Excerpt Wednesday – Over The Edge

"Please look at me, Chris. Tell me the truth...that's all I ask."

He shamefully turned his head trying to avoid her eyes. With a shaky hand, he removed his hard hat and ran his hand through his hair. "I...I never wanted to hurt you."

Her eyes penetrated his. "Why, Chris? What did I do?"

He shook his head. "Nothing. You didn't do anything. It was my fault. I should have told you." His voice was strained. "Everything was my own fault."

She peered into his tired eyes. His face was drawn and haggard. Stubble showed on his usually clean-shaven chin. His hair looked shaggy and in desperate need of a haircut. If this was what loving Chelsea was doing to him, then she didn't know how he'd ever survive.

She'd expected him to feel badly for what he'd done to her, but she hadn't expected to see him so unkempt and miserable-looking. Seeing him wounded like this, though, helped to ease her pain even if just a little. He clearly was as miserable as she was. It made even less sense to her.

"Janna Evans came by the diner." She surprised herself at how even she managed to keep her voice. Anger momentarily flashed in his eyes. "Is that why you still kept your apartment so you could carry on with Chelsea Howard?" Her tone was still even and controlled, but she knew that at any given moment she could lose total control. Her insides were quivering uncontrollably.

His eyes drifted again to the ground. "We're living together," he answered in a raspy, almost inaudible voice.

Maggie's chest constricted as a lump formed in her throat almost choking her. Her heart as fragile as a fine crystal vase now shattered into a million pieces. The earth felt like it was swaying beneath her feet. There was so much she wanted to say. She needed to scream at him for bringing this intense pain upon her. She wanted to throw herself at him and force him to see what he would be missing without her. In desperation, she needed to reach that part of his heart that would remember their passionate lovemaking and how they had almost seemed to blend into one. He needed to remember all the plans they had made. But looking at him now, she knew it was useless. The damage was done, and there was no turning back. Even if there was, she would never accept his betrayal. She doubted she could ever find it in her heart to forgive him.

He had made his choice and without any regard for her left her crushed and broken. She wanted to lash out at him and hurt him as much as he had hurt her. No, she wouldn't let him see how weak she was. She would gather her strength to leave, and she would never look back. It was over...finished. She had to pull herself together and recognize the fact that she couldn't give him what she thought he needed, what she thought he wanted. She turned on her heel.

His trembling hand touched her shoulder reaching out to stop her. "Please, Maggie. I need to explain. You deserve to know the truth."

"No," she whispered as tears formed behind her heavy eyelids. "I don't want to hear the details."

"It's not the way you think it is," he hoarsely whispered. "Please believe that."

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Excerpt Wednesday – Silent Dreams

Casey sensed Blaine’s resolve was breaking. She needed to talk to her alone without Kami’s interference.

Blaine’s eyes nervously shifted.

"Leave her alone!" Kami demanded aiming a dirty look at Casey. "Get out of my apartment this minute or I’ll have both your badges."

"This concerns Blaine. Stay out of it," Jane ordered, turning to Kami.

"This happens to be my apartment," Kami shot back. "You have no right to speak to me this way in my own home."

"You’re a smart woman, Blaine," Casey continued. "We’re on your side. Whatever’s going on right now, we can help."

Blaine looked at the three women surrounding her, her gaze finally resting on Casey. "Leave me alone, please," she said in a low voice.

Casey’s jaw briefly tightened, then relaxed. "Okay, fine. I hope you know what you’re doing." She turned to leave, then looking once more at Blaine, said, "You know where to reach us."

Blaine choked back tears. "I’m sorry."

Casey pulled a card and a pen from her pocket. She scribbled something on it, and then thrust it into Blaine’s trembling hand. "Here’s my private cell phone number. Call me day or night. You probably don’t believe this, but I care." She glanced at Jane. "We both care."

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Excerpt Wednesday – The Black Heart

Carter threw his hands up. "What the hell happened, Jake? Does anyone know?" His eyes searched the older man's face for some sort of explanation.

Jake slowly shook his head. "We don't know anything for certain yet, Carter. It might take some time to find out what exactly happened."

"You must know something!" Carter demanded. "What about my mother?"

Jake's eyes swept over the smoldering debris. "Carter, you can see for yourself…she didn't have a chance. I'm sorry," he said sympathetically.

"The investigators must have some idea of what happened here. A house just doesn't explode! Was it a gas leak? Hunter said there was no smell of gas when he walked her inside the house."

Jake looked uncomfortably at the ground for a few seconds before raising his eyes to meet Carter's. "It wasn't an accident or a gas explosion. You have a right to know that."

Carter froze. "What?" His body shook. "Are you saying what I think you are?" He choked. "She was murdered?"

He thoughtfully scratched his chin. "We've never had anything like this happen around these parts, Carter. You know that." He looked evenly at him. "We need to determine the motive."

Carter emphatically shook his head. "What vendetta could anyone possibly have against my mother? It doesn't make sense! Who would want her dead?" His eyes narrowed. "My mother didn't have any enemies. You know that, Jake. Could it be a random act?"

"I don't know, Carter."

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Excerpt Wednesday – The Black Heart

Carter Rogers sat at his kitchen table sipping a cup of coffee. He watched as a gentle breeze softly moved the curtains on the open window. It was an unusually warm evening for early May, but not warm enough to need air conditioning. He loved nights like this with the fresh air coming through the windows. He breathed deeply and then pushed back his chair and stood. He was setting his coffee cup in the dishwasher when an explosion sounded in the distance. The force was strong enough to rattle the dishes in the cupboard. Almost immediately, sirens could be heard in the distance.

Carter turned to his wife Morgan who was wiping down the counter. "I wonder what that was."

"Probably just some kids setting off firecrackers," Morgan replied with a slight shrug. She glanced at her wristwatch. It read exactly nine o'clock.

He shook his head. "I don't think so. Something's exploded," he said. "Don't you hear the sirens?"

She cocked an eyebrow. "I'm sure it's nothing serious." She smiled. "Would you like to watch TV or go to a movie? There's a new mystery I've been wanting to see. It doesn't start until ten. We could get a sitter," she said hopefully.

"Morgan, I'm too tired tonight. Besides, I doubt we'd find a sitter this late. Anyway, I don't like to do things on the spur of the moment. You know that."

She frowned. "I'm sorry. I just thought that maybe for once in your life you might want to do something spontaneous instead of mapping your life out minute by minute. Next time I'll ask you a month in advance so you can pencil it into your schedule."

Carter laughed at her sarcasm. "I'm sorry, honey." He came up behind her and put his arms around her slim waist. "We'll do something special tomorrow night. I promise. I already have it penciled in."

Morgan turned around facing him. "I suppose I'll let you off the hook. But no excuses tomorrow night. I'll line up a sitter."

"I'll even spring for dinner first. We'll make a night of it."

"I'm looking forward to it." She brushed his sandy brown hair from his brow. "Looks like you need a trim."

"I think I'll let it grow out a little."

Morgan began to reply, but the phone rang interrupting her.

"I'll get it," Carter said.

Morgan finished straightening the kitchen, tuning out her husband's phone conversation. She had other things on her mind to mull over. She jumped when Carter placed a heavy hand on her shoulder. "What's the matter, Carter?" He was ashen-faced and trembling.

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