Once Cold Read online

  Ryan’s mouth dropped open a little.

  Then he went upstairs.

  Jilly came back and the girls immediately made themselves look busy doing homework. When Ryan came back downstairs with his things, they paid no attention to him at all.

  “I’ll check back with you,” Ryan said to Riley.

  Riley simply nodded. She half-wanted to make some snide remark, but decided it wasn’t worth the effort.

  Ryan’s coming and going was getting to be boring and routine—especially his going. She hoped that he’d be gone for a good long while.

  When Ryan left the house, April jumped up.

  “Your slacks, Mom! Change your slacks! Something casual but interesting. Put on those new palazzo pants.”

  Riley went upstairs, found the slacks April had mentioned, put them on, and looked in the mirror. They were soft and flowing, and Riley liked the way they looked on her. Then she put on a knit top that accentuated her curves.

  She was putting on sandals when her phone rang.

  When she answered, she heard a young and eager voice say, “Agent Paige, my name is Agent Jennifer Roston. I hope this is an OK time to call.”

  Riley smiled.

  “Of course it is,” she said.

  She’d heard of Jennifer. She was new at the BAU, but word had gotten around that she was full of promise—much like Lucy Vargas. Her scores at the academy were said to be off the charts. She’d already been on an assignment in Los Angeles and received commendations for her work there.

  “Hello, Jennifer,” Riley said. “Welcome to the BAU. I’m looking forward to our work together.”

  Jennifer laughed a little nervously.

  “Well, Agent Meredith already put me on a little assignment. I think he put up a message about it in your BAU account.”

  “I haven’t checked my computer yet,” Riley said.

  “I’m supposed to do some research on an old adversary of yours—Shane Hatcher.”

  Riley stifled a gasp.

  “Good,” she said, trying to sound pleased. “I’m glad to know someone’s on that case.”

  “Right now I’m at Quantico going through files. I can’t access some of the ones I need.”

  Riley knew that those files were her own research on Hatcher.

  She said, “Well, since you’re on the case, I’ll be glad to give you access.”

  “That would be great. I’d like to start going through those files tonight. I want to figure out how he’s supporting himself on the lam. He must have contacts. Or money.”

  “I’m sure he has both,” Riley said. “I’ll log on in a few minutes and open things up for you.”

  Jennifer thanked her and told Riley her ID code. Riley welcomed her to the BAU again, and they ended the call.

  Riley immediately logged on to her BAU account. There was, indeed, a message from Meredith explaining that Jennifer was assigned to work on the Hatcher case.

  “Please help her however you can,” Meredith wrote.

  Then Riley went to her own files about Hatcher. She went through them one by one, changing the access to include the new agent. She knew that some of them contained the kind of financial information Jennifer might be looking for.

  When she got to the last file, she hesitated.

  It was titled “THOUGHTS.”

  In it was a collection of personal thoughts and observations—also including financial information that would surely lead right to Hatcher.

  Riley hadn’t followed up on that information.

  All along she’d told herself that she was too busy.

  But now she realized—she hadn’t wanted to follow up. She hadn’t wanted to destroy Hatcher’s access to resources that protected him.

  Whatever she may think of him, however much she might even think she hated him, he’d been a great help to her.

  And there was something in him that she respected.

  He was hard and, in his own way, honorable.

  Like my father, Riley thought.

  She found that she was rather relieved that Jennifer Roston would be taking over the case. It wouldn’t be on Riley’s shoulders as much as it had been. Maybe she wouldn’t have to lie anymore. Maybe she wouldn’t feel guilty for not arresting him herself.

  But here was a file that could end everything for Hatcher—and given the personal nature of what it contained, for Riley herself.

  She debated a long time, feeling herself about to cross a line that could change her career forever.

  Then she made a decision.

  She selected the file and entered a code.

  A message came up on the screen:

  Delete file THOUGHTS?

  She clicked yes. The file disappeared.

  Riley shuddered.

  She knew that she had just committed a criminal act. To protect an escaped criminal, she had broken her vows as an FBI agent.

  It was a profoundly unsettling thought.

  She and the abyss were staring at each other again.

  And she had a sinking feeling that it wouldn’t be the last time.

  NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER!

  ONCE STALKED

  (A Riley Paige Mystery—Book 9)

  “A masterpiece of thriller and mystery! The author did a magnificent job developing characters with a psychological side that is so well described that we feel inside their minds, follow their fears and cheer for their success. The plot is very intelligent and will keep you entertained throughout the book. Full of twists, this book will keep you awake until the turn of the last page.”

  --Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos (re Once Gone)

  ONCE STALKED is book #9 in the bestselling Riley Paige mystery series, which begins with the #1 bestseller ONCE GONE (Book #1)—a free download with over 900 five star reviews!

  When two soldiers are found dead on a huge military base in California, apparently killed by gunshot, military investigators are stumped. Who is killing its soldiers, inside the secure confines of its own base?

  And why?

  The FBI is called in, and Riley Paige is summoned to take the lead. As Riley finds herself immersed in the military culture, she is amazed to realize that serial killers can strike even here, in the midst of the most secure location on earth.

  She finds herself in a frantic cat and mouse chase, racing to decode the killer’s psychology. Yet she soon discovers she is up against a highly-trained killer, one that may, even for her, be too deadly an opponent.

  A dark psychological thriller with heart-pounding suspense, ONCE STALKED is book #9 in a riveting new series—with a beloved new character—that will leave you turning pages late into the night.

  Book #10 in the Riley Paige series will be available soon.

  ONCE STALKED

  (A Riley Paige Mystery—Book 9)

  Did you know that I've written multiple novels in the mystery genre? If you haven't read all my series, click the image below to download a series starter!

  Blake Pierce

  Blake Pierce is author of the bestselling RILEY PAGE mystery series, which includes eight books (and counting). Blake Pierce is also the author of the MACKENZIE WHITE mystery series, comprising five books (and counting); of the AVERY BLACK mystery series, comprising four books (and counting); and of the new KERI LOCKE mystery series.

  ONCE GONE (a Riley Paige Mystery--Book #1), BEFORE HE KILLS (A Mackenzie White Mystery—Book 1), CAUSE TO KILL (An Avery Black Mystery—Book 1), and A TRACE OF DEATH (A Keri Locke Mystery—Book 1) are each available as a free download on Amazon!

  An avid reader and lifelong fan of the mystery and thriller genres, Blake loves to hear from you, so please feel free to visit www.blakepierceauthor.com to learn more and stay in touch.

  BOOKS BY BLAKE PIERCE

  RILEY PAIGE MYSTERY SERIES

  ONCE GONE (Book #1)

  ONCE TAKEN (Book #2)

  ONCE CRAVED (Book #3)

  ONCE LURED (Book #4)

  ONCE HUNTED (Book #5)


  ONCE PINED (Book #6)

  ONCE FORSAKEN (Book #7)

  ONCE COLD (Book #8)

  ONCE STALKED (Book #9)

  MACKENZIE WHITE MYSTERY SERIES

  BEFORE HE KILLS (Book #1)

  BEFORE HE SEES (Book #2)

  BEFORE HE COVETS (Book #3)

  BEFORE HE TAKES (Book #4)

  BEFORE HE NEEDS (Book #5)

  BEFORE HE FEELS (Book #6)

  AVERY BLACK MYSTERY SERIES

  CAUSE TO KILL (Book #1)

  CAUSE TO RUN (Book #2)

  CAUSE TO HIDE (Book #3)

  CAUSE TO FEAR (Book #4)

  KERI LOCKE MYSTERY SERIES

  A TRACE OF DEATH (Book #1)

  A TRACE OF MUDER (Book #2)

  A TRACE OF VICE (Book #3)