Excerpt Wednesday – The Black Heart

Carter leaned against a tree, watching his family. They were all so different, yet came from the same womb. He shook his head. He'd never feel the same about anything anymore. He would take nothing for granted, enjoy each day to the fullest, and find peace within himself with no regrets. He needed to seek out that peace. That was the one thing that had eluded him since he took Morgan for his bride. He wished his family would celebrate his happiness. He desperately craved it, but they refused to accept her and that tortured him because family meant everything to him. He knew that Collin's wife hadn't been readily accepted into the family, but since she was a local girl, that was definitely in her favor. That put her way ahead of Morgan. Morgan had been patient believing that someday they would welcome her. To anyone on the outside looking in, it would appear that they had. They were polite, but that's as far as it went. Except for Jude. He was happy when they became close. At least it was a start. At first, Morgan had masked the pain she was feeling from being slighted by the family, but lately she was verbalizing her feelings in ways that made Carter uncomfortable. He knew they were wrong, but he didn't want to lose the closeness he shared with them and he was terrified that eventually Morgan would give him an ultimatum. He sighed wearily. His mind felt like it would explode with the weight on it.

He looked at his brothers again. Hunter was in control of his emotions for the time being. That was a relief to him. It was one thing to see his sisters cry, but he couldn't take it when his brothers did. Tomorrow would be a different story. It would be one of the hardest days he ever had to endure.

Carter waited another ten minutes, and then motioned his family to join him. They stood in front of the car, eyes fixed on the ruins of their former home. The memories would have to suffice now; there was nothing else left. Once again, he felt a tinge of remorse for the part of his life Becca would never experience and for the grandmother she'd never get to know. His stories and photographs would have to be sufficient. All of the family heirlooms and photos of his siblings and him when they were children were gone, too. He was glad that he'd taken pictures of his mother over the years.

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Excerpt Wednesday – Twisted Lives

Daniel quickly got to his feet. "Stay here for a minute. I'll be right back." He hurried to Lt. Jackson's office. Ben was coming around the corner.

"Slow down, Daniel. What's up?" Ben asked.

"I've got to talk to the lieutenant. The same man who we suspect of being our serial killer employs Randy Kane. He could be the next victim." He rapped on the door, and then opened it without waiting for consent. Ben followed him inside.

Lieutenant Jackson sat behind a large desk and looked up as they entered.

"We need protection for Randy Kane. He works for this guy," Daniel explained, stabbing a finger at the composite sitting on top of a stack of files on the cluttered desk. "The same man we believe is responsible for his brother's death."

Lt. Jackson leaned back in his chair and pulled at his chin. "I agree, but we need to locate him first."

"What do you mean?" Daniel asked.

The older man's eyes narrowed. "Bill Kane just called and said he and his wife still haven't seen or heard from Randy."

"Maybe he found out about his brother and took off to be alone," Ben offered.

"No, I don't buy it. I think he would have gone home for Sara's sake," Daniel said. "The three kids are very close, and the boys very protective of their sister."

Lt. Jackson eyed the detectives. "I want you two to track him down." He glanced at the composite. "I just hope it's not too late." 

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Excerpt Wednesday – Twisted Lives

Something clicked in his brain. The abandoned warehouse was where Stephanie Rinehart said her brother had met a man he was running drugs for. This couldn't be a coincidence. "Do you know what their jobs are, Sara?" He hoped this could give him the first solid link to finding the serial killer.

"I think it's some sort of delivery service. I don't know."

"How did you meet Mr. D?"

"I didn't. One night I drove out there with Asher. My brothers set up an interview for him with the guy. I waited outside on Asher's bike. Asher told me he had to meet him alone, and I should stay back where he parked the bike. I don't know why he parked a ways from the building. It was creepy out there with nothing around. I was scared. I could see a light from the building so I walked closer to wait for Asher. I made sure Mr. D couldn't see me, but I could see him in the doorway."

Daniel listened patiently as Sara slurred and stumbled over her words. He was surprised that she was talking at all and hadn't passed out by now. He wrung out the cloth and handed it back to Sara. "Do you think you'd recognize him again?"

"Yeah…maybe. Especially his glasses and mustache."

Daniel's adrenalin started pumping. Mr. D sounded like the same man Stephanie Rinehart described. "Sara, I'm going to ask a very important favor of you."

She nodded.

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Excerpt Wednesday – Maggie Quinn

Maggie studied the well-dressed man. She figured him to be near her age. He was rugged with a sturdy build. He was a handsome man, she had to admit, with dark hair and brown eyes. She straightened her shoulders. "I don't fear you," she said sharply.

"And you are?" he asked with the same friendly smile.

"Margaret Quinn, but I answer to Maggie. This is my brother Patrick," she said, nodding toward Paddy, "and our friend Connor. We've just now arrived from Ireland. If you'll pardon us, we'll be on our way."

"It is an unpleasant journey on the ship. Not enough food or water. No proper rest."

"Aye," Maggie replied. "Now please let us pass."

The man did not attempt to unblock their path. "It seems like only yesterday that I was stepping off the ship. I was tired, hungry, and knew not what America offered me." He swept his hands over his fine clothes. "Now look at me. I never lived such a fine life in Ireland."

Maggie's eyes narrowed. "I'm looking, and I see a braggart."

Patrick tugged her arm. "Maggie, this is not the way to start our new life in America." He looked apologetically at Colin Doyle. "Please forgive my sister."

"Paddy, I have a voice," she replied heatedly as she stared coldly at Doyle. "I am not asking forgiveness for my words."

Colin tipped his hat to her. "Well, then, I apologize if my words offended you, Miss Quinn. I am only trying to show you that America is truly the land where dreams can come true. In my case, they did."

Maggie frowned. "Right now we are weak, tired, and hungry from the journey. Can you direct us to where we might find shelter and food? Tomorrow we will seek work after we are rested."

"I know just the place where you can rest. Maybe I can help you seek employment, too. What work would you hope to find?" he asked.

"Patrick and I are farmers," Connor quickly replied. He looked around himself. "I see no fields, but we have strong backs and will work where we are most useful. Can you tell me where we might find a farmer seeking hands?"

"This is New York City. I fear if you intend to settle here in the city, you will be seeking work of a different nature," he replied to Connor.

"No matter," Patrick cut in. "We are not afraid of any kind of work."

"And I assume you are looking as well?" Colin turned to Maggie with a bright smile. 

"I am," she replied. Her instincts told her not to trust him, but she didn't want to believe that his offer of help wasn't genuine. He was taking his own time to offer help. And they did need help. None of them had a clue of what to do or where to go.

"I can help all of you in your search. It may not be glorious work, but it will be honest and enough to pay your expenses."

Maggie's instincts still wouldn't allow her to fully give her trust to him. "And why do you offer your help to strangers? It seems a bit strange," she said.

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Excerpt Wednesday – Murder In The Pinelands

Evan swallowed hard. "By the condition of his body." He blinked back tears. "It was almost unrecognizable."

"Did you call anyone else?"

"No. Only the police. I couldn't get cell phone service in the woods."

"What did you do after you discovered the body?"

"I drove home so I could contact the police."

 Detective Edwards frowned as he studied Evan for a few seconds. "Let's go back to last night. What happened after the three of you returned to the car?"

Evan cleared his throat. "I pulled onto the road and only drove a short distance, when something all of a sudden appeared in the middle of the road, blocking us. My hands began to shake and I froze."

"What do you mean by something appeared in the road? Was it an animal?"

Evan bit his bottom lip and visibly shuddered. "No. It wasn't human either."

"What did you see, Evan?" Detective Edwards asked with a touch of impatience in his voice.

Evan scrunched up his face. "I don't exactly know how to describe it. It was tall, taller than any human being. It stood like a human but it was horrible looking, and had bright red eyes. It began making a loud, screeching, piercing sound, and I covered my ears."

"So, you are telling us that you saw a monster?" Edwards asked through slanted eyes. "Had you ever seen anything like it before?"

"No, but what I saw wasn't human," Evan said evenly.

Detective Jones exchanged a look with his partner, and then took over the questioning. "Do you think it was the Jersey Devil?"

Evan shrugged his thin shoulders. "I don't know what it was, and that is the truth," he insisted. "But from what I've read, it sounds like it."

"Let me get this straight," Detective Jones continued. "Your friend is in the woods all alone, and something inhuman is blocking the road."

Evan nodded. "Yes."

"Then how did you get past it?"

He paused for a few seconds. "It started coming closer and I thought we were in for it, but then it stopped for about a minute and turned its head, and looked toward the woods on the other side of the road—where Aaron was. Then it just ran into the woods."

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Excerpt Wednesday – Murder In The Pinelands

Seconds later the door opened. Evan rushed over to Kennedy and flung his arms around her, almost knocking her off her stool. Jensyn looked toward the door expecting to see Aaron, and was disappointed that he wasn't with Evan.

Kennedy broke the embrace. "Evan, what's the matter? You're shaking." She studied him. "What happened?"

Evan stood back and stared at her. His face was ghostly white. "It's…it's Aaron," he choked. "It's bad."

"What about Aaron?" Jensyn demanded as her chest tightened. "Has he been in an accident?"

"No," Evan replied hoarsely.

"Where is he, Evan? Did you go back for him last night?" she demanded.

He avoided her eyes. "No. I was too tired after I drove you both here. I figured he'd probably start walking and someone would pick him up. I wasn't too worried about him."

"Did you at least find out if he got home okay? I tried calling and texting him, and he hasn't answered." Jensyn bit her bottom lip.

"I stopped at his house this afternoon, and his mother said he never came home last night. She thought he was with me." He swallowed hard. "I went back to the woods. He was still there. He never left."

"Good," Jensyn said, relieved. "He still didn't want to leave with you? Drive me there and I'll talk to him." 

Evan's eyes lowered. "You don't understand, Jensyn. You need to listen. I can't drive you there."

"Why not?" Jensyn asked. "Did he say he doesn't want to see me?"

"Jensyn, stop. Please." He drew several shaky breaths. "He's dead. Aaron's dead!" 

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Wednesday's Blurbs – 2 In 1: Hidden Desires & Weekend Swap

Hidden Desires
When Sage Ralston takes a job at Boylston Electronics, she soon finds out that her job is more than she bargained for. Under the guise of assistant to the company's owner Charles Boylston, she has actually been hired to spy on her fellow employees. As Sage tries to determine who is sabotaging the company, all evidence points to Connor Michaels who works in the research lab. After getting to know Connor, Sage has her doubts that Connor is the person leaking information about the company and joins forces with the woman to find out who the real culprit is.

Weekend Swap
Tyler Thornton convinces her strait-laced best friend Kay Reagan to swap husbands to add some excitement to their sex lives, or in Kay's case, to show her what she's been missing. What Tyler doesn't know is the deep dark fantasy that Kay has been harboring for years.

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