Page 151 of Whispers

“It’s a joke,” she’d explained.

“Yeah, a bad one.”

“I’m not changing that, I like it,” she’d explained, and on that issue they were at a standoff. It only made things worse that Samantha thought Kane was cool. That really bugged Sean. Well, tough, he could just be bugged, Claire decided, as she took a sip from her glass.

“So you’re getting married to Kane next year?” Tessa asked.

“Umm, that’s the plan.”

“It’s not like you don’t know the guy. What’s it been now, sixteen years?”

“Maybe even longer, but who’s counting? It’s what’s happening now that matters.” And that was true. She loved Kane, he loved her and they could wait a little while, just let things settle down.

Tessa finished her wine. “I’m just glad Dad gave up all that nonsense about running for governor. Wouldn’t that have been a pain in the butt?”

So much had happened. Weston was in custody, still hospitalized but expected to live and stand trial. Paige was now in charge of Taggert Industries and Kendall had filed for divorce. She and Stephanie had already moved to Portland. Dutch had given up his political dreams and was satisfied to spend more time with his daughters while constructing another phase of Stone Illahee. Ruby and Jack Songbird were suing Weston Taggert for the wrongful death of their son and Tessa was getting restless.

“So what’re you going to do?” Miranda asked her youngest sister.

“Now that I’m a free woman, that I know I didn’t kill Harley, I’m going back to California and maybe I’ll try to take some art classes or something. I don’t know.” She narrowed her eyes on Lake Arrowhead. “Maybe I’ll just hang out here a while. You don’t know how good it feels to finally be free.”

“Yeah, I do.” Claire said. “The divorce papers came on Monday.”

“Congratulations!” Miranda said, then turned as she saw a boat slicing across the lake. At its helm was Kane Moran and damn it, Claire’s heart still jumped at the sight of him in his beat-up leather jacket and jeans. He’d aged in the past sixteen years but there was a part of him that was still the rebel boy whom she’d fallen in love with all those years ago.

“Are you sure you can wait a year?” Tessa asked, seeing her sister’s face.

“Mmm. We’ll see. I think it would be best.”

“You think?” Tessa wasn’t convinced.

Kane moored the boat, waved to the sisters, then hurried up the dock and headed toward the garage. He said something to Sean and with a disinterested lift of one shoulder, Sean passed him the ball. A heartbeat later they were involved in an intense game of one-on-one.

“Looks to me as if it might work out,” Miranda observed just as Sean faked Kane out and made a layup.

“Fingers crossed,” Claire said, smiling as she watched her son and his father vying for the ball. “Fingers crossed.”

Dear Reader,

I hope you enjoyed the “new and improved” WHISPERS. As I said, it was fun revisiting Kane and Claire and Lake Arrowhead. Let me know what you think of the new version through my website at www.lisajackson.com or www.themysterymansion.com.

Now, I’d like to tell you about my newest romantic suspense novel, which will be available from Zebra Books in March 2004. It’s THE MORNING AFTER and is the companion book to THE NIGHT BEFORE, which is still available.

Remember Pierce Reed, the sexy, dogged detective in THE NIGHT BEFORE? And Nikki Gillette, the feisty never-say-diereporter for the Savannah Sentinel who gave Reed fits? Well, they’re paired together again and this time the sparks really fly.

Once again the story takes place in Savannah. When Detective Reed receives a chilling anonymous note telling him that time is running out, he’s stumped. The return address is the Colonial Cemetery in Savannah, which makes no sense to him whatsoever. He dismisses the letter as a prank.

It’s not.

Later that day, in the mountains of upstate Georgia, a grizzly discovery is made: Hunters have stumbled upon a makeshift grave, complete with coffin and not one, but two bodies! Within the satin-lined rosewood box is also another note, once again addressed to Detective Reed.

Nikki Gillette, ever searching for a story to propel her into the limelight, follows Reed to the crime scene where Reed recognizes one of the victims and realizes that the killer is playing a dangerous and deadly game with him. It’s not random. It’s not a coincidence. Reed is the target and the words of the first note that time is running out take on a new, horrifying meaning. With each new discovery, the tension becomes very palpable and the stakes become higher. Soon Reed realizes that the killer’s diabolical plan includes not only Reed, but Nikki Gillette as well. It seems that no one who knows him is safe.

THE MORNING AFTER is about hatred, vengeance, love and lust. For a quick preview, just turn the page to read an excerpt of THE MORNING AFTER. I think you’ll enjoy it!

Lisa Jackson

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