One Way Out: Scout Ledger Thriller

by Elleby Harper

  She knew he would nap through the rest of the afternoon. Then she would force him to make the effort to totter out onto the porch for an hour of fresh air. Even negotiating the porch stairs to the sidewalk was now beyond him. He had only left the house once since her arrival and that had been a painful exercise for both of them.

  While he drifted into sleep, she examined her phone, scanning the news outlets for Valentina Galliano’s weekly column. The reporter had followed her bombshell publication of Telsey’s photos with an indepth series into Oyster Bay’s illegal aliens. The first interview had been with Maria and Enzo Garcia, who had become victims of both the mayor and ICE, falling through the cracks of a system that had badly let them down.

  Her subsequent articles had put ICE under the spotlight. There had been a full debriefing from Ermengarde Delabrousse and an eye-opening account from an unnamed source into ICE’s daily operations. These revealed how the agency had targeted Maria Garcia and the dozens of others Delabrousse had tracked. Galliano’s articles had sparked talk of spearheading a national enquiry to examine ICE’s deportation terms of reference. Support was gathering steam. A Washington senator had taken up the cause. Two major eastern states media outlets had republished Galliano’s words. A human rights lawyer was offering her services pro bono to Garcia to fight her deportation.

  Four days ago Ledger had received a special delivery. An ice bucket filled with two dozen fresh Pacific oysters and a card from Galliano filled with a few brief words.

  There’s never a wrong time to do the right thing. After that, what’s important is to let people know what the right thing is. Oyster Bay thanks you.

  Gene’s eyes fluttered open. “You’re on that damn phone again. You’re brooding, Scout, and it’s no good for you. Don’t go blaming yourself for killing those scumbags!” he ordered. “They would’ve killed you as well as your colleagues, after making you suffer. That speaks to a callousness that needs to be addressed in the world. What you did benefits all of society. You didn’t do it for the hell of it, you didn’t do it because you love killing.”

  On her first night at home, Ledger had disclosed the events that led to her quitting her job, confessing she had no idea what to do next with her life.

  She gave him a rueful smile. “That’s not what my boss would say. CC and Wyche wouldn’t have done what I did. They would have made an effort to call in back up so those particular scumbags could be arrested and brought to justice under the systems we have in place in this country. I’ve done my share of killing in the army. But killing civilians? A lot of people would say that’s inexcusable. It’s the sole reason we have a justice system and call ourselves civilized.”

  Her father snorted. “Scumbags like that don’t face justice, they face the legal system. It’s not the same thing. They have the money to buy themselves out of jail or they just keep running their drug business from inside a cell. How many people died because of the drugs they distributed? How many people died at their hands, not just your work colleagues? They caused enormous heartache to countless families. Blackmailing innocent people into doing their dirty work. You did everyone a favor by taking them out of the picture.” He paused for breath, huffing and wheezing to pull more air into his lungs.

  “Stop working yourself up over this, Dad.” She knew without him articulating it that his real worry was she would go off the rails the way she had when Autumn died. Because then she had blamed herself for her mother’s death, and he was afraid she was blaming herself again. “I’m not sorry I disposed of them. You’re right. They knew the game they were in. They didn’t think twice about killing CC and Hank. They chose a lifestyle that meant degradation and death for others. I’ve seen their type before. People like that never rehabilitate. They simply bunker down and run their illegal drug empires from within the prison system.”

  Ledger let her gaze wander to the open window. She didn’t want him to read her eyes.

  Beyond the curtains the sun was shining on white picket fences and tidy gardens. Gene lived in a quiet suburb filled with a mix of old character homes, some of which had been refurbished and occupied by young professionals. Others left with unpainted sidings and roofs in need of reshingling by older owners who had purchased them new decades ago. But the air wasn’t filled with birdsong, it was filled with the sound of roaring engines drifting in from the Speedway trials being conducted that weekend.

  While she had no regret for ending Rico and his men’s lives, she shouldered the blame for CC and Wyche’s deaths. She hadn’t withstood Rico’s torture. She had given her colleagues up, surrendered them to Rico. She had as good as signed their death warrants. That was a wound that would never heal. That was a failing she would carry with her forever. One that couldn’t be atoned for.

  “Let’s not waste a good day talking about bad people.” Ledger rose to her feet. “If you’re feeling up to it, maybe we can take the Ducati for a ride around the burbs. Or if you’re tired, I’ll help you outside so you can enjoy the sunshine. Got to make the most of these fall days.”

  In response he offered a weak smile. “I’d like that. Before you fire up the bike, give me a minute. I want you to know I’ve wound up the trust fund. Your mother’s money will be transferred directly to your account by the end of the week. I called Doug yesterday when you went shopping and had him sort it out.” Doug Cook was Gene’s lawyer and an old family friend. “There are no stipulations on how you spend it. You’ll also get this house once I’m gone. Don’t need to be sentimental about keeping it if you don’t want to put roots down in Indy. Sell it and put the money in the bank with your mother’s inheritance if you want. That way you’ll have more than enough money to live on until you decide what you really want to do with your life.”

  “What I want is to take that road trip with you. Give the Ducati a real work out. Don’t let me down, old man!”

  “That’s my girl!” He managed to cough the words out before closing his eyes.

  Ledger reached for his hand, entwining her fingers with his. Her first clear memory was of the day Gene had rescued her from the bomb explosion that killed the woman they presumed was her mother. A snapshot of it was etched in her memory, along with the explosion. She squeezed her father’s hand. She barely felt his returning pressure.

  She squeezed his hand again. This time there was no response. His fingers were slack. Her eyes flew to his face. It finally held a look of peace. The pain he had experienced was wiped away as though it had never existed. She leaned forward and kissed his cheek.

  “Thank you so much for taking a chance on me. For bringing me home with you. For giving me the most amazing life.”

  He couldn’t hear her words but it made her feel better to say them aloud. Her eyes stayed dry. Gene wouldn’t want her tears.

  Far in the distance she heard the faint roar of engines tearing around the Speedway. Ledger gave a weak smile. It was the send off her dad would have wanted.

  * * *

  >>>>><<<<<

  * * *

  Do you want to read on? DEAD WITNESS, the next book in the Scout Ledger series is available on pre-order. You can claim your copy now from Amazon and it will be delivered straight to your inbox once it’s released.

  Click here to pre-order DEAD WITNESS

  While mourning the loss of the only family she’s ever known, Scout Ledger crosses paths with a girl making a difficult decision. Should she take a stand against a murderer and risk the consequences, or keep quiet and keep her family safe? Ledger promises her support. And that might just cost them both their lives.

  Want more thrillers from Elleby Harper?

  All available in Kindle Unlimited at your local Amazon store

  * * *

  Bram Carver Thrillers

  * * *

  Second Chance

  * * *

  He gave up his identity and renounced his family to serve his country as an undercover military agent. Now condemned to Rikers Prison for a murder he can’t remember, Bram Carver
’s luck has run out.

  * * *

  The job: infiltrate a criminal gang to stop a rogue soldier selling weapons of mass destruction to an unknown terrorist group.

  The problem: he’s stuck in Rikers and the evidence against him can’t be denied.

  * * *

  Bram has renounced his family, but have they renounced him? Guilty or innocent, his sister, Detective Bex Wynter, will not give up on the big brother she adored. Together they learn that appearances can be deceptive and no loyalty is absolute.

  * * *

  But Bram’s life is not the only one in the crosshairs. Someone’s sights are set on a thirteen-year-old slum brat who holds the key to stop thousands of innocent deaths. Bram knows one wrong foot will put them both in the firing line. The mystery deepens and the consequences become deadlier with each new clue Bex uncovers.

  * * *

  When the hunters become the hunted, one false move will kill them all.

  * * *

  Second Chance is the first electrifying book in the Bram Carver Thriller series. If you like page-turning suspense, globetrotting action, and gripping plot twists that leave you breathless, then you’ll love this exciting series from Elleby Harper.

  * * *

  Available at Amazon

  * * *

  Hunt for Justice

  * * *

  Undercover military agent Bram Carver must look to the past to find his future.

  * * *

  While running an off the books investigation into a long ago army deserter, Bram stumbles across a Chinese conspiracy to derail the next US election.

  * * *

  After a decade of tortuous uncertainty, Bram’s unresolved anger leads him to dig into his father’s checkered history. But coming face-to-face with the past is more dangerous than he realized.

  * * *

  There is no limit to how far Bram will go to keep his loved ones safe. But some very powerful people want to keep the past buried. Will his father’s memories be the death of them all?

  * * *

  With ripped from today’s headlines appeal, exotic and dangerous locales, HUNT FOR JUSTICE is the second electrifying book in the Bram Carver Mystery Thriller series. If you like page-turning suspense, globetrotting action, and gripping plot twists that leave you breathless, then you’ll love this exciting series from Elleby Harper.

  * * *

  Available at Amazon

  * * *

  Enjoy crime mystery thrillers? Try the Detective Bex Wynter Files

  * * *

  Driven to Death

  * * *

  Detective Bex Wynter retreats from a tragic loss by fleeing New York to enter an exchange program with New Scotland Yard. Her plane has barely landed before she’s handed the toughest case of her career. A case that threatens to rip apart freshly healed wounds and shatter her mental stability.

  * * *

  A car crash has killed a teenage girl. Incomprehensible death or opportunistic crime?

  * * *

  When news that the mother tried to save her daughter’s killer goes viral, a media frenzy is ignited. With pressure mounting from social media and the killer’s aristocratic father to discredit her and destroy the investigation, Bex fights tooth and nail for justice. But the high-profile case presents more questions than answers…

  * * *

  How much devastation can Bex face to piece together the clues? Or does a shocking discovery hold the key to getting justice for the dead and redemption for her own life?

  * * *

  Driven to Death is the first thrilling book in the Detective Bex Wynter Files series. If you like realistic police procedurals, intriguing characters, and emotional plot twists, then you’ll love Elleby Harper’s suspenseful crime novel!

  * * *

  Stolen Girls

  * * *

  A brazen daylight kidnapping…

  * * *

  When a busload of schoolgirls vanishes, the case gets personal when it’s discovered two of the girls are DS Eli Morgan’s daughters. Will this case tip Morgan over the edge?

  * * *

  A detective haunted by her past…

  * * *

  A teen in trouble with the police that only DCI Bex Wynter believes is innocent.

  * * *

  No time left…

  * * *

  These cases collide when Bex stumbles over two dead bodies and into danger. Can she stay alive long enough to save Morgan’s stolen daughters before time runs out?

  * * *

  Stolen Girls is British crime with an American twist! If you like realistic crime fiction packed with suspense and filled with richly diverse characters, then you’ll love this page-turning mystery that will keep you glued till the end.

  * * *

  Courting Death

  * * *

  Alone in a new country and separated from her family as Christmas approaches, Detective Bex Wynter is forced to draw upon every ounce of resolve and training to solve an emotionally charged cold case filled with betrayal and revenge.

  * * *

  When a teen confesses to killing both parents the investigation is quickly closed. Hot shot lawyer Isla Standing needs a Christmas miracle to reopen Harley Carroll’s case. Or maybe all she needs is Detective Bex Wynter and her Youth Crimes Team?

  * * *

  Beneath the holiday festivities dark secrets lurk and Bex must follow a long-dead trail of evidence, intrigue and hidden agendas to solve a murder mystery full of unexpected twists.

  * * *

  But truth comes with a price and who will pay?

  * * *

  In a story that mixes legal suspense with realistic police procedure, Courting Death is a character-driven crime mystery that will keep you glued till the end. . Part of the Detective Bex Wynter Files series, packed with realism and filled with richly diverse characters.

  * * *

  Death for Sale

  * * *

  Are some crimes beyond forgiveness?

  * * *

  When DCI Bex Wynter answers a call meant for her boss, she’s swept up in the hunt for a serial killer. The trouble is, it’s not her case. But with a little girl’s life at risk, she just can’t let it go.

  * * *

  With little information and even less evidence, can she convince DCI Cole Mackinley this really is a spate of grisly serial killings, not simply a child's nightmare? Or is Bex's intuition leading her on a wild goose chase?

  * * *

  Then it becomes clear someone doesn’t want this case solved. With the threat of violence comes a tough decision: track down a ruthless killer or endanger someone close to her.

  * * *

  Death for Sale is British crime with an American twist! If you like realistic crime fiction packed with suspense and filled with richly diverse characters, then you’ll love this page-turning mystery that will keep you glued till the end.

  * * *

  Blood Lines

  * * *

  When murder runs in the blood…

  * * *

  A police officer is forced to question whether blood and loyalty are stronger than truth and justice in this riveting and emotionally charged crime mystery.

  * * *

  Bex Wynter thought she could run away from her husband’s death by saving the lives of young teens. But can she save a teenaged prisoner from his father, one of London’s most vicious crime kings? A key witness against his own family, when he becomes a victim, Bex is pulled into a world of deceit and betrayal.

  * * *

  To save his life, Bex must team up with newcomer to the Youth Crimes Team, DS Remy Knight. But Remy’s keeping secrets and she isn’t the only one. Secrets that could blow their entire investigation to pieces.

  * * *

  The closer Bex comes to the truth, the less she can trust those she counts on. Is she about to find out that blood and loyalty are stronger than truth and justice?

  * * *

  Blood Lines is both
a gripping mystery and the riveting next installment of Bex’s new life in London. If you like realistic crime fiction packed with heart-pumping suspense and emotional plot twists that leave you breathless, this page-turner will keep you glued till the end!

  * * *

  Killing Time

  * * *

  An unsolved crime. A desperate cop. A relentless killer.