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Excerpt

She stepped out of the car and looked around at the officers, trying to figure out who was in charge. “Who was first on the scene?” she yelled.

A tall, lanky uniformed officer jogged over to her. “I was, Bailey.”

“What can you tell me, Stanley?”

He nodded as they walked toward the body lying on the sidewalk a few yards from the boat dock. “That’s how we found him. We haven’t touched anything.”

“Are you serious?”

Stanley looked exasperated. “We’ve been here ten minutes, Bailey. I’ve got a bus in transit to transport the body, and we’ve been taping off the scene.”

She snapped on a pair of gloves and felt for a pulse. It was there . . . a faint pulse. “He’s alive, Stanley! What’s the ETA on that bus?” She looked up at the officer as the sirens from the ambulance came into earshot. Her gaze dropped to the ground as she scanned the man’s body—blood on his face was coagulating from the cuts and scrapes. His eyes were swollen shut and had broken, or at a minimum, bruised ribs. His hands were clenched. “Mister, don’t move. Help is on the way.” Did his fingers twitch? She looked closer to see the torn edge of a scrap of paper. Shit. Twisting, she searched for a stick and saw one a few feet away.

“Stanley, can you hand me that?” she asked, pointing toward the stick.

He tossed it, and it landed at her feet. Gently, she uncurled the man’s fingers to find a note that read, “Call me.” And there was a phone number. What the hell? She looked around. “Is Crime Scene here yet? I need an evidence bag and a pair of tweezers!”

“They’re pulling in now.”

She nodded. “Where is that bus?”

“Right behind CSU!”

She turned back to the man and mumbled more to herself than to him. “Pull through.”

Voices came from behind her. “Bailey, get out of the way.”

“He’s got evidence on him. I need that paper.”

Someone squatted on the other side of the man as a clear bag and pair of tweezers appeared over her shoulder. She took them and looked at the man as she slowly lifted the paper and placed it inside the bag. “I sure hope you saw who did this to you.” She turned to three sets of eyes staring at her. “He’s all yours. Be gentle. He holds more information than just this.” She shook the bag at the EMTs.

As she walked back toward the other detectives, heading for shade under the tree’s canopy as she called out, “Anybody got a disposable phone?”

Kyle sauntered over with a phone in hand. “Whatcha got?”

“A note and phone number.” She showed him the bag as she took the phone. “Let’s see who wants us to call.”

He narrowed his eyes. “Why do you think that was left for us?”

“It isn’t crumpled.”

She dialed the number and waited for the call to connect. Kyle motioned he wanted to hear too, so she put the phone on speaker. “Hello, Margo. I’ve been expecting your call.”

She looked at Kyle, who was staring at her and was sure her dumbfounded expression matched his.

“Who is this?”

Laughter came through the speaker. “Do you want to play a game?”

“Game? This isn’t a game.”

“Yes or no, Margo?”

“Withholding evidence—”

“I know more. Yes or no.”

She ran her hand over her face then looked at Kyle, who was nodding. “Yes.”

“There’s a connection to your son. Find it. I’m afraid something else will happen in your town. You have my number. We should talk again soon.” The phone went dead.

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About the Author

I’m Savannah Maris, a southern girl and hopeless romantic. I’m passionate about writing stories that incorporate southern charm with a little spice.

I grew up on a farm in a small southern town with a love of sports, dance, and music which usually find their way into my books. My husband and I have two grown children. When I’m not writing, my husband and I are attending sporting events, traveling, or working.

What will find in my books? You’ll find suspense and romance in the Riverton Crossing Series. If contemporary romance is what you’re looking for, try Crossroads of the Heart.

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