Loved by Darkness Read online

  Loved ByDarkness

  By

  Autumn Jordon

  LOVED BY DARKNESS

  by

  Autumn Jordon

  A two-year-old child is found adrift on the Atlantic. It’s the job of the Cape James Police Chief, Norris Stiles, to learn who left the girl to die. New to the area, and the job as chief, he might be out of his depth. Fortunately help has arrived. Unfortunately, the feisty and beautiful U.S. Marshal could distract him from his obligations.

  Burnt out by grueling covert missions, U.S. Marshal Jolene Martinez heads home to the Virginia Coast for a much-needed vacation, only to become embroiled in a heart-breaking child abandonment case. When she saves the child, the case becomes personal for Jolene, and she’s determined to solve the mystery with or without the chief’s support.

  As the clock ticks on, both the sweet girl and the charismatic chief pluck at heart strings Jolene believed severed years ago. Duty and desire mix while she and Norris race to eliminate suspects and expose the perpetrator of the sinister act before the tides wash away all evidence and he attempts to harm the child again.

  Other Titles By Autumn Jordon

  Romantic Suspense/mystery

  (all written as stand-alone stories)

  Seized By Darkness

  Obsessed By Darkness

  His Witness To Evil

  In The Presence Of Evil

  Contemporary Romance

  Obsessed By Wildfire

  The Perfect Love Series

  (all written as stand-alone stories)

  Perfect

  Perfect Moments

  Perfect Hearts

  Perfect Fall

  LOVED BY DARKNESS

  COPYRIGHT 2018 by Dianne Gerber

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. All rights are reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portion thereof, in any form. This book may not be resold or uploaded for distribution to others. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted material in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events or locales, is entirely coincidental.

  Contact Information: [email protected]

  Cover design by Vivi Designs

  Editor: Pat Thomas

  Published in the United States of America

  Acknowledgements

  This book is in honor of my husband, Jim, who remains my hero.

  Thank you to my children. Without your support, I could not do what I love to do.

  Also, heartfelt thanks to Nancy Coni, Hope Ramsey, Rita Henuber, Anne Marie Becker, the ladies of Pocono-Lehigh writers and the ladies of the Ruby Slippered-Sisterhood WWF plotting gang who helped bring this story to life.

  And a huge thank you to my awesome editor Pat Thomas and her team of beta readers. You made this story great!

  I love you all.

  Also I want to thank James Walp for his help in matters of aviation. Any mistakes concerning plane operations is my mistake.

  And a huge thank you to the men and women who serve as U.S. Marshals. You are an elite group and inspire me.

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  Prologue

  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

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Epilogue

  From the author

  PROLOGUE

  My heart rattles my ribs. How it has room to flutter wildly is a mystery since my chest is so tight I can barely draw a breath.

  I look down the beach once again, making sure there are no witnesses, and then I wade into the cool water, carrying the dark-haired little girl whose bright, round eyes will haunt me forever. But I have no choice. I must believe time will erase this memory from my mind.

  The waves slap my thighs. I bite my lip against the stinging pain, realizing the feeling of rage which had freed my soul is gone. Now what remains are boulders in my gut: desperation, disgust, and fear.

  I have no choice, I remind myself and turn my back to a wave as I scan the beach again. I need to be rid of her.

  No one will believe that I didn’t kidnap her. Martha took the child, but Martha will never be found.

  If I’m discovered with the child, I’ll be the one to pay the price. I can’t take that chance.

  The child is beautiful. She loves the water—thank goodness—and is anxious to climb into the raft I found in the garage. She thinks I’m playing with her. I’m not.

  I wish her safe passage as I release her into God’s care.

  CHAPTER ONE

  Letting go and relaxing was something U.S. Marshal Jolene Martinez didn’t do well. Behind oversized sunglasses, she studied the seven other people on board the forty-four-foot sailboat as they laughed and sipped wine imported from the Finger Lakes.

  She zeroed in on the quiet man who leaned back on the seat with his long tan legs extended out in front of him, his ankles crossed. Though his sunglasses hid his eyes, she’d lay odds he had a piercing stare. He had dark wavy hair which lifted with the ocean’s breeze and the lower half of his face wore a day’s worth of bristle. His T-shirt didn’t conceal his toned muscles underneath. His name was Norris Stiles and he was the new Chief of Police for Cape James, Virginia.

  He was also a temptation she couldn’t allow herself. Jolene held her sigh and scanned the horizon.

  The others only saw her smile, heard her quick wit, and assumed she didn’t have a care in the world because she enjoyed the warmth of the mid-June sun on her bare shoulders. Her tranquil facade was a front, however. Too many undercover gigs in service to her country qualified her as a professional actress worthy of an Oscar. She sensed Stiles would comprehend the uneasiness which was her constant companion.

  Her fingers found the duck charm on her bracelet and brushed over the form that symbolized “be in the moment.” Then her gaze danced over the group of friends again.

  She wished she could leave the underbelly of the world behind and enjoy the simple pleasures life offered...but scum floated on the surface of all her thoughts.

  Jaded by her past and uninterested in the conversation’s direction into politics, Jolene moved toward the sloop’s bow. Using her sarong as a pillow, she lounged against the hatch of the cabin. She stared off to her right toward the Chesapeake shoreline where splashy umbrellas and multicolored bodies dotted the silver beaches that quivered with heat. From time to time, Boogie Boards spiraled into the air, resembling leaping dolphins. The sounds of the crashing waves and the jubilant prattle of the beach dwellers were lost to the flapping of the sail above her. She’d no doubt crimes were being committed in the picture-perfect scene, but there was nothing she could do to stop th
em. Not today. Not from here.

  A trickle of perspiration made its way between Jolene’s breasts as she repositioned her bracelet on her wrist. Being with her childhood friend, Rose Delgado, again brought back many good memories that made her laugh. Recounting their teen years also released memories of less pleasant events Jolene had kept locked away: The on-going arguments between her and her parents hung on the fringe of every conversation, waiting to be addressed.

  She pressed a palm against her flat stomach and filled her lungs with salt air, willing serenity to quiet her thoughts. She exhaled slowly.

  Rose came forward on the main deck and disrupted her peaceful view. In her free hand, she clutched a large plastic cup and carried a plush beach towel tucked under her arm. “You’re finally chillin’.”

  The boat dipped and its bow cracked against a swell.

  “Oh, my!” Rose grabbed the rail with her free hand, and with her legs spread, she balanced herself against another sudden dip. She caught her breath and said, “I saw you check out Norris.”

  “Who’s Norris?” Jolene turned her face toward the warmth of the afternoon sun, ignoring her friend’s grin.

  “Wow, Chica. Who are you trying to kid? I saw the look he gave you and how you smiled back at him.”

  Standing toe to toe with Norris when they’d been introduced, Jolene’s breath had actually hitched. He had the whole bad boy look going on with his slight unkempt beard and moustache, dark sunglasses, and a single line tattoo on the inside of his right forearm. God knew she loved bad boys—and so knew enough to put up her guard. “I was being polite.”

  “The smile was more than a polite glad-to-meet-you smile,” Rose said. “You totally checked him out, right down to his boat shoes.”

  “I check everyone out.” Jolene allowed a coy smile to lift her glossed lips. “Part of the training.” Rose knew Jolene worked for the U.S. Marshals, but thought she worked as a desk jockey, pushing files.

  “Okay. Have it your way. Here.” Rose handed off her white wine and dropped onto her knees beside Jolene.

  With the wind cascading over the bow, her friend struggled to position her oversized towel. She did the best she could and quickly trapped the towel with her body. Then she pulled a tube from between her breasts and squirted lotion on her legs.

  “So how long are you on vacation?”

  “I lied. I’m working a case.”

  The tube almost fell from Rose’s hand and she fumbled to grab it before it hit the deck.

  “Really?”

  “No.” Jolene laughed. Her friend had always been easily duped. “I’m really visiting Martina and her family for a few days.” She kept a broad smile on her lips but recalled Will, her boss, had forced this vacation on her after her last assignment—a thrill-seeker’s wet dream.

  Rose leaned toward her. “Tell me about one of the cases you’ve worked recently?”

  “I can’t. I would get jail time for treason.”

  Rose frowned. “You can trust me.”

  “I know.” Jolene turned her face to the sun. Reality was, if Rose knew the truth about her job and the details of the cases she worked, Jolene doubted Rose would ever sleep peacefully again. It was bad enough Jolene suspected her sister, Martina, knew the truth about her position with the U.S. Marshals. Martina probably wore down sets of rosary beads worrying about her.

  Jolene arched her back. “What’s Norris’ connection to the Hackmans?”

  “I knew you were interested in him.”

  “I’m curious how a chief of police is connected to a millionaire.”

  “He’s a friend to Tony’s brother, Joseph, and his wife Grace—a social worker. I think they worked together when he lived in Norfolk. Norris was a detective. I guess he and Grace came together on few cases dealing with families.”

  Going from a detective in a large city to a small-town chief was a big career change, Jolene thought. “What’s his story? Why did he leave the city?”

  Rose shrugged. “Not sure. Why don’t you ask him?”

  “It doesn’t matter.” She zigzagged her fingers through her cropped hair, skimming her scalp with her nails, and then tugged at a few tufts to spike them. “Why is he here today?”

  “Same reason you are. To spend time with friends and relax.”

  Feeling there was another motive he was aboard, Jolene lifted her glasses and shot Rose a calculating eye.

  “Okay. When I asked Jackie if she and Tony would mind if you came along, Jackie got it in her head to play matchmaker,” Rose confessed. “She invited him because she thought you two would hit it off since you’re both in law enforcement.”

  Jackie Hackman, a corporate stay-at-home wife, didn’t possess a clue about what encompassed being a cop’s life, or what a Marshal’s life was like, for that matter. It took a very special person to endure the stress the job created within a law enforcement relationship. Sure, she knew a few Marshals who’d found trusting partners—Will and Nicole for example—but she also knew some who nearly lost their minds because of bad relationships. She was a prime example because she’d fallen in love with a man on the wrong side of the law...and then watched him die.

  “Did she think we’d bond while chatting about our guns?” she asked.

  Rose frowned.

  “Sorry.” Jolene dropped her sunglasses to the bridge of her nose. “That was uncalled for. It was very nice of her to extend the invite.”

  “I’ll tell her you said thank you, but no thank you.”

  “No. I’ll do it.” Jolene settled back on the black and red sarong which matched her new two-piece suit. “In a few minutes.”

  The yellow sail above them flapped madly.

  “Wow. The wind is picking up,” Rose said.

  “It feels good.”

  The breeze kept the sun’s heat at bay while they lounged in silence for the next ten minutes.

  Jolene glanced toward the shore and saw several umbrellas now bowled upward. They resembled wavering martini glasses while their owners fought to right them against the gusts.

  Feeling parched, Jolene sat forward. “I’m going to get a drink. Do you want more wine?”

  “No, thank you.”

  Jolene grabbed for her sarong before it took flight into the ocean. She wrapped the thin material around her chest, secured it with a knot, and tucked the ends into her bathing suit’s bra before she pointed to the cup between Rose’s legs. “Do you want me to get rid of your wine and bring you a soft drink?”

  “Please.”

  Jolene grabbed the railing and concentrated on her footing while she shuffled aft to the stern of the boat. Was it her imagination or did the sea seem a little rougher? Maybe the boat was moving faster. It was hard for her to tell since she wasn’t a sailing expert. Sunning on the sand and romping in the waves were her preferred water activities.

  She noted Norris Stiles no longer sat in the boat’s cockpit with his group of friends, which meant he was below in the galley, right where she was headed. And since Eric and the other two couples were staring at her, there was no turning back. She felt compelled to enter the ship’s belly and be alone with the man.

  “Rose wants a fresh drink.” She smiled back at the group and held up the cup. “I’m going to help myself, if it’s okay.”

  “Go right ahead,” Tony shouted over the wind whipping the sail as the boat faced more into the wind.

  “If you need anything, Norris can help you,” Jackie said, brushing back the strands of long blond hair escaping her French twist. “He’s been on this boat a few times. He knows where everything is located.”

  “Okay.” Jolene didn’t need eyes in the back of her head to know everyone watched her descend the stairs. She heard Jackie’s comment that she and Norris would make a handsome couple.

  The cabin was made for two very friendly people. Norris stood at the tiniest sink she’d ever seen. He held a knife poised to slice a lemon. Stepping onto the lower deck would put her in his space.

  “Hi,”
she said, remaining hunched over on the bottom step.

  “Hi.” He glanced her way for a second before turning his attention back to the yellow fruit he held between his fingers.

  Earlier, on deck, his Battle wrap sunglasses concealed his eyes. Now the glasses sat high on his forehead. The black frames were nearly lost in his hair which spiked up around them. Before, she’d thought his athletic build was his best feature, but just a glimpse of Norris’ forest-green eyes confirmed his eyes were his finest trait. Staring into them was like looking up at the bright summer sun through lush maple foliage where mature greenery danced with endless golden shards from heaven.

  She thought to ask if he wore contacts, but before she could, he cut the juicy lemon and it squirted in his face. He dropped the knife and rubbed his eye with the back of his hand.

  The color was definitely genuine.

  “Be careful with those lemons,” she said.

  His slight chuckle matched hers. “Right.” The man didn’t talk much.

  Out of nowhere, Jolene felt like an anxious school girl on a blind date, not knowing what to say or how to stand. After thirty seconds of uncomfortable silence, she said, “I came down for something other than wine to drink.”

  “Not a wine person?”

  “Not today.”

  “Me neither,” he said.

  “Not today, or never?”

  “Sociably.”

  “Ah.”

  “I’m having lemon water. Do you want some?” Now that he’d actually said something more than a few grunted words, she realized he’d been born with a rich, deep voice meant to make the fairer sex want to mate.

  “Sounds refreshing. Do you mind if I also grab one for Rose?”

  “Help yourself.” He nodded to his right. “Bottled water and ice are in the cooler. Plastic cups are behind you on the shelf.”

  She held up the cup in her hand. “Rose didn’t finish her wine.”

  “The trash is also behind you in the little cabinet.”

  “I’ll just...” Jolene stepped off the last step and reached around him intending to pour the wine into the sink. Immediately his masculine scent combined with sun screen and salt water filled her nostrils. All the blood rushed from her brain to body parts south.