Cold Cruel Kiss
Page 37
She grabbed the drink glasses off the table and took them into the kitchen, dumped them with the other dirty dishes into the sink.
Clearly Martin was not a great housekeeper.
She reached for the dishwasher liquid and noticed brown stains on her hands.
She grimaced and scrubbed them under the tap then decided to fill the sink and wash up the stack of dishes. Cleaning helped her anxiety and she deliberately made enough noise to wake the dead.
Her truck sat outside the back window. Martin’s old beater was a rusted hulk beside it.
So she hadn’t been wasted when she left the party because she’d never have driven in that state.
Had she come here and gotten pissed? But why couldn’t she remember anything? She dried her hands on the tea towel hanging off the stove and tried not to turn up her nose at the limp rag.
Martin was either fast asleep or he’d already left. She’d go upstairs, knock on the door and thank him for use of the couch and leave. She forced herself to move, even though the thought of confronting him made her want to run.
Nothing happened. He won’t hurt you.
Easy to tell herself. Often more difficult to believe. Her sock covered feet whispered over the polished pine floorboards. She jogged loudly up the stairs, wanting to warn the guy she was coming.
“Martin?” She hit the railing at the top of the stairs and headed in the direction of the first door. It was a guest bedroom. Man, she must have really been wasted to not even make it up the stairs. She knocked on the second door and it swung open.
“Martin? Are you in there?” She peeked a little around the door and spotted the end of a bed. Rumpled covers and what looked like feet creating a bump beneath them. She took another reluctant step forward. “Hey, I wanted to thank you for letting me crash here last night. Sorry I passed out on you. I’m not used to alcohol.”
She forced a laugh and took another step forward.
Martin Carstairs lay on his back, eyes open, staring at the ceiling. He was naked except for the kitchen knife sticking out of his pale chest.
Oh my god. Bile rose in her throat. Darby swallowed repeatedly and backed away.
She whirled and ran down the stairs, nearly falling, grabbing her coat, stuffing her feet into her snow boots. No, no, no. She dashed hurriedly out of the back door, ignoring the frigid air that stung her naked cheeks. Down the steps, fumbling to unlock the truck with her key fob.
She huddled inside and turned the ignition, beyond grateful when the engine started. She slammed it into Drive but put her foot on the brake.
But where could she go?
She couldn’t leave poor Martin like that. Tears blinded her eyes and she dug a hand into her pocket, grateful her phone was exactly where she’d left it.
She dialed Quentin Savage. God, he was going to be devastated.
Eban Winters answered. “Darby?”
She froze, glanced down at the screen. Somehow she’d misdialed. Maybe it hadn’t been an accident. Maybe it was cowardice because the idea of disappointing Quentin or Haley sat like acid in her throat.
The sound of Eban’s voice always made her yearn for his presence. He calmed her. Made her feel safe. Made her feel other things she wanted to explore. But couldn’t. He wasn’t interested. He’d made that abundantly clear.
“Darby? Are you okay?” Eban asked. “Darby.” His voice became more insistent. “Is everything okay?”
Because for the last seven months she’d been calling him when situations overcame her. When her anxiety was too high to talk to Quentin, or Haley, and the only lifeline she had left was this man with his beautiful voice and reluctant lips.
“Darby?” his tone turned sharp. “Are you there?”
“Eban.” Her voice trembled. Tears flooded her vision. “I think I killed someone.”
Order your copy of Cold as Ice today!
Copyright © 2021 Toni Anderson Inc. Subject to change.
Want to read the first Crossfire book right now? FBI Romantic Suspense at its finest and winner of the Golden Quill award!
FBI Crisis Negotiator Dominic Sheridan is adept at dealing with high-stake situations under treacherous conditions. But nothing prepared him for the headstrong rookie agent, Ava Kanas, who seems hell-bent on destroying her fledgling career while in pursuit of justice.
When several agents die in quick succession it becomes obvious a killer is targeting the FBI, and Dominic in particular. Together, Dominic and Ava race to find the murderer, all the while fighting a forbidden attraction that will complicate everything, especially when a predator has them in their sights.
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Cold Justice World Overview
COLD JUSTICE SERIES
A Cold Dark Place (Book #1) FREE DOWNLOAD
Cold Pursuit (Book #2)
Cold Light of Day (Book #3)
Cold Fear (Book #4)
Cold in The Shadows (Book #5)
Cold Hearted (Book #6)
Cold Secrets (Book #7)
Cold Malice (Book #8)
A Cold Dark Promise (Book #9~A Wedding Novella)
Cold Blooded (Book #10)
COLD JUSTICE – CROSSFIRE
Cold & Deadly (Book #1)
Colder Than Sin (Book #2)
Cold Wicked Lies (Book #3)
Cold Cruel Kiss (Book #4)
Cold as Ice (Book #5)
The Cold Justice Series books are also available as audiobooks narrated by Eric Dove, and in various box set compilations.
Check out all Toni’s books on her website (www.toniandersonauthor.com/books-2)
Other Books By Toni Anderson
THE BARKLEY SOUND SERIES
Dark Waters (Book #2)
Dangerous Waters (Book #1)
STAND-ALONE TITLES
The Killing Game
Edge of Survival
Storm Warning
Sea of Suspicion
‘HER’ ROMANTIC SUSPENSE SERIES
Her Risk to Take (Novella ~ Book #3)
Her Last Chance (Book #2)
Her Sanctuary (Book #1)
About the Author
Toni Anderson is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, RITA® finalist, science nerd, professional tourist, dog lover, gardener, mom. Originally from a small town in England, Toni studied Marine Biology at University of Liverpool (B.Sc.) and University of St. Andrews (Ph.D.) with the intention she’d never be far from the ocean. Well, that plan backfired and she ended up in the Canadian prairies with her biology professor husband, two kids, two dogs, and one chilled leopard gecko. Her greatest achievements are mastering the Tokyo subway, climbing Ben Lomond, snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef, and surviving fifteen Winnipeg winters. She loves to travel for research purposes and was lucky enough to visit the Strategic Information and Operations Center inside FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C. in 2016, and she also got to shove another car off the road during pursuit training at the Writer’s Police Academy in Wisconsin. Watch out world!
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Useful Acronym Definitions For Toni’s Books
AG: Attorney General
ASAC: Assistant Special-Agent-in-Charge
ATF: Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms
BAU: Behavioral Analysis Unit
BOLO: Be on the Lookout
BUCAR: Bureau Car.
CIRG: Critical Incident Response Group
CMU: Crisis Management Unit
&n
bsp; CN: Crisis Negotiator
CNU: Crisis Negotiation Unit
CO: Commanding Officer
CODIS: Combined DNA Index System
CP: Command Post
DEA: Drug Enforcement Administration
DOB: Date of Birth
DOD: Department of Defense
DOJ: Department of Justice
DS: Diplomatic Security
DSS: US Diplomatic Security Service
EMT: Emergency Medical Technician
ERT: Evidence Response Team
FOA: First-Office Assignment
FBI: Federal Bureau of Investigation
FO: Field Office
FWO: Federal Wildlife Officer
IC: Incident Commander
HRT: Hostage Rescue Team
HT: Hostage-Taker
JEH: J. Edgar Hoover Building (FBI Headquarters)
K&R: Kidnap and Ransom
LAPD: Los Angeles Police Department
LEO: Law Enforcement Officer
ME: Medical Examiner
MO: Modus Operandi
NAT: New Agent Trainee
NCAVC: National Center for Analysis of Violent Crime
NCIC: National Crime Information Center
NYFO: New York Field Office
OC: Organized Crime
OCU: Organized Crime Unit
OPR: Office of Professional Responsibility
POTUS: President of the United States
RA: Resident Agency
RSO: Senior Regional Security Officer from the US Diplomatic Service
SA: Special Agent
SAC: Special Agent-in-Charge
SAS: Special Air Squadron (British Special Forces unit)
SD: Secure Digital
SIOC: Strategic Information & Operations
SSA: Supervisory Special Agent
SWAT: Special Weapons and Tactics
TC: Tactical Commander
TDY: Temporary Duty Yonder
TOD: Time of Death
UNSUB: Unknown Subject
ViCAP: Violent Criminal Apprehension Program
WFO: Washington Field Office
Acknowledgments
Writing is always difficult but writing in the midst of a global pandemic is especially hard. My heart aches for the millions of people affected by COVID-19. Please continue to protect yourself from this virus and I hope 2021 brings an end to the devastating ravages of this virus.
In regard to this book, my thanks go to Kathy Altman who really is a gem of a critique partner, and to Rachel Grant who always makes me work harder to get the details correct.
Biggest appreciation this year goes to my assistant, Jill Glass. Without her help, I may never have written a single word! Thanks also to my amazing cover designer, Regina Wamba, for her gorgeous artwork, and to my formatter, Paul Salvette, for his dedication to doing a good job. Also, to Jessica at Inkslingers PR for her support. Credit to my editors, Deb Nemeth, Joan Turner at JRT Editing, and proofreader, Alicia Dean. I appreciate the role you all play in making my books shine.
More than ever, thanks to my family. I couldn’t have done it without you!
Cold Cruel Kiss
Copyright © 2021 Toni Anderson Inc.
Kobo Edition
Cover design by Regina Wamba of ReginaWamba.com
Print ISBN-13: 9781988812366
Digital ISBN-13: 9781988812359
The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author. All rights reserved. No part of this publication can be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.
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