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RISKING IT ALL
Detective Melody Zachary is determined to find who killed her nephew in a drug-related murder. She’s launched her teen center in his memory, to keep kids off the streets. And she’ll prove to narcotics officer Parker Adams and his K-9 drug-sniffing partner, Sherlock, it’s not a haven for dealers. As they risk their lives to save others, Melody discovers that Parker and she share the same deep commitment to making a difference. Will circumstances allow them to take the biggest risk yet—on love?
Texas K-9 Unit: These lawmen solve the toughest cases with the help of their brave canine partners
“I’m shutting you down,” Parker said,
his eyes cold, his voice hard.
“You don’t have the authority to do that,” Melody exclaimed.
“I’ll get it.” Tension tightened Parker’s muscles as he stared at the drugs sitting on the shelf in the locker. It figured the youth center would be too good to be true. Guess the rumor mill was correct.
Was Melody dealing drugs out of the center? Disappointment flooded his system, yet he had a hard time reconciling those thoughts with the woman standing next to him. The shock in her eyes, the distress on her face couldn’t be an act. Could it?
If she were guilty of dealing drugs through the center, she’d have thought up some excuse to refuse opening the locker. But there’d been no excuses, no hesitation.
He’d give her the benefit of the doubt.
TERRI REED
At an early age Terri Reed discovered the wonderful world of fiction and declared she would one day write a book. Now she is fulfilling that dream and enjoys writing for Love Inspired Books. Her second book, A Sheltering Love, was a 2006 RITA® Award finalist and a 2005 National Readers’ Choice Award finalist. Her book Strictly Confidential, book five in the Faith at the Crossroads continuity series, took third place in the 2007 American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year Award, and Her Christmas Protector took third place in 2008. She is an active member of both Romance Writers of America and American Christian Fiction Writers. She resides in the Pacific Northwest with her college-sweetheart husband, two wonderful children and an array of critters. When not writing, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, gardening and playing with her dogs.
You can write to Terri at P.O. Box 19555 Portland, OR 97280. Visit her on the web at www.loveinspiredauthors.com or email her at [email protected].
Scent of
Danger
Terri Reed
MILLS & BOON
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The Lord is my light and my salvation:
Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength
of my life: Of Whom shall I be afraid?
—Psalms 27:1
Thank you to my fellow Texas K-9 authors:
Shirlee McCoy, Margaret Daley, Sharon Dunn, Valerie Hansen and Lenora Worth.
You made working on this series fun.
Special thanks and acknowledgment to Terri Reed
for her contribution to the Texas K-9 Unit miniseries.
Contents
ONE
Detective Melody Zachary halted abruptly at the sight of her office door cracked open. Unease slithered down her spine. She’d locked the door last night when she left the Sagebrush Youth Center. She always did.
Pushing back her suit jacket, she unlatched her weapon from the holster at her hip and withdrew the Sig Sauer. She pushed the door wide with the toe of her heeled boot. Stepping inside the darkened room, she reached with her free hand for the overhead light switch and froze.
A shadow moved.
Not a shadow. A man.
Dressed from head to toe in black. Black gloves, black ski mask...
Black eyes.
Not just the irises, but the white part of his eyes, as well.
Her heart stalled.
Palming her piece in both hands, she aimed her weapon. “Halt! Police!”
The intruder dove straight at her. She didn’t have time to react, to pull the trigger, before he slammed into her chest, knocking her backward against the wall. Her head smacked hard, sending pain slicing through her brain. The air rushed out of her lungs.
The