by Blake Pierce
“That’s true, I guess. Still…”
“Why don’t you go ahead and start on one now and we’ll see how it goes.”
“Yes ma’am,” he said, taking one of the beers out and popping the top off. “Anything I can do for you?”
“Wine glasses. In the cupboard.”
Allen set about helping her, getting the glasses and then taking the cupcakes out of the plastic bag he had brought. He’d gotten them because Kate had told him that Melissa had a soft spot for cupcakes.
“You going to tell her about the offer your director gave you?” Allen asked.
“I think I am,” Kate said as she took the ziti out of the oven. “She’ll be fine with it. I want to tell her and her husband about it so we can all work together and find out some way that I can balance it all.”
Before Allen could respond, there was another knock at the door. This time, it opened without Kate answering. Melissa and Terry stepped inside, Terry carrying Michelle on his shoulder. He took two steps in and his eyes grew wide.
“Man oh man, it smells delicious in here!”
Kate walked over to relieve Terry of Michelle. The baby went to her without any fuss, giving a little smile of recognition. When Kate offered Michelle her finger, the baby took it and gave a little squeeze.
“Sorry,” Melissa said as she approached Allen. “My mother sees Michelle and the world just fades out. I’m Melissa.”
Allen extended his hand and they shook. “I’m Allen. I’ve heard a lot about you and Michelle, so it’s finally nice to meet you.”
Terry was next, shaking hands with Allen. Allen offered Terry a beer, which Terry accepted, and that was just about all it took for the two of them to break the ice.
Kate walked back into the kitchen with her granddaughter in her arms. Melissa and Terry were asking Allen several questions, none of which were too pressing or private. Kate joined in as Michelle started swatting at her chin with her chubby little hands.
“You guys ready to eat?” she asked.
“It looks amazing, Mom,” Melissa said. “Thanks.”
As they all took their seats, Allen passed by her and planted a quick kiss on her cheek. It felt natural. It felt nice and comfortable. She saw that Melissa had seen this and was smiling at her.
Yeah, this is worth keeping, she thought. This is worth fighting for balance.
The truth of the matter was that her job fulfilled something within her that her family did not. It seemed like an ugly truth, but it was still the truth. But it had taken her this long, after losing a husband and continuously straining her relationship with Melissa, to understand that the opposite was also true.
Her family offered something that her job never could. Love, support, and a sense of home that came with no goals or expectations.
Kate fully grasped that now. And she knew that she could learn to balance it all.
And with that balance, perhaps she could even be a better agent.
Of course she was going to take Duran up on his offer. She could deny it all she wanted, but she was an FBI agent to her core—and would be until she was a bedridden old lady.
As far as Kate Wise was concerned, she was no longer going to look back on her career with nostalgia and longing.
She had not put it all behind her after all.
NOW AVAILABLE!
IF SHE RAN
(A Kate Wise Mystery—Book 3)
“A masterpiece of thriller and mystery. Blake Pierce did a magnificent job developing characters with a psychological side so well described that we feel inside their minds, follow their fears and cheer for their success. Full of twists, this book will keep you awake until the turn of the last page.”
--Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos (re Once Gone)
IF SHE RAN (A Kate Wise Mystery) is book #3 in a new psychological thriller series by bestselling author Blake Pierce, whose #1 bestseller Once Gone (Book #1) (a free download) has received over 1,000 five star reviews.
55 year old FBI agent Kate Wise is called back in from retirement when a second husband from a wealthy suburb is found murdered, shot to death on his way home. Can it be a coincidence?
There was one case that has haunted Kate her entire career, the one that she couldn’t solve.
Now, 10 years later, a second husband is killed in the same way—and from the same, exclusive town.
What is the connection?
And can Kate redeem herself, and solve it before it goes cold again?
An action-packed thriller with heart-pounding suspense, IF SHE RAN is book #3 in a riveting new series that will leave you turning pages late into the night.
Book #4 in the KATE WISE MYSTERY SERIES is also now available!
IF SHE RAN
(A Kate Wise Mystery—Book 3)
Blake Pierce
Blake Pierce is author of the bestselling RILEY PAGE mystery series, which includes thirteen books (and counting). Blake Pierce is also the author of the MACKENZIE WHITE mystery series, comprising ten books (and counting); 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 three books (and counting); of the KATE WISE mystery series, comprising four books (and counting); of the CHLOE FINE psychological suspense mystery, comprising three books (and counting); and of the JESSE HUNT psychological suspense thriller series, comprising three books (and counting).
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), and WATCHING (The Making of Riley Paige—Book 1) are each available as a free download on Kobo!
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.
BOOKS BY BLAKE PIERCE
A JESSIE HUNT PSYCHOLOGICAL SUSPENSE SERIES
THE PERFECT WIFE (Book #1)
THE PERFECT BLOCK (Book #2)
THE PERFECT HOUSE (Book #3)
CHLOE FINE PSYCHOLOGICAL SUSPENSE SERIES
NEXT DOOR (Book #1)
A NEIGHBOR’S LIE (Book #2)
CUL DE SAC (Book #3)
KATE WISE MYSTERY SERIES
IF SHE KNEW (Book #1)
IF SHE SAW (Book #2)
IF SHE RAN (Book #3)
IF SHE HID (Book #4)
THE MAKING OF RILEY PAIGE SERIES
WATCHING (Book #1)
WAITING (Book #2)
LURING (Book #3)
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)
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)
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)
