Forbidden Territory. Paula Graves

      This book is dedicated to my mother, for not laughing

       when I told her I wanted to be a writer; to Jenn, for putting up with my doubts, my fears and my dangling participles; and to Kris, for believing in this story when I didn’t.

      ABOUT THE AUTHOR

      Alabama native Paula Graves wrote her first book, a mystery starring herself and her neighborhood friends, at the age of six. A voracious reader, Paula loves books that pair tantalizing mystery with compelling romance. When she’s not reading or writing, she works as a creative director for a Birmingham advertising agency and spends time with her family and friends. She is a member of Southern Magic Romance Writers, Heart of Dixie Romance Writers and Romance Writers of America.

      Paula invites readers to visit her Web site, www.paulagraves.com.

      CAST OF CHARACTERS

      Lily Browning—The reluctant psychic’s visions of Abby put her in a killer’s crosshairs.

      J. McBride—The jaded cop with a tragic past—he doesn’t buy Lily’s vision but can’t deny she’s in danger.

      Debra Walters—The ex-wife of Senate candidate Adam Walters is the victim of a deadly carjacking gone wrong.

      Abby Walters—Debra’s six-year-old daughter goes missing after her mother’s murder.

      Adam Walters—Abby’s father is in a close race for the U.S. Senate—could his opponent be behind his daughter’s kidnapping?

      Joe Britt—Adam’s campaign manager must keep his distracted candidate focused on the prize.

      Gerald Blackledge—The incumbent senator is facing a tougher race than anticipated—how far will he go to win?

      Paul Leonardi—Debra Walters’s former lover wasn’t happy about their breakup—could he be behind the murder-abduction?

      Skeet and Gordy—Abby’s kidnappers are deadly, but why don’t they seem to know what to do with their little victim?

      Cal Brody—The FBI agent thinks Lily knows too much not to be involved in Abby’s kidnapping.

      Rose and Iris Browning—Lily’s sisters have special gifts of their own.

      Casey—Why is this little girl showing up in Lily’s visions of Abby?

      Contents

      Chapter One

      Chapter Two

      Chapter Three

      Chapter Four

      Chapter Five

      Chapter Six

      Chapter Seven

      Chapter Eight

      Chapter Nine

      Chapter Ten

      Chapter Eleven

      Chapter Twelve

      Chapter Thirteen

      Chapter Fourteen

      Chapter Fifteen

      Chapter Sixteen

      Chapter Seventeen

      Chapter Eighteen

      Chapter One

      The vision came without warning, a door bursting open in her mind.

      Frightened blue eyes, red-rimmed from crying.

      Freckled cheeks, smudged with tears and dirt.

      Red hair, tangled and sweat-darkened.

      A terrified cry. “Daddy, help me!”

      Lily Browning pressed her fingers against her temples and squeezed her eyes closed. Explosions of light and pain raced through her head like arcs of tracer fire. Around her, a thick gray mist swirled. Moisture beaded on her brow, grew heavy and slid down her cheek.

      She opened her eyes, afraid of what she would see.

      It was just an empty schoolroom, the remains of the morning’s classes scattered about the space—backpacks draped by their straps over the backs of chairs, books lying askew. The kids were still at recess.

      “Lily?” A woman’s voice broke the silence. Lily jumped.

      Carmen Herrera, the assistant principal, stood at the entrance of the classroom, but it was the man behind her who commanded Lily’s attention. His dark hair was crisp and close-cut, emphasizing his rough-hewn features and hard hazel eyes. His gaze swept over Lily in a quick but thorough appraisal.

      The door in her mind crept open again. She stiffened, forcing it shut, her head pounding from the strain. Pain danced behind her eyes, the familiar opening salvo of a migraine.

      “Headache again?” Carmen asked, concerned.

      Lily pushed herself upright. “It’s not too bad.” But already the room began to spin. Swaying, she gripped the edge of the desk.

      The man in the charcoal suit pushed past Carmen to cup Lily’s elbow, holding her steady. “Are you all right?”

      Lily’s arm tingled where he touched her. Raw, barely leashed power rolled off him in waves, almost as tangible as the scent of his aftershave. It swamped her, stole her breath.

      He said her name, his fingers tightening around her elbow. Something else besides power flooded through her. Something dark and bitter and raw.

      She met his gaze—and immediately regretted it.

      “Help me, Daddy!” The cry echoed in her head. Fog blurred the edges of her sight.

      Swallowing hard, she fought the relentless undertow and pulled her elbow from the man’s grasp, resisting the urge to rub away the lingering sensation of his touch. “I’m fine.”

      “Lily gets migraines,” Carmen explained. “Not that often, but when they hit, they’re doozies.”

      Lily heard a thread of anxiety woven in the woman’s usually upbeat, calm voice. A chill flowed through her, raising goose bumps on her arms. “Has something happened?”

      Something passed between Carmen and the man beside her. “Lily, this is Lieutenant McBride with the police. Lieutenant, this is Lily Browning. She teaches third grade.” Carmen closed the classroom door behind her and lowered her voice. “One of our students is missing. Lieutenant McBride’s talking to all the teachers to find out whether they’ve seen her.”

      Red-rimmed eyes.

      Tearstained face.

      Frightened cries.