As the audience applauded, Riley’s fear magically evaporated.
The moment just seemed too right to be afraid of.
She got up from her chair, walked toward the podium, adjusted the microphone, and began.
“Let me talk to you about opportunities, and the wonders that await you in life—more wonders than I can even imagine …”
*
Riley was feeling quite wonderful when Blaine drove them all home after the ceremony. Her speech had gone over well. It was a Friday, and she was looking forward to a few days of vacation with her family and her boyfriend.
Even the sight of an express letter in the mailbox didn’t disturb her contentment. She carried it inside with the other mail—most of it advertisements and junk mail.
She put the mail down on the living room coffee table, and Jilly leafed through it.
“This one is from Phoenix,” Jilly said.
The word jolted Riley a little.
Phoenix.
That was where Riley had found Jilly. The skinny and unkempt girl had been shut out of her home and was hanging around with hookers at a truck stop. Riley had found her in the cab of a truck, waiting for a trucker to return and pay her for sex.
Fortunately, another girl had tipped Riley to the child’s plight. Riley had taken her to a social services facility, but in the longer run it had become obvious that she needed to take care of this girl herself.
And today, she felt blessed and grateful that she had done just that.
But a letter from Phoenix …
… was that good news or bad news?
Riley nervously opened the envelope. She saw that the papers inside were to inform her of a court date in the near future. There was an attached note from Brenda Fitch, the social worker who had put Jilly in Riley’s care.
We’ve been trying to handle all the paperwork here to finalize your adoption of Jilly Scarlatti. But as you can see, we’ve run into a snag. Albert Scarlatti, the girl’s father, is refusing to give her up. He’s not only challenging the adoption, he’s even threatening to charge you with kidnapping for taking her away. He says he’s charging us as accomplices.
We know that being with you is the best possible solution for Jilly. We’ve managed to arrange a hearing in front of a decent judge. I know this is short notice, but if we have to change the hearing date I don’t know who we’ll get. We really need for you and Jilly to appear at this one. In fact, please get here ahead of time so we can go over our case together.
Riley’s heart was beating hard and fast.
She found herself thinking about what Jilly had said to her a week ago when Riley had felt so demoralized and defeated.
“You’re still going to solve that case. I just know it.”
Jilly had been absolutely right.
And those were exactly the words Riley had needed to hear.
Riley felt a knot of emotion in her throat. How things had changed since Jilly had come into her life!
Back then, Jilly had needed Riley.
Now Riley needed Jilly just as much as Jilly needed her.
I can’t lose her, Riley thought. Not ever.
With a deep sigh, Riley put the note down and looked at Jilly, who was waiting to hear what was in the letter.
“You and I have to go to Phoenix,” she said.
NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER!
ONCE TRAPPED
(A Riley Paige Mystery—Book 13)
“A masterpiece of thriller and mystery! The author did a magnificent job developing characters with a psychological side that is so well described that we feel inside their minds, follow their fears and cheer for their success. The plot is very intelligent and will keep you entertained throughout the book. 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)
ONCE TRAPPED is book #13 in the bestselling Riley Paige mystery series, which begins with the #1 bestseller ONCE GONE (Book #1)—a free download with over 1,000 five star reviews!
In this dark psychological thriller, a wealthy husband turns up dead, and his abused wife is charged with the crime. She calls Riley for help—and yet it seems clear she is guilty.
But when another wealthy, abusive husband turns up dead, the FBI is called in, and FBI special agent Riley Paige wonders: is this all a coincidence? Or could this be the work of a serial killer?
What ensues is a game of cat and mouse, as Riley Paige realizes she is up against a brilliant and unpredictable killer, one without a clear motive—and one determined to keep on killing until he is caught.
An action-packed thriller with heart-pounding suspense, ONCE TRAPPED is book #13 in a riveting new series—with a beloved new character—that will leave you turning pages late into the night.
Book #14 in the Riley Paige series will be available soon.
ONCE TRAPPED
(A Riley Paige Mystery—Book 13)
COMING SOON!
A NEW SERIES!
WATCHING
(The Making of Riley Paige—Book 1)
“A masterpiece of thriller and mystery! The author did a magnificent job developing characters with a psychological side that is so well described that we feel inside their minds, follow their fears and cheer for their success. The plot is very intelligent and will keep you entertained throughout the book. 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)
WATCHING (The Making of Riley Paige—Book One) is book #1 in a new psychological thriller series by #1 bestselling author Blake Pierce, whose free bestseller Once Gone (Book #1) has received over 1,000 five star reviews.
22 year old psychology major—and aspiring FBI agent—Riley Paige finds herself in a battle for her life as her closest friends on campus are abducted and killed by a serial killer. She senses that she, too, is being targeted—and that if she is to survive, she must apply her brilliant mind to stop the killer herself.
When the FBI hits a dead end, they are impressed enough by Riley’s keen insight into the killer’s mind to allow her to help. Yet the killer’s mind is a dark, twisted place, one too diabolical to make sense of, and one that threatens to bring Riley’s fragile psyche crashing down. In this deadly game of cat and mouse, can Riley survive unscarred?
An action-packed thriller with heart-pounding suspense, WATCHING is book #1 in a riveting new series that will leave you turning pages late into the night. It takes readers back 20 plus years—to how Riley’s career began—and is the perfect complement to the ONCE GONE series (A Riley Paige Mystery), which includes 13 books and counting.
Book #2 in THE MAKING OF RILEY PAIGE series will be available soon.