Left To Hide
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Adele said nothing, too stunned by the notebook to even truly hear anything else.
And with that, her father turned his back on the notebook and sat on his bed, staring at the privacy curtain and allowing the silence to return.
Adele blinked, staring. She half reached out for the notebook—a weathered, brown affair. Clearly it had seen use. But then she withdrew her hand and tucked it in her lap. Not now. Not yet.
But soon.
EPILOGUE
Angus sat across from her in the small restaurant two blocks from headquarters. He was nervous and twisting straws in his fingers as he looked at her.
Adele hadn’t wanted to honor the meeting. But she’d given her word.
“Hey,” he said, smiling and then speaking through the smile. “How are things?”
She leaned in her chair, looking at him. “I’m all right. Yourself?”
He nodded, bobbing his head, his brown curls shifting with the motion. “Fine, fine…” he said, distractedly. Angus had never been great at pleasantries when he had something on his mind.
“So,” she said. “What can I do for you?”
“It’s not… It’s not a big deal,” he said, quietly, carefully. “It’s just…” He reached down, stirred his coffee with a straw, then returned his fingers to tapping against his knee beneath the table. “It’s just, I’ve been thinking a lot. And… I know we left things strange last time we spoke. I know that.”
“Angus,” Adele said, gently. “I’m not sure I’m ready to commit to anything. I understand words were exchanged… but we’re both in different places now. And—”
“Wait, hang on, no,” he said quickly, shaking his head side to side. His cheeks flushed red and he winced. “Wow… No, sorry. I’m really bad at this, Adele. I’m not—I’m not asking—not that.”
Adele frowned. “Oh?”
He puffed his cheeks and pressed his lips as if holding back a breath. Clearly, he wanted to say more, but just as clearly he seemed unsure how to say it. At last, he just came out with it. “Adele, I want our old apartment back…” He said it quickly, like tearing off a Band-Aid, and he winced at the conclusion and shrugged a shoulder. “I’m sorry. Really. No, I am. Just—things at work haven’t been going as well as they could. To be actually honest—I… I lost my job. Or, well, the company is on hiatus for a bit. We’re figuring things out.” Hastily, he added, “It’s all going to be fine. I’m sure of it.” He repeated, with more gusto, for himself rather than her, “It’ll be fine!”
Adele stared, unsure whether to be furious or amused. She settled on humor, trying to suppress a smile. It didn’t hurt—not this time. She’d never been good at reading Angus’s intentions. Once, she’d thought he’d wanted to propose. Now, she’d thought he’d wanted to get back together.
But no… he was looking for a cheaper apartment. She coughed in her hand, disguising a sudden laugh.
“Well?” he said, earnestly. “Could you help me out? I miss that place… and… well, I just can’t afford where I am now.”
“Angus,” Adele said, quietly, “I don’t have the place anymore. I moved after we broke up.”
Angus looked at her, stunned, his eyes widening. “Wait, really? Oh…” He slumped in his chair, staring at her. “The old place… do you know if they’re renting it yet?”
Adele shrugged. “Probably. Location, location. You know.”
Angus scratched his jaw and pushed his paper coffee cup toward a pile of brown napkins.
For a moment, Adele looked at him, trying to process her own thoughts. She wanted to be angry—but then why wasn’t she?
Because you didn’t want him back.
The voice in her head was clear, concise. And honest.
So why didn’t she want him back? Would she ever settle down? Set roots? The more she thought, though… her mind strayed to France. To Robert. To John. She thought of her father… of his decision to settle in Germany. Of the small notebook, even now pressed against her thigh.
A strange kind of confidence fell on her. A reckless, careless confidence. She blurted out, “You can have my current apartment if you want.”
Angus stared at her. “Your… like the new one? You’re living there, right?”
“Yes. It’s yours if you want it. Landlord won’t care as long as bills are paid. Cheaper than the old place too. It’s yours if you want it.”
Angus seemed stunned. He opened his mouth, then closed it again. He frowned, tried to speak, but then seemed caught. “Are… are you sure?” he said, hesitantly.
Adele didn’t think. She tapped her fingers against her leg, against the bulge of the brown notebook. She thought of France. “Yes,” she said, simply. “I’m sure.”
“But where will you live?” he asked, hesitant.
She sighed… She thought of Robert’s mansion. Of John’s bachelor pad. She thought of her father’s house. She thought, most of all, of a small trail cutting through a garden in the middle of Paris. She thought of a decade ago, the discovery of her mother’s body. She thought of the killer—out there even now, enjoying his freedom. Enjoying the pain he’d caused so many.
“I’ll figure something out,” she said. “Stop by tomorrow. I’ll text you the address. We’ll sort things out.”
And with that, Adele pushed from the table and walked away, a spring in her step. She felt… all of a sudden… lighter. The only weight came in the small form of the notebook tucked in her pocket. She hadn’t read it yet—not yet. But soon.
NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER!
LEFT TO KILL
(An Adele Sharp Mystery—Book 4)
“When you think that life cannot get better, Blake Pierce comes up with another masterpiece of thriller and mystery! This book is full of twists and the end brings a surprising revelation. I strongly recommend this book to the permanent library of any reader that enjoys a very well written thriller.”
--Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos (re Almost Gone)
LEFT TO KILL is book #4 in a new FBI thriller series by USA Today bestselling author Blake Pierce, whose #1 bestseller Once Gone (Book #1) (a free download) has received over 1,000 five star reviews.
A young woman is found wandering, in a daze, on a rural road in Germany, having escaped her attacker. If she can talk, and remember, maybe she can lead authorities back to his lair—and save the other women there before it’s too late.
As the sprawling international case begins to enmesh dozens of victims from many countries, authorities quickly realize there is only one way to solve this: to bring in FBI special agent Adele Sharp, triple citizen of the U.S., France and Germany.
But even with Adele’s brilliant mind, this case, bringing up memories way too close to home, may be just out of her reach.
Can Adele save the other woman before it’s too late?
Can she save herself?
An action-packed mystery series of international intrigue and riveting suspense, LEFT TO KILL will have you turning pages late into the night.
Book #5 in the series (LEFT TO MURDER) is now also available.
LEFT TO KILL
(An Adele Sharp Mystery—Book 4)
Blake Pierce
Blake Pierce is the USA Today bestselling author of the RILEY PAGE mystery series, which includes seventeen books. Blake Pierce is also the author of the MACKENZIE WHITE mystery series, comprising fourteen books; of the AVERY BLACK mystery series, comprising six books; of the KERI LOCKE mystery series, comprising five books; of the MAKING OF RILEY PAIGE mystery series, comprising six books; of the KATE WISE mystery series, comprising seven books; of the CHLOE FINE psychological suspense mystery, comprising six books; of the JESSE HUNT psychological suspense thriller series, comprising seven books (and counting); of the AU PAIR psychological suspense thriller series, comprising three books; of the ZOE PRIME mystery series, comprising three books (and counting); of the new ADELE SHARP mystery series; and of the new EUROPEAN VOYAGE cozy mystery series.
ONCE GONE (a Riley
Paige Mystery--Book #1), BEFORE HE KILLS (A Mackenzie White Mystery—Book 1), CAUSE TO KILL (An Avery Black Mystery—Book 1), A TRACE OF DEATH (A Keri Locke Mystery—Book 1), WATCHING (The Making of Riley Paige—Book 1), NEXT DOOR (A Chloe Fine Psychological Suspense Mystery—Book 1), THE PERFECT WIFE (A Jessie Hunt Psychological Suspense Thriller—Book One), and IF SHE KNEW (A Kate Wise Mystery—Book 1) are each available as a free download on Amazon!
An avid reader and lifelong fan of the mystery and thriller genres, Blake loves to hear from you, so please feel free to visit www.blakepierceauthor.com to learn more and stay in touch.
EUROPEAN VOYAGE COZY MYSTERY SERIES
MURDER (AND BAKLAVA) (Book #1)
DEATH (AND APPLE STRUDEL) (Book #2)
CRIME (AND LAGER) (Book #3)
ADELE SHARP MYSTERY SERIES
LEFT TO DIE (Book #1)
LEFT TO RUN (Book #2)
LEFT TO HIDE (Book #3)
LEFT TO KILL (Book #4)
LEFT TO MURDER (Book #5)
LEFT TO ENVY (Book #6)
LEFT TO LAPSE (Book #7)
THE AU PAIR SERIES
ALMOST GONE (Book#1)
ALMOST LOST (Book #2)
ALMOST DEAD (Book #3)
ZOE PRIME MYSTERY SERIES
FACE OF DEATH (Book#1)
FACE OF MURDER (Book #2)
FACE OF FEAR (Book #3)
FACE OF MADNESS (Book #4)
A JESSIE HUNT PSYCHOLOGICAL SUSPENSE SERIES
THE PERFECT WIFE (Book #1)
THE PERFECT BLOCK (Book #2)
THE PERFECT HOUSE (Book #3)
THE PERFECT SMILE (Book #4)
THE PERFECT LIE (Book #5)
THE PERFECT LOOK (Book #6)
THE PERFECT AFFAIR (Book #7)
THE PERFECT ALIBI (Book #8)
THE PERFECT NEIGHBOR (Book #9)
THE PERFECT DISGUISE (Book #10)
THE PERFECT SECRET (Book #11)
CHLOE FINE PSYCHOLOGICAL SUSPENSE SERIES
NEXT DOOR (Book #1)
A NEIGHBOR’S LIE (Book #2)
CUL DE SAC (Book #3)
SILENT NEIGHBOR (Book #4)
HOMECOMING (Book #5)
TINTED WINDOWS (Book #6)
KATE WISE MYSTERY SERIES
IF SHE KNEW (Book #1)
IF SHE SAW (Book #2)
IF SHE RAN (Book #3)
IF SHE HID (Book #4)
IF SHE FLED (Book #5)
IF SHE FEARED (Book #6)
IF SHE HEARD (Book #7)
THE MAKING OF RILEY PAIGE SERIES
WATCHING (Book #1)
WAITING (Book #2)
LURING (Book #3)
TAKING (Book #4)
STALKING (Book #5)
KILLING (Book #6)
RILEY PAIGE MYSTERY SERIES
ONCE GONE (Book #1)
ONCE TAKEN (Book #2)
ONCE CRAVED (Book #3)
ONCE LURED (Book #4)
ONCE HUNTED (Book #5)
ONCE PINED (Book #6)
ONCE FORSAKEN (Book #7)
ONCE COLD (Book #8)
ONCE STALKED (Book #9)
ONCE LOST (Book #10)
ONCE BURIED (Book #11)
ONCE BOUND (Book #12)
ONCE TRAPPED (Book #13)
ONCE DORMANT (Book #14)
ONCE SHUNNED (Book #15)
ONCE MISSED (Book #16)
ONCE CHOSEN (Book #17)
MACKENZIE WHITE MYSTERY SERIES
BEFORE HE KILLS (Book #1)
BEFORE HE SEES (Book #2)
BEFORE HE COVETS (Book #3)
BEFORE HE TAKES (Book #4)
BEFORE HE NEEDS (Book #5)
BEFORE HE FEELS (Book #6)
BEFORE HE SINS (Book #7)
BEFORE HE HUNTS (Book #8)
BEFORE HE PREYS (Book #9)
BEFORE HE LONGS (Book #10)
BEFORE HE LAPSES (Book #11)
BEFORE HE ENVIES (Book #12)
BEFORE HE STALKS (Book #13)
BEFORE HE HARMS (Book #14)
AVERY BLACK MYSTERY SERIES
CAUSE TO KILL (Book #1)
CAUSE TO RUN (Book #2)
CAUSE TO HIDE (Book #3)
CAUSE TO FEAR (Book #4)
CAUSE TO SAVE (Book #5)
CAUSE TO DREAD (Book #6)
KERI LOCKE MYSTERY SERIES
A TRACE OF DEATH (Book #1)
A TRACE OF MUDER (Book #2)
A TRACE OF VICE (Book #3)
A TRACE OF CRIME (Book #4)
A TRACE OF HOPE (Book #5)