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A L R E A D Y
D E A D
(A Laura Frost Suspense Thriller —Book Five)
B L A K E P I E R C E
Blake Pierce
Blake Pierce is the USA Today bestselling author of the RILEY PAGE mystery series, which includes seventeen books. Blake Pierce is also the author of the MACKENZIE WHITE mystery series, comprising fourteen books; of the AVERY BLACK mystery series, comprising six books; of the KERI LOCKE mystery series, comprising five books; of the MAKING OF RILEY PAIGE mystery series, comprising six books; of the KATE WISE mystery series, comprising seven books; of the CHLOE FINE psychological suspense mystery, comprising six books; of the JESSE HUNT psychological suspense thriller series, comprising nineteen books; of the AU PAIR psychological suspense thriller series, comprising three books; of the ZOE PRIME mystery series, comprising six books; of the ADELE SHARP mystery series, comprising thirteen books, of the EUROPEAN VOYAGE cozy mystery series, comprising four books; of the new LAURA FROST FBI suspense thriller, comprising six books (and counting); of the new ELLA DARK FBI suspense thriller, comprising nine books (and counting); of the A YEAR IN EUROPE cozy mystery series, comprising nine books, of the AVA GOLD mystery series, comprising six books (and counting); and of the RACHEL GIFT mystery series, comprising six books (and counting).
An avid reader and lifelong fan of the mystery and thriller genres, Blake loves to hear from you, so please feel free to visit www.blakepierceauthor.com to learn more and stay in touch.
Copyright © 2021 by Blake Pierce. All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior permission of the author. This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictionally. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Jacket image Copyright oOhyperblaster, used under license from Shutterstock.com.
BOOKS BY BLAKE PIERCE
RACHEL GIFT MYSTERY SERIES
HER LAST WISH (Book #1)
HER LAST CHANCE (Book #2)
HER LAST HOPE (Book #3)
HER LAST FEAR (Book #4)
HER LAST CHOICE (Book #5)
HER LAST BREATH (Book #6)
AVA GOLD MYSTERY SERIES
CITY OF PREY (Book #1)
CITY OF FEAR (Book #2)
CITY OF BONES (Book #3)
CITY OF GHOSTS (Book #4)
CITY OF DEATH (Book #5)
CITY OF VICE (Book #6)
A YEAR IN EUROPE
A MURDER IN PARIS (Book #1)
DEATH IN FLORENCE (Book #2)
VENGEANCE IN VIENNA (Book #3)
A FATALITY IN SPAIN (Book #4)
ELLA DARK FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER
GIRL, ALONE (Book #1)
GIRL, TAKEN (Book #2)
GIRL, HUNTED (Book #3)
GIRL, SILENCED (Book #4)
GIRL, VANISHED (Book 5)
GIRL ERASED (Book #6)
GIRL, FORSAKEN (Book #7)
GIRL, TRAPPED (Book #8)
GIRL, EXPENDABLE (Book #9)
LAURA FROST FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER
ALREADY GONE (Book #1)
ALREADY SEEN (Book #2)
ALREADY TRAPPED (Book #3)
ALREADY MISSING (Book #4)
ALREADY DEAD (Book #5)
ALREADY TAKEN (Book #6)
EUROPEAN VOYAGE COZY MYSTERY SERIES
MURDER (AND BAKLAVA) (Book #1)
DEATH (AND APPLE STRUDEL) (Book #2)
CRIME (AND LAGER) (Book #3)
MISFORTUNE (AND GOUDA) (Book #4)
CALAMITY (AND A DANISH) (Book #5)
MAYHEM (AND HERRING) (Book #6)
ADELE SHARP MYSTERY SERIES
LEFT TO DIE (Book #1)
LEFT TO RUN (Book #2)
LEFT TO HIDE (Book #3)
LEFT TO KILL (Book #4)
LEFT TO MURDER (Book #5)
LEFT TO ENVY (Book #6)
LEFT TO LAPSE (Book #7)
LEFT TO VANISH (Book #8)
LEFT TO HUNT (Book #9)
LEFT TO FEAR (Book #10)
LEFT TO PREY (Book #11)
LEFT TO LURE (Book #12)
LEFT TO CRAVE (Book #13)
THE AU PAIR SERIES
ALMOST GONE (Book#1)
ALMOST LOST (Book #2)
ALMOST DEAD (Book #3)
ZOE PRIME MYSTERY SERIES
FACE OF DEATH (Book#1)
FACE OF MURDER (Book #2)
FACE OF FEAR (Book #3)
FACE OF MADNESS (Book #4)
FACE OF FURY (Book #5)
FACE OF DARKNESS (Book #6)
A JESSIE HUNT PSYCHOLOGICAL SUSPENSE SERIES
THE PERFECT WIFE (Book #1)
THE PERFECT BLOCK (Book #2)
THE PERFECT HOUSE (Book #3)
THE PERFECT SMILE (Book #4)
THE PERFECT LIE (Book #5)
THE PERFECT LOOK (Book #6)
THE PERFECT AFFAIR (Book #7)
THE PERFECT ALIBI (Book #8)
THE PERFECT NEIGHBOR (Book #9)
THE PERFECT DISGUISE (Book #10)
THE PERFECT SECRET (Book #11)
THE PERFECT FAÇADE (Book #12)
THE PERFECT IMPRESSION (Book #13)
THE PERFECT DECEIT (Book #14)
THE PERFECT MISTRESS (Book #15)
THE PERFECT IMAGE (Book #16)
THE PERFECT VEIL (Book #17)
THE PERFECT INDISCRETION (Book #18)
THE PERFECT RUMOR (Book #19)
CHLOE FINE PSYCHOLOGICAL SUSPENSE SERIES
NEXT DOOR (Book #1)
A NEIGHBOR’S LIE (Book #2)
CUL DE SAC (Book #3)
SILENT NEIGHBOR (Book #4)
HOMECOMING (Book #5)
TINTED WINDOWS (Book #6)
KATE WISE MYSTERY SERIES
IF SHE KNEW (Book #1)
IF SHE SAW (Book #2)
IF SHE RAN (Book #3)
IF SHE HID (Book #4)
IF SHE FLED (Book #5)
IF SHE FEARED (Book #6)
IF SHE HEARD (Book #7)
THE MAKING OF RILEY PAIGE SERIES
WATCHING (Book #1)
WAITING (Book #2)
LURING (Book #3)
TAKING (Book #4)
STALKING (Book #5)
KILLING (Book #6)
RILEY PAIGE MYSTERY SERIES
ONCE GONE (Book #1)
ONCE TAKEN (Book #2)
ONCE CRAVED (Book #3)
ONCE LURED (Book #4)
ONCE HUNTED (Book #5)
ONCE PINED (Book #6)
ONCE FORSAKEN (Book #7)
ONCE COLD (Book #8)
ONCE STALKED (Book #9)
ONCE LOST (Book #10)
ONCE BURIED (Book #11)
ONCE BOUND (Book #12)
ONCE TRAPPED (Book #13)
ONCE DORMANT (Book #14)
ONCE SHUNNED (Book #15)
ONCE MISSED (Book #16)
ONCE CHOSEN (Book #17)
MACKENZIE WHITE MYSTERY SERIES
BEFORE HE KILLS (Book #1)
BEFORE HE SEES (Book #2)
BEFORE HE COVETS (Book #3)
BEFORE HE TAKES (Book #4)
BEFORE HE NEEDS (Book #5)
BEFORE HE FEELS (Book #6)
BEFORE HE SINS (Book #7)
BEFORE HE HUNTS (Book #8)
BEFORE HE PREYS (Book #9)
BEFORE HE LONGS (Book #10)
BEFORE HE LAPSES (Book #11)
BEFORE HE ENVIES (Book #12)
BEFORE HE STALKS (Book #13)
BEFORE HE HARMS (Book #14)
AVERY BLACK MYSTERY SERIES
CAUSE TO KILL (Book #1)
CAUSE TO RUN (Book #2)
CAUSE TO HIDE (Book #3)
CAUSE TO FEAR (Book #4)
CAUSE TO SAVE (Book #5)
CAUSE TO DREAD (Book #6)
KERI LOCKE MYSTERY SERIES
A TRACE OF DEATH (Book #1)
A TRACE OF MURDER (Book #2)
A TRACE OF VICE (Book #3)
A TRACE OF CRIME (Book #4)
A TRACE OF HOPE (Book #5)
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 ONE
Detective Scott Waters jumped out of the car while the engine was still running, leaving his partner cursing behind him. He didn’t want to wait. He was always being told he was too impatient, but what else was he supposed to do when someone’s life was on the line?
He darted down the street towards the opening of the alleyway, where he could already see a man standing slumped against the wall, his head down. He looked up at the sight of a police officer running towards him and straightened, pointing wordlessly, with a pale face and one single outstretched finger, down the alley.
Scott nodded at him without breaking stride, skidding around the corner and then coming to a complete halt. It was pretty clear that they were too late to make a difference.
Scott cursed mentally, wanting to hit the wall with his fist but very aware that he was being watched by a member of the public. When he’d heard the call over the radio, that someone had found Evelina Collins and she looked like she’d been attacked, he’d been hopeful that the person got it slightly wrong. That she was still alive and could be saved. They’d all been hoping that she would turn up alive from the moment she was reported missing.
But, this…
There was no mistaking it.
Evelina was dead, and maybe long dead. Scott stared at her neck, the way it gaped open like some kind of cartoonish second smile. It didn’t even look real. He hadn’t seen many bodies, working out here in Pacific Cove. Murders didn’t happen often here.
Still, he knew it was real.
He reached for his radio to call it in, wishing he hadn’t run out ahead of his partner. This was weird, and he had no idea what he was supposed to do.
“Waters?”
Scott turned slightly as his partner finally caught up, coming to a stop beside him. “What the hell are we supposed to do with that, Davis?”
Davis stared at the scene in front of them, looking just as confused as Scott felt. “Uh… I don’t know. Bag it up as evidence?”
“How are we supposed to bag a flame?” Scott asked. “You can’t put a burning candle in an evidence bag.”
“Right,” Davis agreed. They both stared down at it a moment longer. The candle was set right in the middle of Evelina’s chest, her dead, pale hands holding it in place like some kind of morbid recreation of a funeral pose. Not that funeral poses weren’t morbid in the first place. It was slowly going down, wax melting and dripping down the candle to pool on her chest. “Well, maybe we let it burn out and then put it in an evidence bag.”
“Isn’t it…” Scott gestured vaguely. “I don’t know. Contaminating the scene? What if there’s evidence on her hands or her clothes?”
“Then blow it out!” Davis said, with renewed urgency, motioning his younger partner forward.
Scott sprang a step ahead, then realized he was going to have to get down on his knees next to Evelina to reach it. He dropped quickly, trying not to touch anything, and blew quickly until the flame went out. Then he breathed for a second, and the smell hit him: the sickly-sweet tang of blood, the scent of death, something unique and undefinable. Nothing else smelled quite like it.
He turned quickly to take a breath of the air flowing in off the seafront and into the alley, so he wouldn’t throw up.
“What does it mean?” Davis asked, still standing safely far away to avoid inhaling anything himself. Scott looked up at him, glanced over the body one more time, and then stood up.
“I don’t know,” he said. “But I’ve never heard anything like it. We better call it in.”
“Right,” Davis said, reaching for his radio instead this time. “I’ll get the chief down here. I think we need someone with a bit more experience on this one.”
Scott said nothing as Davis stepped away to make the call, covering a hand over his own radio as it spit out the same words. He was looking down at Evelina, at the wax still cooling on her hands.
He had a very bad feeling about that candle – about it maybe not being the only one they were going to find.
CHAPTER TWO
Laura had to stop and give herself a moment as she poured Lacey another glass of juice, standing in her kitchen like it was nothing. Looking over at the little blonde girl playing on the floor, she almost had to pinch herself.
Her daughter was here. Playing with her toys. Doing normal kid things. And she had been here all weekend.
It was the third weekend in a row that Lacey had stayed over, since Laura had gained that right at the custody hearing. And even though it was starting to feel completely normal, there were still moments when she had to remind herself it was real.
“Here you go, sweetie,” Laura said, carrying the glass over to her. “We’ll get ready in a little while, okay? I don’t want to be late.”
“Can I bring all my cats?” Lacey asked, gesturing to the fluffy toys she was currently pretending to brush and dress up with Velcro bows. “Amy said she wanted to see them.”
“Of course, you can,” Laura said, smiling. She sat down on the sofa behind Lacey, reaching for her own cup of coffee from the table. “So long as you promise to pack them all away when it’s time to go. We don’t want to keep Daddy waiting.”
Lacey pouted slightly, then shuffled backwards across the floor to lean against her mother’s legs. She was still wearing her pajamas, a matching pink set which declared her to be ‘Daddy’s little angel.’ Laura was sure her ex-husband, Marcus, sent her with that outfit on purpose. Just to try to get a rise out of her.
He couldn’t have been further off the mark. Just having Lacey in her life again after going for so long without seeing her meant that Laura was willing to take any insult. Nothing could ruin how happy she felt to get to be a mom again.
“Can’t I stay here longer?” she asked. “I don’t want to go back yet.”
Secretly, Laura was thrilled, and inside her head she was grinning and doing a victory dance. Outwardly, though, she just smiled little and tousled Lacey’s hair. “I know, sweetie. I always want the weekend to last forever, too. But you’ve got to go back to school, remember?”
Lacey sighed and rolled her eyes in that way that only a six-year-old could, full of sass that seemed too grown-up and was therefore highly comical. “Ughhhh. I don’t want to go to school. I want to stay with you!”
Laura hid another smile behind her coffee cup. “School’s really important, Lacey. And anyway, don’t you want to go see your friends?”
“I could play with Amy instead,” Lacey pointed out.
Laura chuckled, shaking her head. “Come on, you. Time to get dressed and go see your new favorite person. You get to play with her today, and tomorrow she has to go to school as well, okay? The quicker we get ready, the more time you’ll have to show her your cats.”
This promise sent Lacey rocketing out of the living room and into the small bedroom that she was currently sharing with Laura, with a child-sized bed set up at the foot of Laura’s own. It wasn’t much, but it was all she had been able to offer. Rent was high enough here in Washington, D.C., as it was, and Laura was still trying to recover financially from her own past mistakes.
As well as in every other way. Not too long ago, this morning coffee would have been laced with something stronger to keep the cold out. Not the literal cold of winter, which was blooming strong outside her windows, but the cold memories of things she’d seen in her visions. Things that no one would ever want to see.
The thought of her visions made her check her cell phone, a habit that was becoming increasingly urgent over the last few days. She’d even started to open her messaging apps just to make sure she hadn’t missed a notification. It wasn’t like Nate to go quiet for this long.
Ever since she’d seen a vision of him plunging to his death the last time they spoke, Laura had been fearing the worst. That he was already dead. Even though, logically, she knew someone would have told her, she couldn’t help but feel the fear surfacing over and over.
Laura sipped the last of her coffee and set the cup down, sighing. Still nothing. It had been two weeks since their last case ended, and all of her messages and calls had gone unanswered. After he didn’t show up to work for the usual debrief on their first Monday back at FBI headquarters, Laura had been puzzled. Then worried. Now, she was practically antsy.
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