“You are in no position to make deal.” His Russian accent cut the air and his warm breath cascaded over her face, delivering the stench of nicotine.
What if she died here? This could be the last thing she remembered before she left this world.
Her cell phone rang again, vibrating across the floor.
“What will all of your friends think when you’re dead and they were too late to save you?”
The way he was talking, she wondered if Sergey hadn’t made it, but the door opened again and Sergey came through, walking with a gimp and favoring his right stride.
“You can’t kill the devil.” Sergey lifted his shirt and showed her the sutures that sealed up the bullet wound.
“Next time I’ll be sure to finish the job,” she said with more confidence than she felt.
Sergey’s teeth clenched so tight, his jaw bones protruded in sharp, jagged lines. He nodded his head toward Anatolli, who released his hold on her hair, but drew his gun and put its barrel to her forehead.
She went to move to the side but found her motion limited. They had placed the collar around her neck. Panic stole her breath.
“But we won’t kill you right away.” Sergey gestured to the revolver in Anatolli’s hand. “You like to gamble with your life, so how about we play a game?”
Her breathing stalled, her heart splintered in her chest, and her stomach tightened and heaved, tossing bile up the back of her throat.
“We simply call it roulette when we play. The Russian part would be redundant.” Sergey paced the room and Madison didn’t miss the flicker in the man’s eyes.
“Anatolli’s going to pull the trigger. If you live, we will take our time with you. If you die,” he shrugged, “well, I suppose, game over.”
Both men laughed, sending chills through her.
Her entire life didn’t flash before her eyes, but moments of it did.
Images of kissing Toby Sovereign haunted her, dredging up the feelings she harbored for him, but if she got out of here, could she look beyond the past to a future with him? He had challenged her to say she didn’t love him anymore and to look into his eyes while she did so.
A deep breath escaped her lungs.
Cynthia. Would she understand? Cynthia knew how much solving this case meant to her. She had been supportive, but would she understand why she risked her life?
Her mother would never see her happily married with children, and their relationship would never be mended. She could envision her father grieving as if she were already gone. Tears fell over a daughter who was always just out of reach.
She wouldn’t have a chance to say good-bye to them or to her sister, Chelsea. She wouldn’t see her nieces grow up.
Terry would be disappointed in her and she would never meet his baby, his son, as he was so certain it would be.
The ache knotted in her chest with the realization that she’d devoted her life to the job to the point of isolation. She had one best friend, a partner who was like family, and a dog. Hershey. Who would look after the chocolate lab when she was gone?
For an instant, she imagined her fingers caressing the soft velvet of his ears. She witnessed the spark of life and a dancing reflection of love in his irises.
These thoughts occurred to her in fractions of seconds.
If she had a chance, she would do things differently.
Tears hit her cheeks and a part of her soul submitted to the inevitable. She was going to die in this room with no one by her side but the two Russians who would carry out her murder. Her only hope was that fate would intervene before her death became a reality.
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Overview of Found Innocent
Sometimes the pursuit of justice becomes personal…
There’s one code when it comes to the wall of blue…and Madison Knight may have to cross it.
Any good cop knows you never report a brother for mishandling a case or accuse him of misconduct, but in order to find justice, Madison may not have a choice.
Lacy Rose had one goal for her twentieth birthday—to be found innocent of past sins—but her life is cut short.
When Lacy’s remains are found in a garden and the investigation becomes connected to a closed case, Madison must face her past. The lead detective on that case was Madison’s ex-fiancé. At the risk of jeopardizing departmental relationships, and churning up the attention of an old flame at the same time, Madison must push hard before the guilty are found innocent.
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About the Author
CAROLYN ARNOLD is an international best-selling and award-winning author, as well as a speaker, teacher, and inspirational mentor. She has four continuing fiction series—Detective Madison Knight, Brandon Fisher FBI, McKinley Mysteries, and Matthew Connor Adventures—and has written nearly thirty books. Her genre diversity offers her readers everything from cozy to hard-boiled mysteries, and thrillers to action adventures.
Both her female detective and FBI profiler series have been praised by those in law enforcement as being accurate and entertaining, leading her to adopt the trademark: POLICE PROCEDURALS RESPECTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT™.
Carolyn was born in a small town and enjoys spending time outdoors, but she also loves the lights of a big city. Grounded by her roots and lifted by her dreams, her overactive imagination insists that she tell her stories. Her intention is to touch the hearts of millions with her books, to entertain, inspire, and empower.
She currently lives just west of Toronto with her husband and beagle and is a member of Crime Writers of Canada and Sisters in Crime.
Connect with CAROLYN ARNOLD Online:
Website
Twitter
Facebook
And don’t forget to sign up for her newsletter for up-to-date information on release and special offers at
carolynarnold.net/newsletters.
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
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Epilogue
Note to Readers
Preview of Just Cause
Overview of Found Innocent
About the Author
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Carolyn Arnold, Found Innocent
Found Innocent Page 25