Film
actress Jamie Riedel was barely a teenager when, while on a camping trip, she
witnessed the brutal murder of her father. Fourteen years later, Jamie returns
to Jackson Ridge to settle up the estate of her estranged mother. Soon after
her arrival, a note appears on her door: 'I saw you in the woods today.' Now
Jamie is questioning if the right man was sent to prison for her father's
murder.
Helping
her to answer that question is childhood friend, Deputy Chief Gage Hansen. He's
more than willing to find the truth that will finally bring Jamie peace in her
life, but at what cost? A nasty divorce from his cheating wife has made Gage
gun-shy when it comes to relationships, especially with beautiful women who use
their feminine wiles to get what they want in life. His defenses start to
crumble once he learns that most of the stories he's read about Jamie in the
tabloids are lies and she's basically the same fearless burst of pure energy he
had a secret crush on when they were best friends. But could he ever fit into
her celebrity lifestyle?
When
it becomes apparent that someone in Jackson Ridge will go to any lengths to get
rid of Jamie, the pair risks everything to solve the fourteen-year mystery
that's haunted the town.
Murder at Black Lake Excerpt
Later
that night, Gage joined Jamie on his mom's deck. In the distance, streaks of
lightening lit up the dark sky, followed by the low rumble of thunder.
"God is putting on quite a show for us tonight."
"Yes
he is." Jamie folded her arms.
"You
doing all right?"
Jamie
nodded her reply. She had been quiet throughout most of dinner. Obviously,
still shaken by the break-in.
"Jamie,
you don't have to stay. I'm sure Mr. Addison would be happy to handle the
listing of your house. The paperwork can be handled by mail. And as far as the
work on the house, Mallory and I…"
"I'm
not going anywhere, Gage. Not until I have some answers."
A
part of him was glad she wasn't running away. But he knew those answers she
sought could come at a great price. "That could take awhile . . . and you
may not like what you find."
"I'm
willing to take that chance." She lowered her arms. Placing her hands on
the railing, she looked at him. "My father's killer is still out there. My
being here scares him. There's only one reason I can think of as to why that
is."
"He
thinks you can identify him," Gage surmised.
"Maybe
I can. I think if I go back there, it may jog my memory."
"Is
that what you were doing when I followed you into the woods that day?"
"Yeah,
only I lost my nerve." She shook her head and stared off into the
distance.
Gage
knew from the chief's statement in her case file that she had defensive wounds
on her arms and hands. She had fought with the man. The cop in him wanted to go
along with her suggestion of going back to the campsite, to see if there is
something else she can remember that will help lead him to the killer. But at
the same time, he didn't want to subject her to any more pain.
"Will
you come with me? We could go tomorrow, after my interview."
"You
bet," he answered. No way was he letting her go into those woods alone.
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