Page 1 of Dead Man's List

Prologue

Carmel Valley, California

Friday, January 6, 9:45 p.m.

It was, Kit thought as she drew her jacket tighter, too cold to be sitting out in the barn. But McKittrick House, despite its homey warmth and delicious smells of apple pie and clean laundry, was not where she needed to be right now.

There were too many people in the big house. She loved them all. Her parents, her brothers and sisters—foster kids, all fifteen of them. It was the first Friday of the new year, and they’d gathered to celebrate.

They were one big truly happy family.

They were one big trulynosyfamily. Everyone wanted to know if she’d had her date with Sam Reeves yet.

She had not. And she might not. Their second date, which had been hanging over her head for more than a month, was now upon her. She’d spent six months during the spring and summer avoiding the police psychologist.Because I was scared.

She’d known that she’d hurt him eventually because she was shit with relationships. And Sam deserved better. But then she’d agreed to go on one date and, in a moment of weakness, asked him on a second. That had been over a month ago and life had interfered. But now it was time to face the music.And I’m still scared.

“Cold feet,” she muttered to herself. “It’s just cold feet.”

She shifted on the hay bale, glad she’d had the presence of mind to throw a saddle blanket over it before she’d sat down. Hay bales looked like perfect seats but they were prickly as hell.

Like me,she thought with a sigh.

Her sigh echoed back to her, and Kit stiffened. She’d thought she was alone.

“Hello?” she called. “Come on out, whoever you are.”

One of the stall doors opened, revealing a teenage girl with pink and blue streaks through her sandy blond hair.

“Rita? What are you doing out here?”

Her foster sister—soon to be legally adopted sister—stepped into the dim light. “I needed some quiet.”

“Wanna sit and be quiet with me? Or I can leave.”

Rita’s smile was wobbly. “I’d like to sit and be quiet with you.”

She sat on the bale, Kit’s arm wrapping around Rita’s thin shoulders. “You’re not wearing a coat. You’re going to freeze out here.”

“I’mfine,” Rita said with a condescending huff. “It’s not that cold.”

But Rita was trembling, so Kit tightened her hold. “Mom and Pop know where you are?”

Rita nodded. “I didn’t want them to worry.”

“Thank you.” Kit would say no more, giving Rita the quiet she’d requested. If the girl wanted to talk, Kit would listen.

Rita sighed again, long and loud. “Cold feet, huh?”

Kit frowned. “Did you hear me say that?”

“Yep. You’re going on that date tomorrow, Kit.”

Kit’s frown became a scowl. “Says who?”

“Says me. And Mom and Pop and all the others back at the house. You’re meeting Sam tomorrow for your date in the desert if we have to tie you up and drive you there ourselves.”

“That’s kidnapping,” Kit said lightly, wishing she were certain the family wouldn’t do such a thing. But they just might. They liked the psychologist who, for some reason, still seemed to want to date Kit. “I could arrest you.”