The Last Close Call - Softcover

Griffin, Laura

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0593546733 ISBN 13: 9780593546734

Verlag: Penguin Publishing Group, 2023

Inhaltsangabe

A talented genetic analyst and a detective who's haunted by an elusive cold case team up in the new standalone romantic suspense from New York Times bestselling author Laura Griffin.
 
Forensic genealogist Rowan Healy has made a name for herself by helping investigators trace the family trees of violent criminals who have eluded justice for years. But the pressure of police cases left her burned out, and she’s shifted her focus to helping adoptees find their biological parents. 
 
Austin detective Jack Bruner has spent his career successfully tracking down vicious criminals—with the notable exception of the West Campus Rapist, a meticulous offender in Texas who has never been identified. When the latest two victims come to light, Jack sees his target is escalating his violent behavior—and only with Rowan's help does he stand a chance of cracking this case.
 
Moved by Jack’s dedication and the brutal details of the attacks he lays out, Rowan agrees to help. When her ground-breaking DNA research sheds new light on the criminal's background and helps them zero in on a search radius, Rowan and Jack must race against the clock to find a ruthless killer who's growing bolder the longer he evades the law.

Über diesen Titel

Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

Laura Griffin is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than twenty-five books and novellas. She is a two-time RITA Award winner, as well as the recipient of the Daphne du Maurier Award.

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One

Evie waited until the third ring to pick up.

"Are you bailing?" Hannah asked.

"Sorry."

"Evie, you promised."

"I'm not up for it tonight." She stripped off the sexy black tank top that she'd ridiculously put on earlier-because Drew liked it-and grabbed her terry cloth robe off the chair.

"What happened?" Hannah asked over the din of conversation, and Evie pictured her sister in the crowded sports bar where they had planned to meet.

"Nothing."

"Not nothing. Spill it."

Evie tied the belt and sighed. "I saw him tonight."

"Who?"

"Drew. He came by to get Bella after work."

Or at least, he'd claimed he had come from work. Given the beer on his breath, he had probably been to a happy hour with "the team" first.

"Oh, Eves. I'm sorry."

She padded barefoot across the hardwood floors that she and Drew had happily picked out together. After checking the lock on the patio door, she peered out at the dim yard. Her daughter's swing swayed in the breeze, and her Big Wheel sat abandoned on a carpet of crunchy brown leaves.

"I know that sucks," Hannah said. "Why don't you come out with us? You'll feel better."

"I'm already in bed."

"You are not. It's barely nine o'clock."

Evie returned to the bottle of merlot by the fridge and topped off her glass.

"Come on," Hannah persisted. "We're playing darts. Blake says he'll even let you win."

Evie smiled. Her sister's boyfriend was a gem, a genuine nice guy. But she didn't want to be a third wheel again.

"Really, I'm not up for it."

"Well." She heard the resignation in Hannah's voice. "You're still coming Thursday, right?"

"Absolutely." She took a hearty swig at the thought of her sister's Thanksgiving potluck, which was sure to be an awkward mix of friends and coworkers. Evie had offered to bring a pie, but Hannah had assigned her mashed potatoes in a transparent attempt to make sure she didn't cancel.

"What time are we eating again?" Evie asked.

"Um . . . I don't know. Four, probably?"

So eight, then. Which was fine. Evie would be there all evening, which would cut into the ice cream binge that would inevitably accompany her first holiday in six years without Drew.

And Bella's first holiday ever without her mother.

Tears burned Evie's eyes, and she took another gulp.

"So get this," she told Hannah. "He took my silver locket." Fury tightened her chest as soon as the words were out. "You know the one he gave me for Mother's Day? He stole it right out of my jewelry box."

"Oh, come on," Hannah said. "You probably misplaced it."

"No. I did not."

"Evie, the man drives a Porsche. What would he want with a silver locket?"

"He knew it would needle me." She headed down the hall and paused at Bella's room to switch off the light, ignoring the lingering scent of baby shampoo as she closed the door.

"Do you want me to come over?"

"No, I'm fine. I'm just being, I don't know, emotional."

"Hey, you're allowed to be emotional. Your ex is a prick. How about we walk the lake tomorrow? We can catch up."

Evie stepped into the bathroom and confronted her reflection in the mirror above the sink. Messy hair, sallow skin, dingy bathrobe. She opened the medicine cabinet and eyed the contents. The prescription sleeping pills called out to her. But she had more willpower than that. She closed the cabinet.

"What time?" she asked Hannah.

"Let's do nine. I'll meet you at the bridge."

"Are you sure? Nine sounds early."

Evie was fine with it, but Hannah's body clock didn't work that way. She hadn't had kids.

"All right, let's make it ten," Hannah said.

"Ten at the bridge."

"It's a date. Love you, Eves."

"You, too."

She set the phone down and stared at her reflection as she took another sip. A four-mile loop around the lake would do her good. Maybe she'd stop at the grocery afterward and get some fresh produce. She could make soup. Or maybe a pie for next week. She stepped into the bedroom.

A man in a ski mask stood in the doorway.

Her wineglass crashed to the floor as she registered everything at once-the wide shoulders, the black clothes, the heavy boots.

His hands were empty, but the latex gloves he wore turned her throat to dust.

"Don't scream, Evelyn."

Her heart seized. He knew her name.

She thought of her cell phone in the bathroom only a few feet away. She could lock herself inside and then-

He stepped into the bedroom and pulled the door shut with a terrifying click.

Evie's mind raced, even as time slowed to a crawl. She had to survive this. Whatever happened, she had to survive for Bella.

What did he want? Her heart thundered as her eyes returned to those gloved hands.

God help me.

She inched toward the bathroom, stalling for time.

"How"-she cleared her throat-"how did you get in here?"

The hole in the mask shifted-a flash of white teeth as his mouth formed a smile.

"I've been here."

Two

Eight weeks later

The Lucky Duck was half empty, which was just how Rowan liked it.

Johnny Cash drifted from the speakers. A young couple occupied a high-top table in the corner, and several regulars sat at the bar, chatting up Lila as she pulled a pint.

Rowan's favorite booth was taken, so she grabbed one near the window beneath a neon Shiner Bock sign. Lila darted her a questioning glance, and Rowan gave her a nod as she slid into the torn vinyl seat.

She grabbed the plastic menu behind the condiment bottles and looked for something decadent. She was starving, she suddenly realized. For the past five days, she had subsisted on cereal and microwave popcorn.

As she skimmed the choices, Rowan tugged the scrunchie from her hair and combed her hand through it. She probably should have showered or at least put on a clean sweatshirt before coming here. Oh well. Too late now.

"You finally came up for air."

She looked up as Lila slid a Tanqueray and tonic in front of her.

"Thank you," Rowan said. "You read my mind."

Lila sipped a ginger ale-her hydration beverage of choice when she was working.

"Busy night?" Rowan asked.

"Not really." She shrugged. "Good tips, though."

"Has Dara been by?"

"Yes." Lila's eyes sparkled, and she tossed a springy brown curl over her shoulder. "She was here earlier. With a date."

"Oh yeah?"

"They left after an hour, so you'll have to get the scoop. Are you eating?"

"Yes, but I can't decide."

"Try the nachos," Lila said. "We've got fresh guac today."

"That sounds good."

A couple walked into the bar and claimed a pair of stools on the corner. Lila eyed them as she nursed her drink. "I have to get back. I'll give Sasha your order."

"Thanks."

Lila returned to her post, and Rowan scanned the faces around the room, trying to guess people's stories. It was a game she played whenever she came here alone. All the singles tonight were regulars. Ditto the two guys shooting pool in the back. Her attention settled on the couple at the high-top. Based on their age, they might be students at the University of Texas, maybe seeking a night away from the crowds on Sixth Street. But they had a seasoned look about them. The woman's makeup was perfect. And they both exuded the stiff body language that screamed first date.

Rowan watched them subtly from her booth. Head tilts. Intense eye contact. The woman arched her brows as she sipped her margarita through a straw, displaying just the right amount of interest in whatever the guy was saying. He rested a hand on his knee and looked confident-but...

Details zur Ausgabe

• Verlag: Penguin Publishing Group
• Erscheinungsdatum: 2023
• Sprache: Englisch
• ISBN 10: 0593546733
• ISBN 13: 9780593546734
• Einband: Taschenbuch
• Anzahl der Seiten: 337
• Kontakt zum Hersteller: Nicht verfügbar
• Verantwortliche Person: gpsr@libri.de; gpsr@libri.de; ; Europaallee 1; Bad Hersfeld; 36244; Deutschland