Killer Secrets

by Sherrie Orvik

  “Where are you? James!”

  “I’m afraid James won’t be joining us a second time,” Joe’s voice hissed as he stretched a rope around her neck from behind, “and I’m finished playing games with you.” He pulled the rope tighter and tighter. She tried to break free, tried to reach up and grab the rope, but the cuffs on her wrists made it too difficult to fight.

  Does it matter? James is gone. Just let go…

  She let her body go limp, and the world around her started closing in until she was seeing through what seemed like a tunnel. Just as the tunnel got darker, she thought she saw the figure of a man standing toward the back of the house pointing a gun at her.

  She heard the gunshot, felt the searing pain in her side, and then everything went dark.

  * * *

  “Elyse, can you hear me? Come on, Elyse, open your eyes.”

  James?

  She opened her eyes and he was kneeling, holding her in one arm, his other arm tucked against his side. Blood still soaked the shoulder of his shirt.

  “James!” she sobbed. “Thank God you’re alright!” She threw her arms around his neck and pulled him close, noticing that she had been freed from the cuffs, and her wrists had been bandaged. Her side throbbed and an EMT knelt beside her. He urged her to lie back down and taped a large bandage over her wound.

  She smiled at James. “We’ve really got to stop meeting like this.”

  He let out a short laugh.

  She glanced at her side. “Was I shot?”

  “Just grazed. I’m so sorry.”

  She reached up and ran her fingers along his arm.

  “You’re hurt, and there was a hole in your chest…how can—”

  “Bulletproof vest. I took a bullet in the shoulder, but I’ll be okay. It’s over now. It’s all over.” he breathed against her hair and kissed her forehead.

  She caught a glimpse of the EMT’s working on Michael as they wheeled him out of the house on a stretcher. She couldn’t see Joe.

  “Michael…”

  “He’s hurt. The EMT’s are doing everything they can.”

  “James, he’s my brother.”

  “I know. I rushed to the house to tell you, but you were gone. I’ve never been more scared.”

  “Michael and Bailey are twins. Bailey―”

  James nodded. “Terry called me while I was on my way. Denver Labs found records from the twins’ birth, and Joe carried an anomaly that Michael didn’t. It was Joe’s blood at the scene of the murders.”

  “Where is he? Where’s Joe? Is he…”

  James shook his head. “He’s on his way to the hospital. He’ll live, and we’ll both finally get justice.”

  “I’m sorry, James. I never should have left the house, I only wanted to be with you, without the nightmares, without the murders of your dad and Matthew hanging over our heads—I wanted you to be sure—”

  He pressed his lips to hers, then gently pulled her closer and gazed into her eyes.

  “All that matters now is that you’re okay. And I’ve never been surer of anything in my life. I love you Elyse. I’ve loved you since—”

  “—since I almost threw up in your squad car?” She half coughed, half laughed.

  He chuckled. “Since the moment you called me a macho hero cop.”

  He leaned down, and she said, “You really are my hero cop, you know? And I love you, too.”

  The End

  Acknowledgments

  First and foremost, I have to give credit to God. He gave me the creativity gene, then put me in the right place, and surrounded me with the right people to nurture that creativity.

  I could write an entire book on the wonderful, diverse, crazy, and sometimes challenging humans in my life who deserve acknowledgement, but I’ll do my best to keep it short.

  Thank you, thank you, thank you to Zara Kramer and the entire Pandamoon Family for seeing potential—not only in Killer Secrets, but in me as an author. I am forever grateful for the knowledge and tools you have given me to help me grow. Thank you to my editors, Rachel Schoenbauer, Heather Stewart and Ashley Hammond, for helping me make Killer Secrets the best it could be. Thank you to Don Kramer for creating a creepy, killer cover. To my marketing team, especially Christine Gabriel-Fulton and Elgon Williams, thank you for your advice, help with blog posts, graphics, etc. If we’re all ever in the same town, dinner’s on me!

  Thank you to my family! Every one of you has played a role in who I am, and your support is priceless. Thank you to my mom, Susan, for being my cheerleader and promoting my book to anyone who’ll listen!

  Thank you to my longest, dearest friend, Connie Olson. Your pep talks, critiques, and encouragement mean the world to me. Oh, and thank you for advising me on medical material so I don’t look like a complete idiot.

  My friends Steve and Melissa, Stephanie, and Kristen, who feed me real food, give me time alone when I need to work, get me outside when I need fresh air, and always give me just the right words at just the right time—you all mean more to me than I could ever say. All of my friends have contributed to this book in one way or another, so even if I didn’t name you, please know you’re appreciated. Plus, I need to keep some acknowledgement material for my other books! ;)

  I would also like to thank Author Shirlee McCoy, who showed me the ropes and taught me what I needed to know to get started. Something you said has stuck in my head, and I hear it often: “All great authors have 1 thing in common: they wrote something!” Thanks for challenging me to “Just Write!” I would, NO DOUBT, still be ‘hoping to write a book someday’ if it weren’t for your guidance and encouragement.

  Last, but definitely not least…shout out to coffee! I couldn’t have done this without you. May we be friends forever. :D

  About the Author

  Sherrie lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, surrounded by beauty that inspires and nurtures creativity. She has two adult children who she loves spending time with. She’s as at home with ballet and wine as she is with football and beer. She loves walking her grand-dog by the lake, being with her friends, traveling, and driving her Mustang. She’s a firm believer in practicing awe and gratitude every day. Life is too short to waste a single, precious, moment of it in pursuit of anything that doesn’t make you feel alive.

  Thank you for purchasing this copy of Killer Secrets. If you enjoyed this book, please let the author know by posting a review.

  Growing good ideas into great reads…one book at a time.

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  Which character would you most like to meet?

  Did the characters seem believable? Who did they remind you of?