Is a killer back for more?
A Cavanaugh Justice story by USA TODAY bestselling author Marie Ferrarella
A series of gruesome murders brings together an unlikely pair of homicide detectives: outgoing Brianna Cavanaugh O’Bannon and lone wolf Jackson Muldare. These utter opposites work around the clock together to solve these crimes. In the process, Jackson and Brianna must trust each other with their lives and secrets as they become closer than they ever imagined.
Praise for USA TODAY bestselling author Marie Ferrarella
“Good banter and a charismatic detective are the highlights of this romance, along with an engaging, well-crafted plot.”
—RT Book Reviews on Cavanaugh Cold Case
“A charming romance wrapped up in a great suspense story.”
—Fresh Fiction on Cavanaugh Fortune
“Crisp storytelling coupled with a solid, engaging plot makes for an entertaining read.”
—RT Book Reviews on Cavanaugh or Death
“Fans of shows like Bones and NCIS will absolutely enjoy this newest Cavanaugh episode...a wonderful addition to an already favorite series.”
—Fresh Fiction on Cavanaugh Cold Case
“Fans of romantic suspense will find this book refreshing and entertaining.”
—Harlequin Junkie on How to Seduce a Cavanaugh
Dear Reader,
Did you ever watch cartoons where one of the characters is painting the floor and he winds up painting himself into a corner with no way out? Eventually, the character paints a door on the wall and is able to get out. Well, coming up with a unique mystery is kind of like the same thing. In wanting to make the story unusual, I found that I had painted myself into a corner and I really wasn’t sure how to get out of it.
In this story, a venerable old hotel is finally sold to make way for more residential developments. A construction company wins the bid and brings in their crew. However, as the wrecking ball brings down the hotel’s walls, bodies start turning up. How the bodies got into the walls without anyone noticing was the corner I had painted myself into.
Solving the case is what homicide detective Brianna Cavanaugh O’Bannon and major crimes detective Jackson Muldare are up against. As the story progresses, Jackson finds he has a far better chance of solving the forty-five-year-old cold case than getting Brianna to stay out of his life. Read this to find out who wins—and who killed all those people.
As always, I thank you very much for taking the time to read one of my books, and from the bottom of my heart, I wish you someone to love who loves you back.
All the best,
Marie Ferrarella
CAVANAUGH VANGUARD
Marie Ferrarella
USA TODAY bestselling and RITA® Award–winning author Marie Ferrarella has written more than two hundred and fifty books for Harlequin, some under the name Marie Nicole. Her romances are beloved by fans worldwide. Visit her website, marieferrarella.com.
Books by Marie Ferrarella
Harlequin Romantic Suspense
Cavanaugh Justice
Mission: Cavanaugh Baby
Cavanaugh on Duty
A Widow’s Guilty Secret
Cavanaugh’s Surrender
Cavanaugh Rules
Cavanaugh’s Bodyguard
Cavanaugh Fortune
How to Seduce a Cavanaugh
Cavanaugh or Death
Cavanaugh Cold Case
Cavanaugh in the Rough
Cavanaugh on Call
Cavanaugh Encounter
Cavanaugh Vanguard
The Coltons of Red Ridge
Colton Baby Rescue
The Coltons of Shadow Creek
Colton Undercover
The Coltons of Texas
Colton Copycat Killer
The Pregnant Colton Bride
The Coltons of Oklahoma
Second Chance Colton
Harlequin Intrigue
Cavanaugh Justice
Cavanaugh Standoff
Visit the Author Profile page at Harlequin.com for more titles.
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To
Sherry & Rick
Congratulations!
Fifty Down,
Fifty To Go
The First One Hundred Years
Are The Hardest,
After That, It’s A Piece Of Cake!
Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Epilogue
Excerpt from Colton and the Single Mom by Jane Godman
Prologue
“Hey, boss man, I think you’re going to want to see this!”
Javier Hernandez, head foreman of Preston, Butler & Cowan Construction, which had, after an intense bidding war, wound up submitting the winning bid to tear down the Old Aurora Hotel, the city of Aurora’s oldest landmark still in existence, emerged out of the building in a dead run. The tall, sinewy foreman was searching for the company’s owner.
Warren Preston was just about to get into his silver-gray 4x4. The freshly waxed, newly purchased truck had been Preston’s gift to himself after landing the contract.
It was Preston’s habit to visit a site on the first day that work was to begin. He’d done it with his very first project, and over the years what had begun as a display of involvement for his men had turned into a superstition, one that he had never taken lightly or ignored. No matter how busy he was, Preston made a point to show up on that crucial first day and remain for at least a few hours. After day one, his visits were sporadic at best—unless there was a problem.
Turning away now from his new pride and joy, he left the door of his truck open as he looked at the foreman rushing toward him.
Judging by the expression on Javier’s face, there was definitely a problem.
How could there be a problem? Preston wondered. The workday was barely a couple of hours old.
This morning the demolition ball had mightily swung into the rear wall of what had once been an elegant structure. When the Old Aurora Hotel had first gone up, it had been the first of its kind, not just in the newly formed town, but in the county as well. George Aurora was said to have worked on the building himself.
A great many people in and around Aurora had fought the historic hotel’s demise, wanting to preserve the sprawling three-story structure for a host of reasons.
But, as was often the case, money trumped history and sentiment. The land on which the old, boarded-up hotel stood was worth a fortune. Aurora had grown from a small, three-traffic-light town surrounded by farmland to a thriving, ever-expanding city. A city where, it seemed, everyone wanted to live.
Land was at a premium, and an old hotel that was no longer of any use became a
