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Colton 911: Deadly Texas Reunion
Beth Cornelison
He’s trying to solve a murder, but the greatest danger he faces is losing his heart. Private Investigator Summer Davies joins forces with FBI Agent on leave, Nolan Colton to catch a killer. They haven’t seen each other in years but the chemistry is still dangerously high. Can they solve the puzzle before they lose their hearts… or their lives?
Two friends track a lethal murderer
As a childhood bond is put on the line
Disgraced FBI agent Nolan Colton returns home to lick his wounds…only to find death on his doorstep. After a woman’s body is dug up in a parking lot, his longtime friend PI Summer Davies enlists his crime-solving expertise. Nolan can’t help but admire all-grown-up Summer’s tenacity, but new leads take their case in a killer direction—one that threatens the future of their entire case…and their own lives.
BETH CORNELISON began working in public relations before pursuing her love of writing romance. She has won numerous honours for her work, including a nomination for the RWA RITA® Award for The Christmas Stranger. She enjoys featuring her cats (or friends’ pets) in her stories and always has another book in the pipeline! She currently lives in Louisiana with her husband, one son and three spoiled cats. Contact her via her website, bethcornelison.com (http://bethcornelison.com)
Also by Beth Cornelison (#ud0f1c5d7-9c94-52bc-ba49-07a524334a90)
Rancher’s Deadly Reunion
Rancher’s High-Stakes Rescue
Rancher’s Covert Christmas
Rancher’s Hostage Rescue
Cowboy Christmas Rescue
“Rescuing the Witness”
Rock-a-Bye Rescue
“Guarding Eve”
The Return of Connor Mansfield
Protecting Her Royal Baby
Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
Colton 911: Deadly Texas Reunion
Beth Cornelison
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
ISBN: 978-1-474-09444-3
COLTON 911: DEADLY TEXAS REUNION
© 2019 Harlequin Books S.A.
Published in Great Britain 2019
by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF
All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.
By payment of the required fees, you are granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right and licence to download and install this e-book on your personal computer, tablet computer, smart phone or other electronic reading device only (each a “Licensed Device”) and to access, display and read the text of this e-book on-screen on your Licensed Device. Except to the extent any of these acts shall be permitted pursuant to any mandatory provision of applicable law but no further, no part of this e-book or its text or images may be reproduced, transmitted, distributed, translated, converted or adapted for use on another file format, communicated to the public, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher.
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www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
Note to Readers (#ud0f1c5d7-9c94-52bc-ba49-07a524334a90)
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To Paul—my best friend for
more than thirty-four years!
Contents
Cover (#u72f57ae9-44cd-5e24-9117-ef90abd54030)
Back Cover Text (#u503302dd-bd4c-5443-b102-1052d5309b2d)
About the Author (#uff85ba7b-fdd1-51c3-924e-42a68753bc14)
Booklist (#u35719b45-d056-5587-8208-7c4765717579)
Title Page (#ud9a20389-a548-50b1-a6c4-e50a869b06fc)
Copyright (#u22ec096e-7efd-5ba7-ace5-1d9535907458)
Note to Readers
Dedication (#u1cab093b-35fc-50bd-9450-005ce234dfdb)
Prologue (#u4737bf56-449b-5bb1-9fae-97a1fed6a2d4)
Chapter 1 (#u7c780a8d-b84a-5538-b877-c892228c1592)
Chapter 2 (#ufd5835fe-36c7-5025-9a1e-4aa5ffd4adaa)
Chapter 3 (#ub7ab069a-fc48-5e37-be46-5896fbf49867)
Chapter 4 (#u7213cdee-be7d-53f0-a539-21fa02917546)
Chapter 5 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 6 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 7 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 8 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 9 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 10 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 11 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 12 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 13 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 14 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 15 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 16 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 17 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 18 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 19 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 20 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 21 (#litres_trial_promo)
Epilogue (#litres_trial_promo)
About the Publisher (#litres_trial_promo)
Prologue (#ud0f1c5d7-9c94-52bc-ba49-07a524334a90)
Chicago FBI field office
FBI Special Agent Nolan Colton hated suits almost as much as he hated today’s unexpected summons to his boss’s office. As he waited to be called back, he tugged at the collar of his dress shirt and readjusted the tie that threatened to strangle him. His knee bounced while he waited. Patience had never been his forte. What the hell could have happened to warrant this urgent confab with the special agent in charge? Nothing good.
Nolan reached in his coat pocket for an antacid and chewed it. His gut had been torn up with dread all night. His boss’s tone of voice when he’d called last night instructing Nolan to report to this meeting had been grave and terse.
When the SAC’s administrative assistant finally called him to the inner office, he took a deep breath, tugged his shirtsleeves to straighten them and strode into his boss’s domain with his head high and his back ramrod straight.
The first thing Nolan noticed when he entered Special Agent in Charge Dean Humboldt’s office was that they weren’t alone. Deputy Assistant Director Jim Greenley sat in one of the chairs opposite Humboldt, and a man Nolan didn’t know but who seemed vaguely familiar occupied the seat to the left of Humboldt’s desk. The second thing Nolan noticed was he wasn’t invited to take a seat.
He assumed a rigid stance, feet slightly apart, shoulders back, hands clasped behind him. “Good morning, sirs.”
“Special Agent Colton,” the deputy assistant director said by way of greeting, adding a quick dip of his chin.
The SAC’s administrative assistant left, closing the door behind her, and Nolan experienced a brief moment of claustrophobia. His tie seemed to tighten like a noose.
“Thank you for coming this morning, Special Agent Colton,” Humboldt said.
“I didn’t get the impression when you called me last night that I had a choice.”
Humboldt cleared his throat. “No. A rather serious matter has been brought to my attention, and we need to address it.”
“I’ve never known the Bureau to handle anything that wasn’t serious.” He twitched a grin, but his attempt at humor fell flat. Humboldt scowled, and Greenley exchanged a look with the third man, who had yet to be introduced. “Sorry. What matter is that, sir?”
Humboldt opened a manila file folder and slid a large black-and-white photograph across the desk. “This.”
Nolan stepped forward to look at the picture, and what he saw there shot adrenaline to his marrow. A shot of himself. In an erotic and compromising position with a fellow special agent.
Well, hell. He’d thought the ill-advised, one-time tryst with his partner had been discreet, something he could bury. They’d been alone in her hotel room. So where had the picture come from? The obvious answer rattled him. Angered him.
“Um.” Nolan blinked. “Where did you get this?”
“We’re asking the questions today, Special Agent Colton,” DAD Greenley said.
“You recognize the woman in the photo, Special Agent?”
He jerked a nod. “Special Agent Charlotte O’Toole. We worked a case together last year in Portland.” He drew a slow breath, deciding honesty was his best policy. “Obviously, things got out of control one night. It was a mistake, but it was just a one-time thing.”
Humboldt divided a glance between the other two men. Greenley arched one graying eyebrow.
When Humboldt slid another picture toward him with much the same content, Nolan gritted his back teeth.
“What is it you say happened that night, Special Agent Colton?” Humboldt asked. His boss’s continued formal use of Nolan’s official title rather than his first name unsettled Nolan.
He frowned and tilted his head in confusion. “I’d think that was pretty clear. Are you asking for scurrilous details? Because, I have to say, sir, I find it crass of a man to kiss and tell.”
Humboldt folded his hands on his desk. “Generally, I do, too. But considering the allegations Special Agent O’Toole has made against you, I think you’d be wise to share your side of the events of that night.”
A chill raced down Nolan’s spine. “Allegations?” He could barely choke the word out. His pulse thundered in his ears as he looked from one grim face to another. “Wh-what is she alleging?”
“She claims you assaulted her.”
