The wind picked up and whipped strands of hair across her face while thunder rumbled a caution overhead. She tossed a glance over her shoulder; the man was moving in her direction. Sweat broke out on her forehead and ran down her face. This was Travis’s fault.

  Why didn’t you come, Travis? I love you. No, he left me in the park, by myself at night. I hate you. We’re done forever. Why’d you ditch me in this scary place?

  Once she got out of here she’d throw away the stupid heart bracelet he’d given her. She wished she could rip it off her wrist now. Tears filled her eyes and blurred her vision.

  She swiped at them and broke into a trot. Cool drops of rain splattered on her head. Great, a storm was rolling in. Claps of thunder and flashes of lightning struck on both sides. She clenched her hands at the sound of running behind her. He was following. He—

  She stumbled as her foot touched a broken branch on the ground. Something hit the heel of her shoe. For a second, she wobbled, and then righted herself. She glanced over her shoulder. Her wallet had fallen out of her pocket. No. No. Her life was inside.

  The man rounded the bend.

  Forget it. She’d come back in daylight and find it. She increased her speed. Had Kara fled on this path too? Would Lisa’s picture be on the next flyer nailed on a pole? She gulped, and her heart threatened to leap from her chest.

  The city sidewalk appeared through the rain like a finish line. A few more feet and she’d be out of the park. The chilly drops soaked through her shirt and caused more goose bumps. Trees lining the trail swayed together. The rustle of their leaves whispered, “Faster. Faster.”

  She reached the vacant walk near the road and peeked behind her. No signs of the creepy guy. Phew. She paused to catch her breath. The homes on the other side of the street were dark. Lightning sizzled across the sky, and in the flash, he appeared.

  She gasped. He was less than ten feet from her and blocked the way. He grinned a toothless smile and licked his lips. She whirled around and fled.

  Beams from a set of headlights emerged in the blackness. “Please, please stop.” She darted into the lane and waved her arms.

  The vehicle slowed and halted. The driver’s window rolled down with a mechanical whine.

  “I’m trying to get home,” she blurted, struggling to keep the hysteria out of her voice. “Will you take me?”

  The sound of locks popping up answered her prayer before the caution burst into her thoughts: Never take rides from strangers.

  But this was no stranger, and tonight, if anyone asked who gave her a ride, she’d say, “My savior.”

  Lisa hurled herself into the front seat. The door locks clicked shut.

  Chapter 2

  Lisa Grant had been missing forty-eight hours, and Teagan Raynes, Lisa’s guardian, couldn’t cry any more. Teagan had promised Aunt Sophia, before she passed away, to take care of the troubled teen, her aunt’s foster child.

  How could Lisa have disappeared without a clue? Was she a runaway? She talked about living in a big city like Boston, but in the distant future. Worse, had someone snuck inside while they slept, crept upstairs, and entered Lisa’s room? Had Lisa awoken and become paralyzed with fear, as something dark stole across the floor to her bed and covered her mouth to drown her screams?

  Nausea climbed up Teagan’s throat. No. Refocus. Block the image. She’d vowed today would be different, had to be different. No more being a victim frozen on the stupor highway. She’d gotten up this morning, hunted up a skein of purple yarn, and tied a purple bow around the maple tree in the front yard. Purple was Lisa’s favorite color.

  What should she do next? Aunt Sophia always knew what to do. If she were alive, she’d be leading every search group and making every decision.

  Teagan sighed and listened to the eerie silence in the kitchen. Two days before, teams of law enforcement invaded the house. They searched from the cellar to the attic. She’d hung out at the table with the FBI techie, who’d been consulting on another missing girl, Kara Linn, and now was helping them. He tapped her phone and waited for Lisa or an abductor to call about a ransom. Teagan had little cash, but the investigators explained that people went to any lengths to obtain money in exchange for a kidnap victim. Meanwhile, a stream of techies scoured for prints, fibers, or hair.

  Last night, everyone had left, but the wiretap remained, a reminder nothing was solved. Even the press pulled back and seemed satisfied to check in with the police. Lisa. Gone.

  Teagan’s anxiety blew up in her chest. It stole her breath. Controlled her body. Her heart raced, threatening to burst. No. Concentrate on a peaceful place.

  She closed her eyes and pictured the ocean with the waves rolling onto the beach. The image lingered in her mind for a second, and then Lisa was lying on the sand. Blood trickled from beneath her still form, across the opal grains, and turned the granules scarlet.

  Teagan opened her eyes with a gasp. Life was a horror fest.

  Breathe. Inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth the way you were taught.

  The attack finally eased. She scanned the room to ground herself in normalcy. On the fridge, a magnet held the color-coded map of Hawick Falls. Each shaded neighborhood marked the places the volunteers posted their flyers. People she didn’t know, or hadn’t seen in ages, saw the posters and sent her emails and cards offering support. She’d never be able to thank them all.

  She inhaled the scent of cinnamon from the geranium above the sink. The zesty fragrance comforted her as she sank into the ladder-back chair. After several minutes, she swallowed the fear blocking her throat. Teagan stared at the clutter, which hid the red-and-white-checkered tablecloth. Notes for the vigil, leftover snacks, and messages covered the tabletop. The mess resembled her mother’s organizational system. Aunt Sophia wouldn’t rest until she straightened the chaos. But what good was neatness unless it brought Lisa home?

  At the end of the table, the teenager’s chair sat empty. Tears spilled from Teagan’s eyes. Several lost minutes later, she stretched across the jumble for the tissues, her constant companion. “I don’t know how this happened, Aunt Sophia. You’ve been gone six months, but it feels like an eternity.”

  Teagan’s thoughts drifted to the day she first arrived in Hawick Falls, nineteen years ago to live with her aunt. She was seven. Aunt Sophia had welcomed her with a hug and an explanation about Teagan’s big job: learn to use the calendar. Life with her aunt revolved around the times and dates of her meetings. Her aunt had been a great coordinator and the one everyone elected to chair an event. Informal and formal gatherings were often held at the house. Teagan’s favorite night was Friday when the women’s group met to knit and chat. They gave her candy and kisses

  And then there was Lisa. Life with Lisa consisted of highs and lows with little middle ground. Only Teagan’s lingering, vivid memories of life on the street before she moved to Hawick Falls provided her with the patience and a way to reach the sixteen-year-old. Lisa ate up Teagan’s childhood stories of meals at the Sharing Kitchen and sleeping in tents by the river with her mother. The unfor
gettable memories were anchored by the emotions of fear, loss, and love for her mother.

  And now Lisa was missing. Was the teenager wandering the streets reliving Teagan’s homeless days? Had she romanticized her own past instead of pointing out the dangers while trying to bond with Lisa? She should have been lecturing Lisa on the gnawing hunger, and the continuous fear of nowhere to sleep to escape the cold, rain, or snow. Never mind the scary people who smiled, but when you looked away, eyed your few belongings.

  From the corner, the chiming of the clock announced the noon hour. No need to clear a space for lunch. She didn’t want food. Teagan ran her fingers through her hair, snagging a black strand on her opal ring. She should have combed it this morning, but what did a tangle matter? No, she wasn’t on autopilot like the previous days. She worked through the knot with her fingertips.

  The quiet of the kitchen yanked on her nerves, and her silver bracelets jangled louder than normal when she moved. She controlled her anxiety and walked into the living room to settle on the tan sofa. She clicked the remote. The screen above the fireplace leaped to life. “An Amber Alert has been issued for a local seventeen-year-old, Lisa Grant. Officers are going door-to-door, interviewing the neighbors.”

  Too much reality. Teagan switched to the twenty-four hour shopping channel that had kept her company over the sleepless nights. The daytime hostess was chatting up a product, but Teagan’s attention faded and her mind flitted from idea to idea.

  She’d dreamed of teaching children and enjoying a close circle of friends. She’d own a home, pay her bills, and date reputable men. What she wanted most was to put behind her the remembrance of the crazy woman, her mother, roaming the streets of Hawick Falls.

  The dream had come true, but fallen apart with Aunt Sophia’s demise. Five years after moving away, she was again living in Hawick Falls, where a TV movie was the evening highlight. Her new friend on the screen urged viewers to order before the musical tea kettles sold out. Teagan hit the off button.