Forget Me Not: A Novel (Crossroads Crisis Center)
Read Forget Me Not: A Novel (Crossroads Crisis Center) Online
Authors: Vicki Hinze
Praise for
Forget Me Not
“Forget Me Not
is edge-of-your-seat suspense. Each page left me breathless with anticipation for the next page. This book is non-put-downable.”
—D
EBBIE
M
ACOMBER
, #1
New York Times
best-selling author
“Written with equal parts grace and passion, Vicki Hinze’s latest thriller,
Forget Me Not
, delves deeply into a chilling world of twisted loyalties, amnesia, and the struggle of a woman to expose a terrorist plot. Romantic, suspenseful, and ultimately uplifting, this story proves that what is buried in the past never stays buried forever. A great read by a writer who continues to amaze.”
—J
AMES
R
OLLINS
,
New York Times
best-selling author of
The Doomsday Key
“I literally couldn’t put down
Forget Me Not
by Vicki Hinze. The suspense kept me flipping pages until long after midnight, and I loved the plot twists. Highly recommended!”
—C
OLLEEN
C
OBLE
, author of
The Lightkeeper’s Bride
and the Rock Harbor series
“Vicki Hinze is a masterful storyteller who has woven unique and rich characters into a compelling, thought-provoking novel.
Forget Me Not
is a fabulous page-turner with incredible plot twists that will keep you guessing until the very end. Highly recommended!”
—M
ARK
M
YNHEIR
, homicide detective and author of
The Night Watchman
“Vicki Hinze’s
Forget Me Not
is a novel I couldn’t put down. The fast pace makes for a quick read; the story is full of action and intrigue, while the romance flows naturally from the plot. The message of God’s presence in our everyday lives provides an emotional uplifting long after the story ends. I highly recommend
Forget Me Not.”
—R
OBIN
C
AROLL
, author of the Bayou series and
Deliver Us from Evil
“The always-entertaining Vicki Hinze breaks new ground with this intriguing tale filled with nail-biting suspense, emotional turmoil, and heartfelt redemption. This novel celebrates the sturdiness of the human spirit and the healing power of faith. Don’t miss it!”
—S
USAN
W
IGGS
, author of
Just Breathe
“Forget Me Not
took off like a bullet from a shotgun and gripped me all the way to the exciting end. With tight plotting, twists and turns, a sweet romance, and lots of action, I’ll be making room on my romantic suspense shelf for more books from Vicki Hinze!”
—S
USAN
M
AY
W
ARREN
, award-winning author of
Nothing but Trouble
“Forget Me Not
is a season of the television show
24
in print, with a long list of surprises, a good love story, and a great inspirational uplift. An excellent read!”
—H
ANNAH
A
LEXANDER
, author of
A Killing Frost
“One of the best romantic suspense novels I’ve read this year! The mysterious, intriguing opening hooked me right away, and Vicki’s characters made me root for them. I can’t recommend this book enough!”
—C
AMY
T
ANG
, author of
Deadly Intent
and the Sushi series
To Kathy Carmichael.
A good friend is a treasure.
Thank you for being a good friend, Kathy.
With blessings and love,
Vicki
CKNOWLEDGMENTS
As always, there are many to thank for taking a work from concept to novel, and only me to blame for flaws or faults found with it. I am particularly grateful for the contributions of:
Kathy Carmichael and Debra Webb, for sharing their experiences and expertise.
James Rollins and Allison Brennan, for their steadfast support in my International Thriller Writers board duties during deadline mania.
Sandie Scarpa, my most magnificent assistant and research whiz, who, among other things, prepares the Readers Guides. I don’t pause often enough to express my gratitude, but I do always feel it.
Julee Schwarzburg, who approached, encouraged, and devoted herself above and beyond the call to help me in all ways by asking the right questions at the right times about the right things. Your analytical vision is awesome.
Steve Laube, whose skills and foresight are admirable and appreciated.
The team at WaterBrook Multnomah, who made this adventure a fabulous experience.
My family. Lloyd, Kristen and Brian, Ray and Erin, and all my grands: Thank you for knowing my every flaw and loving me anyway.
To all of you: I am humbled by your generosity and so blessed to have you in my life.
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are
heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
M
ATTHEW
11:28 (
KJV
)
July 12Y
ou know what I want.”
Hearing him behind her, she jerked and dropped her paintbrush.
It slid across the canvas, streaking the emerald gulf water with a bold, jagged slash of white.
“Gregory,” she said, her voice half croak, half whisper, her eyes seeing far beyond the easel and canvas in front of her.
She had made this confrontation inevitable, but she hoped to finish one last painting before—
“Well? Are you going to give it to me?”
Shaking, she turned. He stood closer than she expected, towering above her and blocking both studio doors. The one to the deck overlooking the gulf was closer, but with his stride and reach—she didn’t stand a chance.
Inevitable
.
Putting down her palette, she squared her shoulders and stiffened, unable to see past the bloodlust in his eyes. Would her response push him over the edge?
Regardless, she had only one choice. Her mouth as dry as the sand
between her and the surf, she hiked her chin and looked him right in the eye. “No.”
“Reconsider—and think carefully.” His hands curled into fists at his sides, his face darkened to red, and the blood vessels in his thick neck protruded. “Is that your final answer?”
How could anyone that angry sound that controlled? She darted her gaze from door to door, still seeking a way out. But there wasn’t one. No one would interrupt, would hear her scream. There would be no escape.
She glanced to a painting of a young girl hanging on the wall. What more could she have done? The man was rich, powerful, and more manipulative than anyone she’d ever known. She had gone all the way to the mayor looking for help. Well, to his wife, Darla, but even she had to admit how outrageous her claims had sounded. Gregory Chessman
did
seem incapable of anything that wasn’t wonderful.
Yet she knew better. She studied the painting, the innocence and promise in that beloved face. If he found her—and sooner or later, he would—then she, too, would die. That left but one option. One. And who knew if it would work?
“I know the truth about you.” She injected her tone with confidence and a warning of her own. “If anything happens to me, others will know it too.”
“You tried that and failed.” He grunted. “You’re a crazy woman. No one believes a crazy woman, not even an airhead.” He followed her gaze to the painting.
Something inside him snapped. His face contorted and he closed the gap between them in a flash, clamping his fingers around her throat. Fury pounded off him in waves, rivaling the six-foot surf. With a throaty growl, he jerked, lifting her off the ground.
She fought hard, kicking and swinging her frail arms, trying to break his hold, but she couldn’t make contact beyond his forearms.
Her vision blurred, her starved lungs burned, craving air. Her limbs turned leaden.
Then the brilliant light flooding the studio faded to black, and she knew no more.
Gregory watched the life leave her eyes, taking pleasure in the fact that his would be the last face she would see. How dare she refuse him? Threaten him?
The crazy fool
.
When the last spark of hope for revival passed and she hung limp and lifeless a foot off the floor, he dropped her.
Her body crumpled in a heap.
He didn’t look down, just walked over her, knocked the aged painting off the wall, and then crushed it with the heel of his shoe. Three years, and the subject in it still taunted him. Still made him vulnerable to Alik Demyan. Gregory shuddered.
Now she would suffer for both, for trespassing on his peace.
The portrait lay tattered and torn, its brittle frame cracked. He went at it again, and kept at it until the painting was utterly destroyed.
Though he despised dirtying his own hands, NINA would be pleased. No one had messed up this one …