Praise for Carol Stephenson
“An emotionally compelling story dealing with the pain of child abuse and manipulation, and the healing power of love.”
—RT Book Reviews on Nora’s Pride
“[It] will grab you by the throat and provide many pulse-pounding moments of excitement.”
—CK2S Kwips and Kritiques on Shadow Lines
“This one packs a powerful punch [and] a sweetly poignant ending. I strongly recommend this book for all lovers of romantic suspense.”
—Reviewers International Organization on Shadow Lines
Praise for Maggie Price
“Maggie Price is a premier novelist of any genre.”
—Cataromance.com on Banking on Hope
“Maggie Price is a master at drawing suspense lovers into her spellbinding series.”
—Singletitles.com on The Ransom
“The cleverly developed plot is filled with unexpected twists and turns.”
—RT Book Reviews on The Cradle Will Fall
“Smack in the middle of a tense procedural mystery, Ms. Price demonstrates why she is the best at writing about cops and romance!”
—WritersUnlimited.com on Hidden Agenda
CAROL STEPHENSON
Award-winning author Carol Stephenson lives in southeast Florida with her beloved shih tzu. She’s an attorney by day and author by night. She’s best known for her emotionally drawn, hard-driving romances. In her free time this sports fan indulges in travel, photography and debating NASCAR races by the water cooler. You can keep up with Carol and her books on her Web site at www.carolstephenson.com.
MAGGIE PRICE
Before embarking on a writing career, Maggie Price took a walk on the wild side and began associating with people who carry guns. Fortunately they were cops, and Maggie’s career as a crime analyst with the Oklahoma City Police Department has given her the been-there-done-that background needed to write true-to-life police procedural romances. Those stories of gripping suspense and sizzling romance have won numerous accolades, including a nomination for the coveted RITA® Award. Maggie is also a recipient of a Golden Heart Award, a Career Achievement Award from RT Book Reviews, a National Readers’ Choice Award and a Booksellers’ Best Award, all in series romantic suspense.
What He Didn’t Say
Carol Stephenson
Maggie Price
Contents
PROLOGUE
An excerpt from Hilton Branch’s journal
CHASING THE TRUTH
Carol Stephenson
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CORNERED
Maggie Price
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
An excerpt from Hilton Branch’s prison journal…
A man takes pride in his sons.
Pride goeth before a fall, isn’t that the old saying? I’ve been thinking a lot about my twins lately. It’s nearly time for the exhibition race, and I remember so well the first time I took Bart and Will, my twins, to it when they were kids.
They both became drivers in the big show, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. I’ll never forget the first time I watched the two of them in their cars with Branch Mutual Trust big as life on the hoods, my boys right up there with the best drivers in the world.
They’re both set to compete in another exhibition race this year—a man’s chest could burst open with the pride of it. They’ll battle hardest with each other—they always did. They’re each other’s best friend, but there’s no one either would rather beat than the other. Their mother couldn’t take how competitive they are, so way back when they first started in go-karts, Maeve set up a system—she takes turns rooting for them, wearing their team colors and all that. It’s the way a mother ought to be, I guess, but she’s led a sheltered life. She doesn’t understand that it’s a jungle out there, but I’m damn glad they do.
My sons and I, we had good times. We did. They used to think their old dad was ten feet tall.
Bad things happened, but I never meant to let them down. I don’t imagine that I’ll ever get the chance to say so, though. None of my grown children has seen fit to pay me a visit in this jail or even send me a card. I didn’t expect any better of my youngest, Sawyer—I never really understood that boy.
But my twins, I did everything for them. For my princess Penny, too—created the opportunity for my beautiful girl to have that modeling career she always wanted. She appeared on the cover of many a fashion magazine, even did a swimsuit issue one year. I was so proud of all of them, but now not a one of them wants anything to do with their father, and damned if it doesn’t hurt. Maeve would probably say it’s my just deserts, but there were good times.
There were.
Sure, I grabbed for life, always. Wanted to scale the highest mountain, had to reach for the biggest piece of the pie. When you grow up dirt poor you have appetites, and for a long time, I satisfied all of them: the mansion, the vacation homes, the expensive cars and planes and boats. I took good care of a lot of people—too many, it turns out.
In the end, everything fell apart. If my children would give me a chance, I’d explain.
Maeve and I made a sort of peace before I went to trial. I told her I was sorry, and I am. She drops me a line now and then, most recently to include a picture of Penny’s little girl and to tell me that Will and his wife, Zoe, are the parents of twin babies now, a boy and a girl. I can’t get over the idea that my Will has gone and gotten married, and to Zoe, of all people, even after what I did to get that girl out of his life so he could focus on racing. Because of me, Will missed the first ten years of their son Sam’s life, another black mark he’ll hold against me.
I’d like to talk to him now. See if being a father changes his opinion of me.
It gets real lonely in here.
But in a few days, I can at least watch my boys race.
Chasing the Truth
Carol Stephenson
In honor of cancer survivors, their supporters, and those who soldier on to fight the brave battle.
CHAPTER ONE
HE’D BEEN LYING to himself, Holt Forrester conceded as he dodged three men chest bumping in the graveled parking area by the New River Gorge. Minutes earlier the trio had parachuted together to a flawless bull’s-eye landing. “Congratulations,” Holt called out without stopping.
Had he really thought he could handle the crush of people in attendance today? Managing his investments based on cold hard data was one thing. Directing a tired mother with a wailing toddler to a Port-a-Potty was totally outside his comfort zone. Still…
Pausing, he glanced up to the gleaming span of bridge eight hundred and seventy-six feet above. Another jumper yelled a battle cry as he somersaulted off the platform. Moments later a white parachute popped open against the blue sky. Holt smiled.
Unbelievable. He’d actually done it. He’d pulled off the fundraising event for breast cancer without a hitch. All the months of convincing everyone in the West Virginia government from the governor to the Division of Highways to allow this special day of BASE—bridge, antennae, spans or earth—jumping had paid off.
The adrenaline buzz of his own jump still pumped through Holt along with pride and satisfaction.
He had known those adventurers who thrilled to parachute free falls wouldn’t be able to resist the lure of a legal jump off the second-highest bridge in the Un
ited States. All in the name of a good cause, the Amanda Forrester Jump for Cancer.
An event to honor his mother. He’d been only twelve when she had lost her battle with breast cancer, but the memories of her efforts to maintain a normal life for him and his father despite her pain remained seared in his soul.
The latest jumper splashed into the river. Volunteers gunned motorized inflatable rafts and raced toward the man to pluck him from the water.
Holt released a sigh of relief. So far the event had gone without any major injury to any of the participants. Only a cut here, a bruise there.
The only other thing that would make this day perfect would be to meet the woman with the smoky-warm voice who had called him from Double S Racing. Emma-Lee Dalton.
He looked around for his assistant. Ted would know if she had registered. He might not be able to find her in this crowd, but surely she would be at the auction following the jumps. Double S Racing had been more than generous in its donation of NASCAR racing memorabilia, and Holt suspected that the very enthusiastic Ms. Dalton was largely responsible. He wanted the opportunity to thank her in person…and see if the woman matched the voice, he admitted.
“Hey, Holt!” Stan Preston hurried toward him. “Did you see all the NASCAR bumper stickers in the lot?”
“Yes, I did.”
Stan huffed to a stop. The older, heavier-set man wore carefully creased khakis, a blue oxford-collared shirt and navy windbreaker. He pulled a handkerchief from his pants pocket and mopped his brow.
“Wasn’t I right about NASCAR? The fan loyalty is incredible. Once I got the word out that the organization had donated items for the auction, the fans hotfooted over here.”
“You were right, Stan.” Not only had Holt been impressed with the man’s contacts at NASCAR, but he’d been amazed by the surge of registrations after the auction announcement.
Stan beamed. “You understand now why a NASCAR sponsorship would be a smart business move for your launch of the new software line?”
“I’d be a fool not to.” Holt had met the insurance magnate when Stan had consulted with him about developing computer programs. When Stan had gotten it in his head that he wanted to start his own NASCAR team, Holt had been one of the first he’d hit up for sponsorships. A sponsorship seemed to be good business, but Stan’s new team might not be a good fit.
Holt never jumped into a deal, which is how he’d made his millions. He needed more data before he made his decision. He hadn’t even divulged to Stan the true nature of his latest computer venture. Although the Internet was alive with rumors, he was keeping the game under wraps for now as much as possible.
“Holt.” Stan looked concerned. “When I was checking out the auction display, I noticed a number of items from Double S Racing. The owner, Gil Sizemore, isn’t wooing you as a sponsor, is he?”
No point mentioning to Stan that he inexplicably had found himself flirting with the Double S’s representative. Hearing her bubbling laughter over the phone had caused him to hit the Delete key at an inopportune moment on a report he’d been reviewing at the time.
Holt shrugged. “My P.R. person mentioned that the individual racing teams might donate if I contacted them personally, so I did. Business is business, no matter whether it’s for charity or not. You should know that better than anyone, Stan.”
The insurance magnate hadn’t exactly amassed all his agencies by being an emotional pushover.
Stan relaxed only fractionally. “I’m still trying to get you a few pit passes to the upcoming races. Those passes are harder to come by than a rate increase.”
Holt glanced up at the bridge. With her pink jumpsuit fluttering in the breeze, a woman stood on the edge of the platform and appeared to be talking with the volunteers. Why wasn’t she jumping? He glanced at his watch.
Only thirty minutes left in the permitted time, and he had at least that number of people waiting for their turn. “Excuse me, Stan.”
Walking toward the riverbank, he spotted his personal assistant helping another jumper. “Ted, I need your radio.”
“Sure thing, Holt.” The young man hurried over and handed it to him. He pointed out the solid line of bystanders lining the bridge above.
“Can you believe all the people who came to watch? What a show they got today! The vendors are selling food and souvenirs like hotcakes. This is going to rake in a ton of money.”
“I couldn’t have pulled this off without your help, Ted.”
The assistant flushed at the praise, but one of the volunteers called for him from the control center they had set up by the river. He hurried off.
Holt looked up again. That woman in her pink jumpsuit still stood there. Was she frozen with fear?
He activated the walkie-talkie. “Davey, what’s the holdup? If that woman’s gotten cold feet, get her out of there.”
Not everyone could stand at the end of the sixteen-foot-long ledge and take that step off into emptiness.
“Not cold feet, Holt. She’s just going on and on about how pretty the gorge is and what a momentous occasion this is.”
He rolled his eyes. “Tell her to gawk later.”
“10-4.”
Moments later, the woman directed a smart salute at him. Then she lowered both arms to her sides. This was it. That minute when you prepare mentally for the leap and say a prayer.
Then he felt it, the breeze stirring.
“Holt!” Ted ran toward him. “The storm we’ve been watching is now coming faster.”
Holt raised the receiver. “Davey, weather’s moving in. Stop the jumpers…”
Too late. The woman raised her arms and executed a perfect swan dive off the platform.
He handed off the radio to Ted and raced to the water’s edge.
One second. Alone in the air she would experience perfect quietude, not the howling wind when one jumps out of a plane.
Two seconds. She would be picking up speed with wind whistling through her clothes and the ground rushing toward her.
Three seconds. Pull the chute.
Too long, too long. She would hit the ground hard.
Relief flooded him as the purple-and-red parachute snapped open, making a colorful splash against the darkening sky. He watched as she guided it. She was going for a bull’s-eye landing in the taped-off spot behind him.
He’d made it himself, so he understood the desire to make a controlled landing, one where you bested the elements.
The wind picked up and the chute turned. He recognized by her movements that the woman was going with the change and would land in the river where the rafts waited to pick up any jumper.
Smart.
As her feet touched the water a gust of wind caught the parachute full blast, dragging her like a rag doll along the river straight toward an outcropping of boulders.
Holt raced along the edge and then splashed into the shallow depths on a diagonal path to the woman struggling to release the harness.
Ten feet to go. The water was now waist high. Five feet. He lunged.
Cold water sprayed, blinding him, but he had a handful of fabric. He dug his heels into the soft riverbed and braced himself. The force of the wind-dragged parachute jerked his shoulder, but he held on.
He blinked until he could see. He had her by one of the chest straps. She reached up and gripped his wrist.
Step by precarious step, he eased backward. When he reached the shallows, the woman scrabbled for and found her footing. Circling his other arm around her waist, he hauled her up against his body and held on.
Beside him Ted jumped into the water and made his way over to the chute lines. Others joined him and worked to collapse the parachute.
Holt reached between their bodies and released the clasp and slipped the straps over her shoulders. She shimmied out of the harness, but as she stepped clear, she tripped, stumbling against him. He staggered and lost his footing. Together they fell.
He hit the ground, the jolt sending a hiss of pain through his clench
ed teeth. The jumper sprawled on top of him.
“Hey, are you all right?” Concern filled her voice. Elbows and knees, one dangerously close to causing him real pain, flayed as she struggled to move off him.
“Hold still.” He managed to sit up and found himself face-to-face with her straddling his lap. Incredibly, laughter filled the bright blue eyes as she scrutinized him. Her soft body shifted, causing an altogether different physical reaction, as she reached up and removed her helmet.
Honey-blond hair tumbled across her shoulders as she gave him a bright smile. “That was sooo awesome! I can’t believe that I just jumped a three-hundred-and-forty-five-million-year-old gorge.”
He didn’t know whether to dump her back in the river or kiss her.
“Oh, by the way.” She extended a slender hand and, bemused, he gripped it. A strange sensation surged along his arm as if a circuit had been completed and her life force was pumping into him at a million bits a second.
“I’m Emma-Lee Dalton.”
EMMA-LEE HAD DONE IT. She had jumped for her friend Sandy.
When her friend was physically strong enough again after the chemotherapy, they would go parachuting together. Those moments of absolute freedom from all earthly ties might be the ticket to boost Sandy’s spirits.
With the adrenaline rush still fizzing in her veins like champagne, Emma-Lee grinned at the man whose lap she straddled. Of course, this man who had charged into the river and dragged her to safety could definitely get a woman’s blood pounding. When he failed to reciprocate with his name, she arched a brow.
“I believe our—” she gave a meaningful glance down “—circumstances warrant an introduction?”
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