Writing can be a lonely business. However, I’m fortunate to be supported by a cast of characters:

  My mom, who always tells me how proud she is and keeps me laughing at her stories of accidentally stealing cars and hitching rides with ice cream trucks. (Where else would I have learned humor?)

  To Bob, Mom’s husband, who is still trying to teach me to drive around the block. (It was a confusing block.)

  My dad, who swears he’s entitled to half my royalties because I inherited my art of “making up crap” from him. (Well, he is a contractor.)

  My supportive husband—model for all my heroes. (I told him you wouldn’t buy that.)

  My son, who actually loves that his personal experiences are fair game. (I couldn’t make that stuff up.)

  My daughter, who tolerates my taking pictures of her feet for my Web site. (Don’t ask.)

  My son-in-law, who, as far as I know, has only denied knowing me twice. (My daughter chose well.)

  My writing buddies, Jo Anne & Colleen, who listen to me whine and seldom hang up on me.

  My Old Timers lunch bunch, who tolerate my endless chatter about writing, and love me in spite of my being the youngest.

  My critique partners, Jody, Suzan, Nancy & Teri, who work diligently at getting the Alabamian out of my dialogue. (Their support is priceless—but I ain’t giving ’em a raise.)

  To Faye, a co-writer on our nonfiction book, a critique partner from hell, and a sister in all my crimes. (She denies any affiliation with this book unless it gets good reviews.)

  My police advisor, Lt. D. R. “Duke” Adkins Jr., HPD, who tolerates questions like, “What kind of gun would have a barrel about the same size as a super absorbent tampon?” (Thanks, Duke!)

  My agent, Kim Lionetti, who admits I scare her but hasn’t fired me. Yet.

  My editor, Chris Keeslar, who wasn’t sure about my definition of a thingamabob and can’t understand how my heroine could spend $500 at Victoria’s Secret but bought my books anyway.

  To editor Leah Hultenschmidt, who threatened to buy me if Chris didn’t, and to the amazing Dorchester team who make me look good.

  Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-one

  Chapter Twenty-two

  Chapter Twenty-three

  Chapter Twenty-four

  Chapter Twenty-five

  Chapter Twenty-six

  Chapter Twenty-seven

  Chapter Twenty-eight

  Chapter Twenty-nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Books by Christie Craig

  Excerpt from Divorced, Desperate and Dangerous

  Excerpt from Reborn

  About the Author

  Chapter One