Peter's Return. Cynthia Cooke

      This book is dedicated to my special friends,

       Rosanne Falcone and Margaret Dear, for all your help and support on

       this story and to my family for rearranging their summer to fit into

       Mommy’s writing schedule. You are the best! I love you!

      Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean

       not on your own understanding; in all

       your ways acknowledge Him, and He

       will make your paths straight.

      —Proverbs 3:5-6

      Cast of Characters

      Peter Vance—His dangerous CIA job and the almost-fatal explosion destroyed his marriage and sent him deep underground for the past three years. But running into Emily at Baltasar Escalante’s estate can blow his cover…and get them both killed.

      Dr. Emily Armstrong—Peter’s ex-wife is not the adventurous type…so why is the lovely doctor in Venezuela working for Doctors Without Borders?

      Baltasar Escalante—The drug lord will do anything to comfort his dying son, including kidnap doctors to ease the boy’s suffering.

      Snake—Escalante’s henchman helps Emily—but for what reason?

      Dr. Robert Fletcher—The other doctor from Vance Memorial abducted with Emily. Will he live to see his wife and sons once more?

      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

      Letter to Reader

      Chapter One

      Caracas, Venezuela

      Dr. Emily Armstrong grabbed onto Dr. Robert Fletcher’s shoulder. “We’ve been kidnapped!”

      Robert’s lips twisted in amusement as he patted her fingers. “Let’s not be dramatic, Doctor.”

      Emily withdrew her hand and leaned back against the seat. “I should have known the moment I saw this black monstrosity of a vehicle with its leather seats and tinted windows that we were in trouble. Only bad guys and government agents drive these things. I know—I was married to one.”

      “Really?” he said dryly. “I always find it amazing that before the marriage we’re Mr. Perfect, Mr. Wonderful, yet after—”

      “Not a bad guy,” she corrected. “A government type.” She screwed her lips into a don’t-you-know-anything expression, leaned in closer, and lowered her voice. “CIA, if you must know.”

      “I’ve heard,” Robert replied. “The illustrious missing Peter Vance. Heard he gave it all up and headed for the woods to find himself. What was that, three years ago? You must have done quite a number on him.”

      Emily snorted, though a pang shot through her. “Peter loved his work, loved the danger. I couldn’t see him giving it up for anyone, not even me.” She swallowed the lump in her throat and watched the South American city pass by.

      “Why give it up? You seem like a girl who likes a little danger in her life.”

      Emily turned from the tinted window as high-rise apartments gave way to ramshackle shacks, and brushed her long blond hair behind her ear. “Who, me? I don’t do danger.”

      It was Robert’s turn to snort.

      “What?” she demanded, not sure how he could possibly get the impression from her boring, nothing-ever-happens-to-me life that she could be the type of woman who liked danger.

      “If I believed that, even for a second, then you’d be home right now in your safe little apartment, in your idyllic American town and not on your way to a primitive Venezuelan clinic.”

      Emily lifted her chin in indignation. “I said I don’t like danger, I didn’t say I don’t like helping people. When Kate Montgomery told me about the condition of the poor children living in the barrios, how could I not agree to come down here and help?”

      “Even after what had happened to Adam?”

      “Adam’s shooting was an extraordinary circumstance. Dr. Valenti was a desperate man who got himself addicted to painkillers. Otherwise, I don’t believe he ever would have tried to steal drugs from the clinic. But you’re right, whatever he got himself into, he got in too deep. Thank the Lord he’s a bad shot and Adam survived. In any case, Dr. Valenti was caught and extra security measures at the clinic have been put into place. We shouldn’t have to worry about anything like that happening again.”

      Robert looked grim. “Unfortunately, Valenti was killed in jail so we’ll never know the truth of what was behind it all, or who.”

      “You’re looking for conspiracies where they don’t exist,” Emily said matter-of-factly. “Nothing else could possibly go wrong.” But even as she said the words, she realized she was worried. Something didn’t feel right, but she couldn’t put her finger on exactly what was bothering