Nowhere to Turn by Lynette Eason Read Free Book Online Page B

group. But she never told anything too personal, although some of the others did.
    Dani settled herself in the chair and typed in the password.
    “What are you doing?”
    She jumped and spun to find Simon watching her. He tilted his head and his hearing aid squealed.
    Placing a hand over her racing heart, she said, “I’m going to figure out how to disappear.”
    “Why?”
    Dani paused, not wanting to tell him the details of what had happened today, but knowing he had to be aware that they might be in danger. She signed and spoke at the same time. “Because someone tried to . . . hurt . . . me today and I think I need help figuring out who it was.”
    “Hurt you?” He frowned. “Why?”
    “I don’t know.”
    He blinked and rubbed his nose, then pressed his ear mold to stop the squealing hearing aid. “Who are you going to ask for help?”
    She pointed to the website she’d found a couple of months before Kurt had been killed. “Operation Refuge.”

8
    SUNDAY MORNING
DECEMBER 7
    Adam Buchanan read the email forwarded from Ron. “My name is Danielle Harding. I need help. My husband was killed six months ago. Someone just tried to kill me today. I can’t go to the cops. I have a twelve-year-old son and I desperately want to protect him and don’t even know how. If you can help me, please email me back or come to my house or call me. It doesn’t matter, just hurry, I think I’m running out of time.”
    Adam stared at the name. Danielle Harding. What was it about that name that nagged at him? He’d been wrapping up another case and hadn’t had a chance to do his homework. Now it was time to get to work on her.
    She’d found the Operation Refuge website and placed the plea for help late yesterday evening. Ron had forwarded the email to Adam. He dragged a hand through his rumpled hair and glanced at the clock. Eleven in the morning. He hadn’t been to bed yet but didn’t let that faze him. He looked at the email again.
    Danielle Harding.
    With a grunt and a prayer, Adam went to Google and pulledup everything he could find on the woman. Which wasn’t much. An obituary on her husband, Kurt.
    Who’d been an FBI agent.
    That was interesting. Now he knew why her name sounded familiar. He remembered the story. An exemplary agent, killed when he confronted another agent about his illegal activities.
    And now someone had tried to kill Harding’s wife. Coincidence?
    Probably not.
    And so now he found himself pacing in front of the window. Ron had told him to stay put, he was bringing in a case for him. A knock on the door had him spinning. And blinking. “Sarah?”
    “Hey.”
    “Are you okay? Mom? Dad?” His sister had never visited his office before. She only had his contact information for an emergency. For her to show up . . .
    She waved a hand. “Dad’s fine.”
    “Dad’s fine? What about Mom?”
    She sighed and slumped into the nearest chair. “I can’t stand this.”
    “What?”
    “This tension between you and Mom and Dad.”
    “It is what it is, Sarah. I can’t change what Uncle Parker did and I can’t change what I did.” Parker Holland, his mother’s brother, had been guilty of murder and an assortment of other crimes, including being in the pocket of organized crime leaders. Adam had helped stop the man’s deadly activities, and as a result his uncle was now dead. A fact that his parents were having a hard time getting past. And forgiving.
    “I know,” she sighed. “But you could do wonders for your relationship with our parents if you would go back to the marshals.”
    Adam gave a mental groan. They’d been over this before. “What does it matter what I do?”
    “Being with the marshals looks better.”
    “For who?”
    “You know for who!” She stood, her agitation clear. “Can’t you just, for once in your life, do something to make them happy?”
    Adam gave a shout of laughter and she flinched at the harsh sound. He leaned forward. “I hate to tell you this, but no