Sandy's Spotlight
New Release
Vacation Is Murder
by
Carolyn Arnold
Overview:
There's only so much relaxation two former detectives can handle—even if they're on their honeymoon. With their recent fall into money, Sean and Sara McKinley should be living it up, enjoying the sun and beaches of Cancun. But heading into their third week they've had just about enough lying around.
When the husband of a couple they've befriended is kidnapped and held for ransom, it has the McKinleys putting their experience to use. As they set out in the unfamiliar landscape of paradise, the investigation will have them risking their lives to stop a killer.
Excerpt from Chapter 8: Honeymoon Ransom
Sara pressed her body against his and kissed him, her passion quickly bursting into flame. She savored the taste of him, the touch of his tongue against hers, and rode the quiver of carnal hunger that needed satisfying. Now.
The phone rang.
“Don’t.” Her word carried on an exhale.
“What if—”
She went after him with more fervor, the need for him blooming within her.
He put a hand to her cheek and tapped a few quick kisses to her lips.
“I’m sorry, darling, but it could be important.”
She let out a sigh and rolled to her back.
Sean reached for the receiver. “Mr. McKinley.”
Sara could hear the caller was a woman and that she was excited. She sat up, tucking her legs beneath her. “Who is—”
Sean held up a finger and spoke into the phone. “We’ll be right there.”
“Sean?” Her heart was racing. She felt the energy in the room—something terrible had happened.
Sean took her hand. “That was Catherine. Earl’s missing.”
Her undying urge to make love to her husband muted to the background. “We better get going.”
*****
Catherine paced the floor of her room. Her hand snapped to her mouth and then lowered. “He’s nowhere to be found. I’ve been all over the resort. I’ve called his cell phone.”
“Did you call the police?” Sara guided her back to the sofa.
“What are they going to do?”
“Sara,” Sean said.
“Yes, dear.”
“Why don’t you see if you can round up some tea for Mrs. Spencer?”
Sara patted Catherine’s knee and got on the phone. She cupped the mouthpiece. “They don’t typically do this, Sean.”
“Tell them I’ll pay whatever they like.”
She spoke to the resort employee. “Yes, I know it’s an all-inclusive resort. Please, just bring up some tea…we will pay cash. Yes, gracias.”
Sara sat beside Catherine again.
“You two are the sweetest people.” Catherine reached for Sara’s hand.
“Please, Catherine, tell us everything that happened. When did you last see him?”
“Last night. You two went on your way. We stayed in the lobby and had a few more drinks.”
“Then what?”
Catherine shared looks between them. “You were cops before, weren’t you? That was your day job? Earl said that’s what he thought.”
Sara glanced at Sean.
He nodded, his protective guard chipping away. “Yes, we were. We’d like to help, but you should call the police.”
Catherine cast a deadpan stare in his direction. “You are both telling me to do that, but until we know that something truly happened to him, aren’t we acting prematurely? It can’t be easy reporting things like that down here, and I don’t know the language very well.”
The phone rang and Sean answered, prepared to argue with the front desk over tea. Instead, the caller had a different message. Sean pointed to the receiver and both women went quiet.
He spoke to the caller, but his eyes were on Catherine. “She is, but you will speak to me…who I am doesn’t matter. What is your message?” Sean was certain his face was pale, mirroring that of the women.
“Sean?” Sara went over to him. “What is it?”
He replaced the receiver to the cradle. “They used a voice distorter, so I can’t tell if it’s a man or woman.” He heard defeat mark his words. “But you have your proof, Mrs. Spencer. Someone has Earl.”
“Oh my God.” Catherine let out a wail and bent over in sobbing convulsions.
“What do they want, Sean?” Sara asked.
“They requested fifty thousand dollars by Thursday. They’ll give more details then.”
“Thursday? That’s tomorrow.”
Catherine looked up. “Or? There’s always an or.”
Sean latched eyes with Sara.
Sara squeezed Catherine’s shoulder. “In situations like this it’s best we keep a level head. They’ve made their demand and now we just have to meet it. We’ll help get your husband back.”
Book links:
Amazon US - http://ow.ly/vPIiX
Amazon UK - http://ow.ly/vPIm5
Print - http://ow.ly/vPIkd
Apple - http://ow.ly/vPIfc
Barnes & Noble - http://ow.ly/vPHGg
Kobo - http://ow.ly/vPIhd
Author links:
Website • Blog • Twitter • Facebook • Linkedin • Google +
There's only so much relaxation two former detectives can handle—even if they're on their honeymoon. With their recent fall into money, Sean and Sara McKinley should be living it up, enjoying the sun and beaches of Cancun. But heading into their third week they've had just about enough lying around.
When the husband of a couple they've befriended is kidnapped and held for ransom, it has the McKinleys putting their experience to use. As they set out in the unfamiliar landscape of paradise, the investigation will have them risking their lives to stop a killer.
Excerpt from Chapter 8: Honeymoon Ransom
Sara pressed her body against his and kissed him, her passion quickly bursting into flame. She savored the taste of him, the touch of his tongue against hers, and rode the quiver of carnal hunger that needed satisfying. Now.
The phone rang.
“Don’t.” Her word carried on an exhale.
“What if—”
She went after him with more fervor, the need for him blooming within her.
He put a hand to her cheek and tapped a few quick kisses to her lips.
“I’m sorry, darling, but it could be important.”
She let out a sigh and rolled to her back.
Sean reached for the receiver. “Mr. McKinley.”
Sara could hear the caller was a woman and that she was excited. She sat up, tucking her legs beneath her. “Who is—”
Sean held up a finger and spoke into the phone. “We’ll be right there.”
“Sean?” Her heart was racing. She felt the energy in the room—something terrible had happened.
Sean took her hand. “That was Catherine. Earl’s missing.”
Her undying urge to make love to her husband muted to the background. “We better get going.”
*****
Catherine paced the floor of her room. Her hand snapped to her mouth and then lowered. “He’s nowhere to be found. I’ve been all over the resort. I’ve called his cell phone.”
“Did you call the police?” Sara guided her back to the sofa.
“What are they going to do?”
“Sara,” Sean said.
“Yes, dear.”
“Why don’t you see if you can round up some tea for Mrs. Spencer?”
Sara patted Catherine’s knee and got on the phone. She cupped the mouthpiece. “They don’t typically do this, Sean.”
“Tell them I’ll pay whatever they like.”
She spoke to the resort employee. “Yes, I know it’s an all-inclusive resort. Please, just bring up some tea…we will pay cash. Yes, gracias.”
Sara sat beside Catherine again.
“You two are the sweetest people.” Catherine reached for Sara’s hand.
“Please, Catherine, tell us everything that happened. When did you last see him?”
“Last night. You two went on your way. We stayed in the lobby and had a few more drinks.”
“Then what?”
Catherine shared looks between them. “You were cops before, weren’t you? That was your day job? Earl said that’s what he thought.”
Sara glanced at Sean.
He nodded, his protective guard chipping away. “Yes, we were. We’d like to help, but you should call the police.”
Catherine cast a deadpan stare in his direction. “You are both telling me to do that, but until we know that something truly happened to him, aren’t we acting prematurely? It can’t be easy reporting things like that down here, and I don’t know the language very well.”
The phone rang and Sean answered, prepared to argue with the front desk over tea. Instead, the caller had a different message. Sean pointed to the receiver and both women went quiet.
He spoke to the caller, but his eyes were on Catherine. “She is, but you will speak to me…who I am doesn’t matter. What is your message?” Sean was certain his face was pale, mirroring that of the women.
“Sean?” Sara went over to him. “What is it?”
He replaced the receiver to the cradle. “They used a voice distorter, so I can’t tell if it’s a man or woman.” He heard defeat mark his words. “But you have your proof, Mrs. Spencer. Someone has Earl.”
“Oh my God.” Catherine let out a wail and bent over in sobbing convulsions.
“What do they want, Sean?” Sara asked.
“They requested fifty thousand dollars by Thursday. They’ll give more details then.”
“Thursday? That’s tomorrow.”
Catherine looked up. “Or? There’s always an or.”
Sean latched eyes with Sara.
Sara squeezed Catherine’s shoulder. “In situations like this it’s best we keep a level head. They’ve made their demand and now we just have to meet it. We’ll help get your husband back.”
Book links:
Amazon US - http://ow.ly/vPIiX
Amazon UK - http://ow.ly/vPIm5
Print - http://ow.ly/vPIkd
Apple - http://ow.ly/vPIfc
Barnes & Noble - http://ow.ly/vPHGg
Kobo - http://ow.ly/vPIhd
Author links:
Website • Blog • Twitter • Facebook • Linkedin • Google +
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