Race the Darkness

by Abbie Roads

  Gill was coming up the stairs carrying his evidence kit. He must’ve left the bathroom when they walked across the hall to the bedroom. Surprise widened his eyes, then judgment narrowed them.

  While Gill recorded and catalogued the eye and the vomit, Lathan threw her clothes in the washer and then spent the next three hours walking the perimeter of his property with Little Man, searching for the scent of a corpse or blood, or anything that might indicate someone hurt nearby. Nothing. He returned to the house and found Gill waiting for him at the kitchen table, a steaming mug of coffee in his hand.

  Lathan sat across from Gill. “She really believed she dreamed about the eye. She wasn’t lying. I would’ve smelled it.” How much should he tell Gill about tonight? Enough to give an explanation. Not enough to embarrass her. “She was attacked tonight. The asshole was going to rape her. She was in shock. I brought her here. I figure she’ll have a more rational explanation after she gets some sleep.”

  Gill dipped his head once, acknowledging Lathan’s words. “She’s still a suspect.”

  “You don’t even know if a crime’s been committed.” Even as he said the words, he knew how weak they sounded. Human eyes weren’t something you’d accidentally run across on a nature walk.

  “I called Eric to update him on your situation. The team’s caught a case in West Virginia.” Gill’s eyes were colder than a glacier. “It’s more than an odd coincidence that they’re working the murder of an eight-year-old girl. Blond hair. Wearing pink. Left eye missing.”

  Order Abbie Roads’s next book

  in the Fatal Dreams series

  Hunt the Dawn

  On sale December 2016

  Acknowledgments

  A simple list of wonderful people—and animals—whom I owe a big, giant, huge THANK YOU.

  Dan: None of my books would exist if it weren’t for your unconditional love giving me the courage to write them. Thank you for being my best friend and my favorite human being. You’ve given me the world.

  Margie Lawson: You showed me how to be the writer I wanted to be. It wasn’t easy and I went through 863 highlighters along the way, but I got here! I owe you more than a THANK YOU. I owe being published to you!

  Michelle Grajkowski: My super awesome agent lady. You were the first industry professional to have faith in me. You have no idea how many times when I felt like my writing sucked that I said to myself, “Michelle believes in you. She wouldn’t be your agent if she didn’t.” Thanks for always being supportive of me and my dark writing. I’m glad you’re in my corner.

  Deb Werksman: My all-time favorite editor. I’m so glad you understood my dark and different books and never asked me to dumb them down. I enjoyed our phone conversations and that you get my need to ponder things before finding the solution. I’m so happy to be working with you.

  Sourcebooks: You all have been fantastic to work with. I know there are many people behind the scenes working on my book—people I’ve never met and never heard of. I want to offer each of you a personal thank-you for all that you do. Also, I need to thank a few special people who’ve been wonderful to interact with and have answered even my dumbest questions without making me feel dumb: Rachel Gilmer, Laura Costello, Susie Benton, and Diane Dannenfeldt (copy editor extraordinaire). I need to offer a super special thank-you to Beth Sochacki for orchestrating an awesome cover reveal. And, and, and… My hat is off and I am bowing low to Dawn Adams and Kris Keller for creating the most AMAZING cover for Race the Darkness. It is gorgeous beyond my wildest imaginings! THANK YOU!

  Brinda Berry: You. Are. The. Best. Thank you for always telling me the things you love about my writing and the things you hate. And then letting me pick apart every detail of why you hated it so I can figure out how to make you love it. You’re so generous with your time—always answering my dumb questions, and I have a lot of them. You’re always helping me out with something. What you give to me I can never repay. And I owe you a special thank-you for writing The Lord’s Brigade for this book. You really are a talented song writer—even when you’re writing an old-style hymn.

  Dreamweavers: Being a Golden Heart Finalist was one of the best things that’s ever happened to me. And being a finalist alongside all of you—was the icing! What a great group we have.

  Readerlicious Wonder Women: Christina Delay, Jennifer Savalli, Jenn Windrow, Kathleen Groger, Brinda Berry, Kelly Crawley, N. K. Whitaker, S. B. McCauley, Sandy Wright, Carol Storey Costley. Thanks so much for inviting me to be a part of this awesome group. I’m truly honored to call you all friends.

  Naomi: You are my cheerleader. My coworker. My partner in crime. You’ve always supported me. No matter what crazy new idea I had. Blue hair. Tattoos. Writing! Thanks for just being you. You’re one of the best human beings I know.

  NEORWA: You guys win the most supportive chapter award. I love you all so much for always stepping up and supporting me even though I live two hours away and never make it to meetings. You guys rock!

  My Critique Peeps: Christina Delay, Brinda Berry, Jennifer Savalli, Jenn Windrow, Celeste Easton, Pamela Stewart. You guys critiqued this before I ever sent it to my agent. I had some real stinkers in here until you all read it. Thanks for saving me from looking bad. I’m so grateful for each of you!

  Dobby and Brindle: You’re the best fur babies. One of you always warms my lap while I’m writing. At this point I’m not sure I could write a book without one of you sleeping on my legs. And, Dobby, in case you didn’t realize it—you were the inspiration for Killer.

  Emmanuel: Dude… If I can write a whole novel and get it published—you can do anything! Don’t ever forget to be awesome. Being your aunt has been one of the best things ever.

  Mom, Dad, Laura: Thanks for encouraging me to read as a child. I know you must’ve spent a small fortune on books for me. I remember getting in trouble because I was always in my room reading, but you never made me stop reading—I just had to sit downstairs with the family to do it! Loving reading is what made me want to be a writer. Without each of you, I wouldn’t be the person I am today.

  My clients: Your tragedies and triumphs inspire me every day. I really do have the best job in the world.

  You: My books are nothing without you. Thank you for investing your time and money in my novel. You have no idea how much it means to me. I salute you, dear reader, and hope you will return for my next novel, Hunt the Dawn.

  About the Author

  Abbie Roads is a mental health counselor known for her blunt, honest style of therapy. By night, she writes dark, emotional novels, always giving her characters the happy ending she wishes for all her clients. Her novels have been finalists in many Romance Writers of America contests including the Golden Heart. Race the Darkness is the first book in the Fatal Dreams series, which features dark, gritty romantic suspense with a psychological twist.

  Be sure to visit her website at www.abbieroads.com and sign up for her newsletter to receive exclusive content and special giveaways.

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