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Stalked
Elizabeth Heiter
If you're reading this, I'm already deadThat's the note seventeen-year-old Haley Cooke leaves behind when she disappears from inside her high school. FBI profiler Evelyn Baine is called in to figure out who had reason to hurt her. On the surface, the popular cheerleader has no enemies, but as Evelyn digs deeper, she discovers that everyone close to Haley has something to hide. Everyone from estranged parents, to an older boyfriend with questionable connections, to a best friend who envies Haley's life.Secrets can be deadlyOne of those secrets may have gotten Haley killed. If she's still alive, Evelyn knows that the more the investigation ramps up, the more pressure they could be putting on Haley's kidnapper to make her disappear for good. It's also possible the teenager isn't in danger at all, but has skilfully manipulated everyone and staged her own disappearance. Only one thing is certain: uncovering Haley's fate could be dangerous even deadly to Evelyn herself.
If you’re reading this, I’m already dead...
That’s the note seventeen-year-old Haley Cooke leaves behind when she disappears from inside her high school. FBI profiler Evelyn Baine is called in to figure out who had reason to hurt her. On the surface, the popular cheerleader has no enemies, but as Evelyn digs deeper, she discovers that everyone close to Haley has something to hide. Everyone from estranged parents, to an older boyfriend with questionable connections, to a best friend who envies Haley’s life.
Secrets can be deadly...
One of those secrets may have gotten Haley killed. If she’s still alive, Evelyn knows that the more the investigation ramps up, the more pressure they could be putting on Haley’s kidnapper to make her disappear for good. It’s also possible the teenager isn’t in danger at all, but has skillfully manipulated everyone and staged her own disappearance. Only one thing is certain: uncovering Haley’s fate could be dangerous—even deadly—to Evelyn herself.
Praise for the novels of Elizabeth Heiter (#uff73b27f-3bc6-5509-ba49-ffaaf7eedc7b)
“A terrific, gripping, page-turning debut by a talented new voice in suspense!”
—New York Times bestselling author Allison Brennan on Hunted
“This is a really excellent thriller—fast-paced and exciting!”
—New York Times bestselling author Suzanne Brockmann on Hunted
“Hunted is a nonstop, thrilling read that will leave you breathless, and Evelyn Baine is a sharp and gutsy heroine you’ll want to follow for many books to come.”
—New York Times bestselling author Tess Gerritsen
“Want to read a top-rate thriller? Vanished had me turning page after page. Wow. When you talk about our most-promising new thriller writers, put Elizabeth Heiter on the list!”
—R. L. Stine
“Elizabeth Heiter does her research, and it shows in this superb FBI thriller. With a ripped-from-the-headlines plot and excellent characterization, Seized is a true winner. Don’t miss it.”
—New York Times bestselling author J.T. Ellison
“The riveting and virtually impossible to put down Seized establishes Heiter in the upper tier of thriller writers.”
—The Providence Journal
“Seized...is a taut thriller that could be torn from tomorrow’s newspaper headlines.... Heiter’s latest is a thought-provoking thriller by a rising star in contemporary crime fiction.”
—The Lansing State Journal
Stalked
Elizabeth Heiter
www.mirabooks.co.uk (http://www.mirabooks.co.uk)
This book is for Paula Eykelhof,
an incredible editor and an even more incredible person.
I am a far better writer for having worked with you.
Dear Reader (#uff73b27f-3bc6-5509-ba49-ffaaf7eedc7b),
Welcome to the world of The Profiler! If you’ve already read the first three books in the series, thank you for returning. In this book, a teenager disappears, leaving behind a note foretelling her own death, and FBI profiler Evelyn Baine must unravel the girl’s secrets...before one of those secrets leads to her own death.
If this is your first visit to the series, Evelyn’s story began in Hunted, in which she tracked down a deadly serial killer known as the Bakersville Burier and learned just how deadly it can be to get inside the head of a killer. In the sequel, Vanished, Evelyn tackled the case she’d waited most of her life to investigate—the disappearance of her best friend—when the Nursery Rhyme Killer resurfaced after eighteen years of silence. After Vanished, the short story “Avenged” (free through my website) takes Evelyn Baine and her new boyfriend, HRT agent Kyle McKenzie, on an island trip together...but their vacation is interrupted when bodies begin washing ashore. And in the third book of the series, Seized, Evelyn tackles what looks like a routine investigation—until it lands her on the wrong side of a hostage situation and in the middle of an emerging terrorist threat.
Stalked marks new challenges for Evelyn and former HRT agent Kyle McKenzie, who’s now in a new role...with a partner you might remember from Hunted. I hope you enjoy following Evelyn and Kyle as they navigate their newly revealed relationship and two very different cases that may have a deadly connection.
After Stalked, I’ll be back with three more books in my romantic suspense series, The Lawmen! You can keep up with me and all the books, as well as get extras and join my newsletter, on my website at www.elizabethheiter.com (http://www.elizabethheiter.com). You can also find me on Facebook at Facebook.com/elizabeth.heiter.author (https://www.facebook.com/elizabeth.heiter.author) and Twitter as @ElizabethHeiter (https://twitter.com/elizabethheiter). I love to hear from readers.
As always, my heartfelt thanks for reading!
Elizabeth Heiter
FBI TERMS AND ACRONYMS (#uff73b27f-3bc6-5509-ba49-ffaaf7eedc7b)
BAU—Behavioral Analysis Unit. The BAU is where FBI “profilers” (the official name is Criminal Investigative Analysts) work. BAU is part of CIRG (Critical Incident Response Group) and is located at Aquia. BAU agents provide behavioral-based support to the FBI, as well as other federal, state, local and international law enforcement agencies, including profiles of unknown subjects (UNSUBs).
CIRG—Critical Incident Response Group. CIRG provides rapid response for crisis situations around the country and integrates tactical, negotiations, behavioral analysis and crisis management resources. BAU (Behavioral Analysis Unit) and HRT (Hostage Rescue Team) are part of CIRG.
ERT—Evidence Response Team. ERT agents are specially trained FBI agents who collect evidence at crime scenes. Being on ERT is a secondary position, so these agents also work regular Special Agent duties.
HRT—Hostage Rescue Team. Under CIRG (the Critical Incident Response Group), HRT is part of the FBI’s tactical response for crises. Unlike SWAT, their members work full-time as HRT agents and respond to incidents involving hostage rescue, barricaded subjects and high-risk arrests. Their motto is Servare Vitas (To Save Lives).
SA—Special Agent. Special Agents investigate violations of federal laws and assist state and local law enforcement. There are more than thirteen thousand Special Agents (as part of more than thirty-five thousand FBI employees).
SSA—Supervisory Special Agent. SSAs run squads. Each field office of the FBI has numerous squads, broken up by type of investigation—white collar, intelligence, civil rights, counterterror, violent crime, etc.
SWAT—Special Weapons and Tactics. All the FBI field offices have SWAT teams, and Special Agents who are SWAT members do so as an ancillary duty—in addition to work on a regular squad. SWAT agents handle high-risk tactical operations. Some police departments also have their own SWAT teams.
UNSUB—Unknown Subject. UNSUBs are targets of investigations where the person who committed the crime is not known by name.
WFO—Washington Field Office. The FBI has fifty-six field offices across the US and Puerto Rico, as well as approximately 380 Resident Agencies (smaller offices). The WFO and its connected Resident Agency have jurisdiction in Washington, DC, and northern Virginia.
Contents
Cover (#u37511c43-693f-5837-be0d-9ae58b5ded61)
Back Cover Text (#ufa2ac5cc-1c2c-5502-9142-84798f1b0f8b)
Praise (#u28ef42fc-9904-5f9f-8ffa-7886925c3177)
Title Page (#uf292ce25-1cfd-568b-b86f-cf3dccc44255)
Dedication (#uc20bbeea-5e07-5afb-b0d7-78c72b22ca91)
Dear Reader (#u69c5a01c-89b4-5837-901f-b63fda380111)
FBI Terms and Acronyms (#uacbff46e-fe8c-5174-96af-7cfc7ced5c44)
Prologue (#uaffb43d5-6c30-507b-b581-aad352b12d03)
Chapter 1 (#ua7d2d551-d543-5603-a144-bbd3fe631d87)
Chapter 2 (#ucdfc50f3-165c-5dbc-ab02-70e2a5bba049)
Chapter 3 (#u9415b29e-0037-5232-8491-a012d871d587)
Chapter 4 (#u9ed87f68-6c50-5cbe-a673-0146b1364c44)
Chapter 5 (#uafbe3566-6dd8-5f35-9d38-8dfb76451bf1)
Chapter 6 (#u066dc797-b004-5e3d-a934-4fd16ee07b50)
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)
Chapter 22 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 23 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 24 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 25 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 26 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 27 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 28 (#litres_trial_promo)
Epilogue (#litres_trial_promo)
Acknowledgments (#litres_trial_promo)
Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)
Prologue (#uff73b27f-3bc6-5509-ba49-ffaaf7eedc7b)
“You’ve got to stop this.”
Her husband’s voice reached her slowly, as if from a great distance, even though she knew he was standing at the doorway to her daughter’s room. Instead of turning, Linda Varner continued methodically pulling things out from underneath Haley’s unmade bed.
A red-and-white cheerleading pom-pom. A bright pink sweatshirt Haley wore over everything. A stack of glossy magazines, dedicated to the things a teenage girl worried about, like how to know if a boy had a crush on her.
Linda suppressed a sob before it passed her lips. Still, she felt her body shudder and knew her husband had seen it.
“This won’t bring her home,” Pete said softly, in the kind of careful, muted tone usually reserved for funeral homes and grave sites.
Linda squeezed her eyes tight, bringing the sweatshirt up to her nose. She inhaled, hoping to breathe in some of the too-sweet vanilla scent her daughter loved to wear, but there was only a slight musty smell.
How could Haley’s perfume have faded so quickly?
Linda sat there, the sweatshirt crumpled against her nose, her body hunched protectively, until she heard her husband sigh and walk away. Only then did she open her eyes and look around Haley’s room. Everything seemed so untouched. The police had been careful not to disturb anything, wearing their sterile gloves and their solemn expressions as they’d searched for some hint of where Haley could be.
Linda glanced back at the doorway. It was empty.
Pete would be back later. They did this routine every night. He’d give her another hour, then he’d coax her to bed. Some days she’d stand and follow him willingly; when she felt glued to the floor, he’d carry her. Then he’d hand her a glass of water and those pills her doctor had prescribed and she’d dutifully swallow two, let the blackness consume her.
Pete had stood by her. She knew it hadn’t been easy—that she hadn’t been easy to live with lately. But he could only share so much of the loss. He loved his stepdaughter, but he’d only been in her life for a few years.
“Where are you, Haley?” Linda whispered into the stillness.
Today marked exactly a month since her daughter had gone missing. Since Haley’s boyfriend, Jordan, had dropped her off at school for cheerleading practice. Since her best friend, Marissa, had waved to her from the field on that unusually warm day, watched her walk into the school, presumably to change before joining Marissa at practice.
She’d never walked out again.
When she hadn’t reappeared, Marissa had been sent to the locker room to get her. Only she hadn’t been there. A search of the school hadn’t turned her up. Now, thirty days later, they still hadn’t found her.
