Chapter 1

It was hard to believe that Thanksgiving was just around the corner, and Jenna had already made a list of things that needed doing. The medical examiner, Dr. Shane Wolfe, and his family; agents Jo and Carter; and Deputy Rio and his brother and sister always came to Thanksgiving dinner at the ranch. This year, Tauri asked if Atohi Blackhawk could join them, and to Jenna’s delight, Blackhawk had agreed. She peered out of the window, checking the gray sky for snow. The last couple of weeks had been quiet in the office and she welcomed a break after Halloween, although a past sting operation run by the Snakeskin Gully field office had dragged her husband and ex-special forces operative, Deputy David Kane, into a dangerous situation. His weapons expertise had made him the perfect choice to impersonate the spokesperson for a militant organization attempting to buy weapons from the cartel.

Under the FBI’s watchful eye, six months previously Kane had agreed to Carter’s plan and they’d flown to California. Being fluent in many languages, he easily passed all the tests the cartel had put him through to verify his identity. Unable to wear a wire, he had a tiny transmitter fitted inside his nose. After a successful arrest, he’d been required to pick out the members of the cartel in a lineup and be available to give evidence in court. His testimony would take down underworld kingpin Eduardo Souza and his henchman Mateo. The initial court case would be rushed forward to avoid the holidays, and Kane had received a summons to appear.

The problem of Kane testifying concerned her. They had a good life together, including a young adopted son, Tauri, and she hated the idea of Kane being involved in cartel business. She’d started her life as DEA Agent Avril Parker and ended up in Black Rock Falls in witness protection with a new face and name because she’d testified against a drug cartel. Kane’s circumstances were much the same but far more serious. With an international bounty on his head, he’d undergone extensive facial reconstruction and a change of name before arriving in town, and he still remained on active duty. His work in Black Rock Falls as a deputy was only a respite. As a US asset, he could be called upon by POTUS to engage with the enemy at any time. She glanced up as Deputy Zac Rio walked into the office. “Is there a problem?”

“Maybe.” Rio’s brow creased into a frown. “Dakota Slade, one of the salespeople at the general store didn’t show for work. This never happens, so the owner called her and got no response. He called 911 while I was on patrol and Maggie asked me to drop by for a welfare check. I stopped by her home and got no reply. I looked through the window and she’s just sitting in front of the TV.” He gave a helpless shrug. “No amount of knocking or yelling got her attention. Rowley’s out at the ski resort on a complaint. I didn’t want to break in without due cause.”

“I’ll go with you. Duke needs a walk.” Kane rubbed his bloodhound’s ears and then looked at Rio from across his desk. “No sign of a break-in? No blood?”

“Nope. She’s just sitting there watching TV.” Rio rubbed a hand down his face. “Maybe she just died, but she’s only in her twenties.”

Concerned, Jenna stood and gathered her things. “We’ll follow you. I’ve got nothing to do here and Maggie can handle the office.”

As they went down the stairs to the counter, Jenna informed their receptionist, Maggie Brewster, of their destination. “If we’re not back soon, tell Rowley to stay and mind the store.”

“Not a problem.” Maggie pushed a lock of black curls under her woolen hat and smiled. “Mind you bundle up. It’s looking like snow.”

Jenna gave her a wave and followed Kane to his tricked-out bombproof black truck, affectionately known as the Beast, and climbed inside. She waited for Kane to adjust Duke’s coat and attach his harness to the seatbelt. “We don’t need a case right now. Not with you heading off soon to LA to give evidence.”

“It will only take a few days and I’ll have Wolfe to watch my back. He’s checked out the arrangements and it’s all good.” Kane shrugged and followed Rio along Main. “My identity has been suppressed, so I won’t get any kickback. I know you’re worried, but the idea is to take down criminals, right?”

Biting her bottom lip, she looked at him. “My identity was supposed to be suppressed too, but the press was everywhere when I left court and I was threatened by Victor Carlos right in front of the judge.” She shook her head. “They probably already know who you are and where you live. What happens if your secret identity is exposed? We’ll have bounty hunters worldwide trying to get a piece of you.”

“That can never happen. My file is sealed and anyone remotely involved from my time before I came here believes I’m dead.” Kane touched her cheek. “I went into the meeting in disguise, wearing a beard and mustache, and my skin was darkened. I speak many languages like a native and this makes it easy for me to fool people, Jenna. Stop worrying.” Kane snorted. “Do you honestly believe anyone could take me down?”

Shaking her head, Jenna couldn’t shake the underlying anxiety. “Then it was just you, Dave. Now we’re married and we have Tauri. This madness puts both of us at risk and we could be used as leverage against you.”

“You’re safe at home and at the office.” Kane glanced at her. “Tauri is under protection. That kindergarten has been approved safe, so has Nanny Raya’s home. She’s a capable operative as well as a super nanny. Nothing is going to happen. Once we have the main man behind bars, the dominos will topple. During the raid conducted during the event, the FBI seized information from every part of the syndicate. There won’t be anyone left once they have a conviction.” He smiled at her. “Do you honestly believe they’ll discover my true identity, Jenna? Heck, you don’t even know who I am, and you’re my wife.”

Annoyed, Jenna stared at him. “Carter isn’t giving evidence, is he? He’s just taking his vacation. Although what he finds so alluring about holing up in his cabin for weeks in this weather defies imagination.”

“He doesn’t want to be alone in Snakeskin Gully, I guess.” Kane blew out a sigh. “He likes fishing and women. Whatever he’s doing is none of our concern.” He slowed the Beast as Rio turned into a driveway and followed his truck. “Let’s just hope this woman is fine and we can get back to the office and plan Thanksgiving.”

Climbing from the Beast, Jenna pulled down her black woolen cap and zipped up her jacket. The wind cut through her clothes in an icy chill, raising goosebumps on her flesh. The ranch-style house sat at the end of a long driveway. No garden beds or lawn. It was as if the forest had crept up to surround the house. She followed Kane, Rio, and Duke to the front door. Kane walked around to the family room window and, cupping his hands around his eyes, peered inside. Jenna looked at him. “What do you see?”

“It looks like a dead body to me.” Kane turned to Rio. “The lips are blue.” He took lockpicks from his pocket and walked to the front door. “I’ll have this open in a second.” He looked at Duke. “Go walkies.” The dog wandered off toward the trees.

Jenna pulled on examination gloves and a face mask. She waited for the others to do the same. As the door opened, the smell of death and burning wafted toward them. The house was warm, the heating turned up higher than comfortable. She raised her voice. “Sheriff’s department. We’re coming in to do a welfare check. Is anyone here?”

Nothing.

She nodded to her deputies. “Clear the house.”

Standing in the passageway to apprehend anyone who planned to slip out of the door, Jenna waited for the calls of “clear” to come from all over the house. She looked at Kane as he came down the stairs. “Any sign of anyone being here?”

“Nope.” Kane frowned. “One cup on the kitchen table, a takeout-for-one wrapper in the garbage. She lived alone. No men’s clothes in the closets.”

“I found nothing of interest either. The back door is secure and everything is as neat as a pin.” Rio shrugged. “I guess we check out the family room.”

Wrinkling her nose, Jenna walked into the room with Kane at her side. Her heart raced at the sight of the woman, and bile rushed up the back of her throat. The victim’s blackened eyes bulged and her mouth hung open. “Oh my, what caused that?”

“Electrocution.” Rio moved closer. “It wasn’t something close by, like a lamp or anything she touched. There are no contact marks on her hands.”

“It wasn’t anything inside the house. The surge would have tripped the circuit breaker.” Kane walked around the back of the woman and moved her hair to one side. “Hmm, two distinct contact points. It looks like the marks from a stun gun, but the amperage in a stun gun isn’t high enough to kill. Hence the name, stun gun. I guess Wolfe will be able to work out what exactly happened here.”

Jenna pulled out her phone and called Dr. Shane Wolfe. “Hi, Shane. It’s Jenna. We have a potential homicide.”