The Only Witness

by Laura Scott

  “Oh, Miles.” She kissed his hand, then searched his gaze. “Of course I’ll give you a chance. How can I not? I’ve fallen in love with you, too.”

  “Really?” The stark hope in his clear blue eyes made her smile.

  “Yes. Really.” She moved closer, gingerly putting her arms around his neck, being careful not to jostle his injured shoulder. “I love you, Miles. Very much.”

  He kissed her, then buried his face against her hair. “I love you, too, Paige. I’m honored you’re willing to take a chance on me.”

  They held each other close until a knock at his door pulled them apart. She expected his nurse, but it was his mother who poked her head in the door.

  “Miles? Are you all right?”

  He grimaced. “Yes, Mom. Did you bring Abby?”

  “Well, I didn’t leave her home alone,” she answered tartly. Mrs. Callahan pushed open the door and Abby skipped into the room, coming straight to Paige.

  “Mommy! Miles!”

  Thankfully, her daughter was still talking, although not nearly as loquaciously as she used to.

  “Hi, sweetie.” Paige scooped Abby into her arms, bringing her daughter up so she could see Miles.

  “I hope I’m not interrupting,” Mrs. Callahan said, glancing at Miles first, then Paige.

  Paige hid a smile. “No, of course not. I hope Abby behaved herself.”

  “She’s adorable. Of course she behaved herself.” Mrs. Callahan’s smile was sweet. “But I didn’t rush over here just because I heard from Michael that you were in danger once again.”

  “Then why did you rush over?” Miles asked. The irked expression on his face made her giggle.

  “Kari’s in labor.”

  It took a moment for Paige to remember that Kari was Marc’s wife.

  “Isn’t it a little early?” Miles asked with a frown.

  “Three weeks early,” Mrs. Callahan confirmed. “I’m sorry to drop Abby off with you, but I really want to head over to the labor and delivery unit. I hope you’ll let me babysit again, soon, though.”

  “Tell Marc I’ll be over to see my baby niece or nephew as soon as possible,” Miles said.

  “I will. See you both later.” His mother left as quickly as she’d arrived.

  “Did you have fun playing with the dollhouse, Abby?” Paige asked.

  Her daughter nodded. “Lots of fun.” Then the little girl rested her head on Paige’s shoulder. “Missed you.”

  “I missed you, too.”

  “Me, three,” Miles added in a husky voice. Paige noticed the softness in Miles’s eyes as he looked at her daughter and knew deep down in her soul that the three of them were meant to be together.

  As a family.

  EPILOGUE

  Eight weeks later...

  On any other day, Miles wouldn’t have minded lingering over brunch with his family, but not today. He glanced at his watch for the third time in ten minutes. Was it his imagination or was his mother dawdling over her meal on purpose?

  When he couldn’t take it any longer, he rose to his feet and began clearing the table. His mother had agreed to watch Abby for a few hours so he could have some alone time with Paige.

  Not that he was complaining about being in love with a single mom. He adored Abby, but there were some occasions when three was a crowd.

  He patted his pocket, reassuring himself that he still had the ring.

  “I’ll take care of doing dishes today,” Maddy said, coming up to stand beside him. “I hear you’re taking Paige down to the lakefront.”

  “Yeah.” He didn’t try to hide the goofy grin on his face. “We have the afternoon to ourselves.” He gave her a one-armed hug. “Thanks, sis.”

  “Don’t worry. I’ll collect on some future date,” Maddy drawled.

  Paige entered the kitchen with a stack of dirty dishes. “Oh, I can do the dishes, Maddy.”

  “Not today,” his sister said with a sly wink. “We’re kicking you and Miles out of here for a while. Don’t worry about Abby, she’s enthralled with Kari and Marc’s new son, Max.”

  Miles had been touched at Kari’s decision to name her baby boy after their deceased father, Max Callahan. But he hoped they didn’t continue the M name trend. After all, there were twenty-five other letters in the alphabet to choose from, and having all their names start with the same letter was annoying, not to mention confusing.

  “Will you take a ride with me?” Miles asked Paige.

  “Of course.” She smiled up at him, linking her arm in his.

  His doctor had given him the all clear to drive two weeks ago, but he still hadn’t returned to full active duty. It wasn’t the worst thing, since he’d been able to put together an ironclad case against Krantz and Eastham for conspiring to commit fraud and for the murders of Travis Olson and Jason Whitfield.

  Not to mention, spending lots of quality time with Paige and Abby. He loved them more and more each day.

  May sunshine filtered through the trees as he drove along the Lake Michigan shoreline. Paige was quiet, but the serene expression on her face portrayed contentment. Abby was back to her usual chatty self and seemed to accept that her father was with God. And his relationship with Paige had been going great.

  Or so he hoped. Patting the ring in his pocket one last time, he turned into the marina parking lot and threw the gearshift into Park.

  “Shall we take a walk?” he suggested.

  “I’d love to.” Paige climbed out of the passenger seat and gazed for a moment at the waves rippling in, splashing against the rocks. “It’s so peaceful here.”

  He took her hand in his and led her down a winding path to a park bench that overlooked the water. Once she was seated, he pulled out the ring box and knelt beside her.

  “Paige, I want you to know just how much you and Abby mean to me. You’ve brought faith, light and love back into my life.” He took a deep breath. “Will you please marry me?”

  She gasped when she realized this wasn’t an ordinary date. He opened the ring box and showed her a beautiful square-cut emerald ring. He’d chosen the gemstone because he’d wanted something different from the diamond she’d once been given by her ex-husband.

  “Oh, Miles, it’s beautiful.” She didn’t reach for the ring, though, but looked up at him in surprise. “How did you know emeralds were my favorite?”

  “You mentioned it once in passing, and personally I think the ring goes great with your green-gold eyes.”

  The fact that she hadn’t answered his question made him wonder if she wasn’t ready yet.

  “I love you, Paige. And I want you, me and Abby to be a family, along with any other children God blesses us with.”

  “Yes, Miles.” Her eyes shimmered with tears and she threw her arms around his neck, hugging him fiercely. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”

  He closed his eyes in relief, hugging her close, knowing that this moment was the true beginning of the rest of his life.

  And that this was all a part of God’s plan.

  * * * * *

  Keep reading for an excerpt from SHADOW OF SUSPICION by Christy Barritt.

  If you enjoyed this story, pick up the first CALLAHAN CONFIDENTIAL book, SHIELDING HIS CHRISTMAS WITNESS and these other stories from Laura Scott:

  WRONGLY ACCUSED

  DOWN TO THE WIRE

  UNDER THE LAWMAN’S PROTECTION

  FORGOTTEN MEMORIES

  HOLIDAY ON THE RUN

  MIRROR IMAGE

  Available now from Love Inspired Suspense!

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  Dear Reader,

  The Only Witness is the second book in my Callahan Confidential series. I love writing series, and this particular one involving a large family has been especially fun. The Callahan family has a legacy of choosing careers that support and protect their community, but these jobs also put them in constant danger. This story revolves around homicide detective Miles Callahan, known as the fun-loving Callahan sibling. But deep down, Miles is suffering from the loss of his college sweetheart who died of cancer shortly after their graduation.

  When Miles meets single mother Paige Olson and her adorable five-year-old daughter, Abby, he is determined to protect them. And it’s not long before Miles realizes young Abby may be the only witness to a horrible murder.

  I hope you enjoy Miles and Paige’s story. I’m also hard at work on the next book in the Callahan Confidential series. I love hearing from my readers. If you’re interested in contacting me or signing up for my newsletter, please visit my website at www.laurascottbooks.com. I’m also on Facebook at Laura Scott Books, Author, and on Twitter @Laurascottbooks.

  Yours in faith,

  Laura Scott

  We hope you enjoyed this Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense story.

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  Shadow of Suspicion

  by Christy Barritt

  ONE

  Laney Ryan paused, her fingers poised over her keyboard midstroke. A noise outside her suburban home caused her spine to clinch and a moment of fear to seize her thoughts.

  She was being silly. The sound was probably her neighbor across the street returning home. Or maybe a deliveryman was dropping off a package. It was nothing to be concerned over.

  Her instincts blazed, and she was unable to believe either of those scenarios. Something was going on outside her house—something she needed to prepare for.

  Quickly, she turned off her computer and stashed it in the locked drawer hidden beneath her desk. Wasting no time, she stood. She had to get to her bedroom to grab her gun.

  She’d only taken one step in that direction when her front door burst open.

  A flash bang exploded in her entryway, and smoke filled the house. Feet stampeded across her floor as an unseen army invaded her space. As enemies breached her territory. As danger closed in.

  She ducked by the dining room table and stifled a scream, unwilling to give away her presence even though panic rushed through her. She grabbed the edge of a chair, unable to see. Smoke blocked her vision, filled her lungs, burned her eyes.

  What was going on? Had someone discovered what she did for a living? Would they try to make her talk using whatever means necessary?

  Fear trembled through her bones. She’d known this day might come, but she’d hoped it wouldn’t. Prayed it wouldn’t.

  More smoke stung her eyes. A cough caught in her throat, and she tried to hold it back. Shouts sounded around her.

  How many of them were there? How many men had infiltrated her home? How long would it be before the smoke cleared and they found her?

  Her house—her haven—suddenly felt like a war zone. She swallowed hard, trying to remember all the training that had been drilled into her in case she was ever captured and interrogated. Silence was of the essence. She knew secrets that could bring this country down. And in the wrong hands... She shuddered to think about what would happen.

  A man in SWAT uniform appeared in front of her, his gun raised. “Laney Ryan, you’re under arrest.”

  “For what?” she demanded.

  Another cop pulled her to her feet and jerked her arms behind her with enough force to snap her bones as he pressed handcuffs around her wrists. Her body instantly ached.

  “You’re the prime suspect in the disappearance of Sarah Novak.”

  Her heart plunged. Sarah? What had happened to her sweet neighbor? The girl was only fifteen, and Laney thought the world of her.

  “What’s wrong with Sarah? What happened?” Her voice trembled as she braced herself for whatever news was about to come.

  No one answered her. The cop behind her shoved her toward the front door as more officers invaded her home, searching every nook and cranny. Probably looking for evidence of what had happened. But why there? Why her?

  Each step felt surreal, like something that happened on a TV show, but not in her real life. Panic threatened to engulf her as reality set in. She was being arrested. She had to stop this before it had a domino effect on her future.

  “You’ve got this all wrong. I would never hurt Sarah,” she rushed to tell them.

  The cop behind her didn’t seem to hear anything. “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will...”

  The words faded as a haze came over her. Laney had just seen Sarah that morning. She and her father, Sol, had stopped by and asked for help hemming a skirt for a school event that weekend.

  Sarah was only fifteen. She had so much of life ahead of her. What if she was hurt? Or worse? The thought caused Laney’s heart to lurch.

  Please, Father, let her be okay. Watch over her. Protect her.

  A shock of cold air hit her as the cop shoved her onto the front porch. The stay-at-home mom across the street stood in her front yard, gripping her toddler’s hand as she watched everything unfold with a look of horror on her face.

  That wasn’t even Laney’s biggest concern at the moment. She couldn’t care less about what her neighbors thought. Her biggest concern was Sarah.

  Shouting sounded in the distance. Laney pulled her gaze toward the noise. What now?

  Sol, she realized.

  He stood on the edge of her lawn, between her house and his. His face was red with anger, and a female cop restrained him from lunging at Laney. His body language clearly screamed that he was in attack mode.

  “Where’s my daughter? What did you do with her?” the slight man shouted. He looked ready to spring. “You’re a monster!”

  Laney’s heart plunged. How could Sol think she had anything to do with this? She loved Sarah as if she were her own daughter. She would never, ever do anything to put her in jeopardy.

  She opened her mouth. She wanted to say something. To convince Sol of her innocence. To explain that she had no idea where Sarah was.

  But no words would leave her throat.

  Poor Sarah.

  Had she seemed okay that morning? No. Now that she thought about it, Sarah had seemed melancholy when she was at her house.

  She’d whispered to Laney before she left, “Can we talk sometime?”

  Laney had smiled and told her, “Of course.” She figured it was the typical teenage problems: boys, college, grades, pimples even.

>   Would things be different right now if Laney had taken the time to listen to her then? But she hadn’t been able to. Sarah had to go to school, Sol had been there, and Laney had to start working. She knew the dilemma would haunt her, though. The what-ifs were the worst.

  She’d experienced them many times before. She’d lost sleep over questions like that. Nearly lost her mind, for that matter.

  The officer shoved her into the back of a brown police sedan and slammed the door. At least the inside of the vehicle was warm, a stark contrast to the brittle winter day outside. The scent of evergreen filled the air, strangely comforting. But only for a moment.

  The man in the front seat turned toward her, his eyes perceptive and hard—yet disturbingly beautiful with their crystal coloring. He was broad and imposing with light brown hair, a square jawline and a five-o’clock shadow.

  “Ms. Ryan,” he started. “My name is Detective Mark James. We need you to answer a few questions.”

  “Of course.”

  “What did you do with Sarah Novak?” His voice sounded all business, like he wasn’t the kind of person to be messed with or questioned or who you wanted on your bad side.

  “Nothing. I have no idea where Sarah is,” she told him, sagging into the seat.

  Laney needed to contact her boss, Nicholas Mclean. He would be able to explain who Laney was, why she was trustworthy and incapable of this. Her job with the CIA was classified, and they even used a different company name as a front.

  “Don’t play games, Ms. Ryan. We have a witness that proves you were the last person to be seen with Sarah. There’s no need to draw this out. You’ll only make this harder on yourself.”

  What was he talking about? That couldn’t be true. Plenty of people would have seen Sarah since then. First at the bus stop. Then at school. “I’m telling you—I would never do anything to hurt Sarah. I think of her like a daughter.”

  He raised his chin, his gaze still assessing. “Like the daughter you always wanted? How far were you willing to take that?”