Laura Scott

Wrongly Accused


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      A DESPERATE FATHER

      Only one thing matters to Caleb O’Malley: his daughter. Framed for his wife’s murder, Caleb’s only wish is to see his little girl. But Noelle Whitman, his daughter’s foster mother, isn’t buying his plea of innocence until bullets start flying and they’re running for their lives. Staying one step ahead of the real killer proves nearly impossible, but former SWAT cop Caleb will risk everything to keep them safe. Because now there is nothing more important than Noelle and his daughter—not his freedom, not even his life.

      SWAT: Top Cops—Love in the line of duty

      “I can’t stand the thought of my daughter being afraid of me,” Caleb whispered.

      “She’s not,” Noelle whispered back. “After all, she let you hold her in the pool, remember?”

      He shook his head. “She wanted to swim so badly I think she would have let anyone hold her.”

      Noelle sank down into the chair next to him, unable to refute his logic. “She needs a little time, that’s all.”

      He lifted his gaze to hers. “Maybe I can find a safe place for the two of you to stay for a while. Then I’ll head off on my own to try and figure out who’s trying to kill me.”

      For some odd reason, Noelle found she was beginning to believe Caleb was in fact innocent of the crime he’d been accused of.

      But knowing that didn’t reassure her the way she thought it would.

      Because whoever had tried to kill Caleb outside her house was very likely still looking for him. And she was deeply afraid that the killer wouldn’t hesitate to take the life of a woman and child, too, if necessary.

      LAURA SCOTT

      grew up reading faith-based romance books by Grace Livingston Hill, but as much as she loved the stories, she longed for a bit more mystery and suspense. She is honored to write for the Love Inspired Suspense line, where a reader can find a heartwarming journey of faith amid the thrilling danger.

      Laura lives with her husband of twenty-five years and has two children, a daughter and a son, who are both in college. She works as a critical-care nurse during the day at a large level-one trauma center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and spends her spare time writing romance.

      Please visit Laura at www.laurascottbooks.com, as she loves to hear from her readers.

      Wrongly Accused

      Laura Scott

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

      MILLS & BOON

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      For I, the Lord, love justice; I hate robbery and wrongdoing. In my faithfulness I will reward my people and make an everlasting covenant with them.

      —Isaiah 61:8

      This book is dedicated to Pat and Ted Iding.

      Thank you for all the wonderful years you’ve loved me as one of your own.

      Contents

       CHAPTER ONE

       CHAPTER TWO

       CHAPTER THREE

       CHAPTER FOUR

       CHAPTER FIVE

       CHAPTER SIX

       CHAPTER SEVEN

       CHAPTER EIGHT

       CHAPTER NINE

       CHAPTER TEN

       CHAPTER ELEVEN

       CHAPTER TWELVE

       CHAPTER THIRTEEN

       CHAPTER FOURTEEN

       CHAPTER FIFTEEN

       CHAPTER SIXTEEN

       CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

       EPILOGUE

       DEAR READER

       QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

       EXTRACT

      ONE

      Caleb O’Malley’s stomach knotted painfully at the thought of seeing his daughter, Kaitlin, for the first time in over a year. Since the day he’d been sent to jail for a crime he didn’t commit.

      He parked his beat-up truck in front of the fourth house from the corner and killed the engine. Taking a deep breath, he shoved his car door open and forced himself to get out and walk up the sidewalk to the front door of Noelle Whitman’s house, trying not to resent the woman who’d been his daughter’s foster mother while he’d been behind bars.

      To be honest, it was his own fault he hadn’t seen Kaitlin in so long. At first, he’d thought he’d be let out as soon as they realized he was innocent. But then week after week passed by, and he’d grimly realized there was a very real possibility he’d be found guilty. At that point, he’d been unable to bear the thought of having his young daughter see him in jail.

      He’d been shocked to hear from his lawyer that the case against him had been dropped due to the strange disappearance of the eyewitness. And deeply glad to know he was free at last.

      He rapped sharply on the door and waited impatiently for the Whitman woman to answer.

      He