Secrets And Lies. Shirlee McCoy
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EXPECTING—AND IN DANGER
Attacked in her classroom, widowed teacher Ariel Martin’s only thought is for her unborn child. When her student’s brother, rookie K-9 officer Tristan McKeller, and his faithful dog save her life, she can’t thank him enough. She knows Tristan won’t rest until she’s safe, but she doesn’t want him or his police colleagues digging into her dangerous past. After all, the only person who would want to hurt her is dead…or is he? With her and her child’s life on the line, she’ll have to trust Tristan with her secrets if she wants to finally get the fresh start she’s been desperately seeking.
The woman was pregnant!
“Stay!” Tristan commanded his K-9 partner, and Jesse dropped down with a grunted protest.
A woman appeared in the window. Dark hair. Pale skin. Freckles. Very pregnant belly that wasn’t cooperating as she struggled to crawl through the opening.
Ariel Martin. The newest teacher at Desert Valley High School. Smart. Enthusiastic. Patient. He’d heard that from more than one parent. He’d even heard it from Mia.
“You okay?” he asked, running to her side.
She shook her head, dark gray eyes wide with shock, a smear of blood on her right hand. She’d cut herself. It looked deep, but she didn’t seem to notice. “There’s a gunman. He tried to shoot me.”
The words were calm, crisp and clear, and they chilled Tristan to the bone. Two women had already been murdered in Desert Valley. Was Ariel Martin slated to be the third?
ROOKIE K-9 UNIT:
These lawmen solve the toughest cases
with the help of their brave canine partners
Protect and Serve—Terri Reed, April 2016 Truth and Consequences—Lenora Worth, May 2016 Seek and Find—Dana Mentink, June 2016 Honor and Defend—Lynette Eason, July 2016 Secrets and Lies—Shirlee McCoy, August 2016 Search and Rescue—Valerie Hansen, September 2016
Aside from her faith and her family, there’s not much SHIRLEE MCCOY enjoys more than a good book! When she’s not teaching or chauffeuring her five kids, she can usually be found plotting her next Love Inspired Suspense story or wandering around the beautiful Inland Northwest in search of inspiration. Shirlee loves to hear from readers. If you have time, drop her a line at [email protected].
Secrets and Lies
Shirlee McCoy
As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him.
—Psalms 18:30
To my fellow Rookie K-9 authors.
Val, Dana, Lynette, Terri and Lenora, working with the
five of you was such a privilege and a pleasure! We made quite a team, and I’m so glad that I got to be part of it!
Contents
The soft buzz of her cell phone pulled Ariel Martin’s attention from the ninth-grade English paper she was grading. It was good that she’d been engrossed in the essay—the student had obviously done an outstanding job. It was not so good that long shadows had drifted across the classroom floor while she was reading. It was late. Later than she’d realized.
She grabbed her phone and read the text that had come through.
Want to grab some dinner later, Ari?
“No, Easton. I do not,” she muttered, shoving the phone back in her purse without responding.
Easton Riley was a nice enough guy—a math teacher who’d coached the football team to regional victory the previous year—but she wasn’t interested.
She had her hands full teaching summer school, tutoring on the side, getting the classroom ready for the long-term sub who’d be taking over from mid-September through