Vanish
Lynn Shannon
VANISH
Copyright © 2018 by Lynn Balabanos
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used factitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Scripture appearing in this novel in whole or in part from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Getting to the truth may prove deadly…
On a deserted country road, Janet West accidentally strikes a woman with her SUV. She gets out to render aid but is attacked and drugged. When she wakes, she’s back inside her vehicle and the woman—along with the assailant—have vanished.
Todd Duncan is shocked by the vicious assault and the haphazard investigation. Unlike the police, he believes Janet. She’s driven to find the woman regardless of the risk and, although Todd’s in town temporarily, he’s not leaving his friend to do this alone.
Yet the more they dig into the mysterious woman’s identity, the deadlier the threats become. Someone is determined to keep what happened that night a secret, and if they have to kill to do it…
So be it.
Also by Lynn Shannon
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Ranger Protection
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Ranger Faith
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This book is dedicated to Eva. We both worked for years toward our different dreams, supporting each other every step of the way. We made it, my friend. I’m glad we could do it together.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
JEREMIAH 29:11
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Afterword
About the Author
One
Home renovations were going to get her killed.
Janet West white-knuckled the steering wheel. Rain pounded against the windshield and obscured her vision of the country road. In the space between the seats, a heap of different bathroom tiles mingled with the strap of her purse and a collection of paint color samples.
A whimper rose from the passenger seat. Callie, her golden retriever mix, cast a worried glance at her.
“I know, I know,” Janet said. “I spent too long in the hardware store before picking you up at the vet. I got carried away.”
Her headlights were no match for the storm and she flipped on her brights. Lightning flashed, followed by a window-rattling boom of thunder. Callie whimpered again and pushed her body against the seat. The poor dog was shaking.
“Five minutes and we’ll be home, girl.”
The farmhouse didn’t feel like home yet with its peeling plaster and horrific bathrooms, but after this week of renovations, Janet hoped it would.
“Todd should still be there, finishing up the kitchen backsplash. I’m sure you can convince him to sneak you a cookie.”
Callie’s tail thumped at Todd’s name. Her dog had fallen in love with him from the moment he’d set foot on the property. Not that Janet could blame her. Todd Duncan was ruggedly handsome and possessed both a quiet strength and an innate kindness she couldn’t resist either.
“What am I going to do with you when he leaves, huh?” she asked. “You know he’s only hanging around to finish construction on the house. Afterward, he’s moving on to his next adventure.”
The conversation was as much for Janet as it was for Callie. It wouldn’t do either of them any good to get attached to a man with one foot out the door.
Another bolt of lightning lit up the sky. Swollen ditches on either side struggled to keep up with the torrential downpour. Janet leaned closer to the windshield. She hadn’t missed the turn off for her drive, had she?
Something dashed into the road from the opposite side and she stomped on the brakes. The headlights reflected off fabric and a pale face.
Janet swerved.
Her head bounced against the side panel. The backend of her SUV fishtailed, skimming across the flooded asphalt, and a thump resounded against the side of the vehicle. She turned into the spin and pumped the brakes. Her heart pounded, the sound of it roaring in her ears, while the blur of trees beyond her windshield rushed closer. Janet’s body tensed, preparing to crash.
The tires found traction. The SUV slid to a stop inches from the deep ditch lining the side of the road. Rain battered against the roof. Something slick and warm trickled down her head.
She sat, stunned and motionless.
A wet nose nudged her arm. Janet sucked in a deep breath. She pried her fingers from the steering wheel and shoved the vehicle into park. Callie strained against the harness securing her to the seat and nudged Janet’s arm again.
“Are you okay, girl?”
She patted the dog with one hand and used the other to check her scalp. She winced as pain shot across her head. The wet liquid coating her fingers was inky-black in the weak light coming off her headlights.
Blood. On her hands.
With a jolt, Janet’s gaze shot to the rearview mirror. A barely discernible lump lay on the road.
No, no, no, no, no.
She flung her door open. Raindrops pelted her bare head and ran down her face in rivets, instantly soaking her. Goosebumps broke out across her skin. As if on autopilot, Janet flipped the hood of her coat up. She grabbed the flashlight from the side pocket with a shaking hand
