Love Inspired Suspense: July 2022 Box Set 1 of 2 by Dana Mentink

Author:Dana Mentink
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2022-11-15T00:00:00+00:00

TEN

Scarlet’s hard black lead flew across a fresh page of her sketch pad. She wanted to capture everything she could from the crime scene in Violet Kelly’s bedroom. It was the only way she knew how to help with the investigation of Jace’s childhood friend’s abduction. Every detail matters. Her breath snagged. Where had that expression come from? Something she, or perhaps a teammate, used to say? She racked her brain, but nothing further came.

She gripped her pencil tighter, her strokes on the paper widening and revealing her frustration over the amnesia plaguing her mind. Lord, if You’re listening, please give me back my stolen past and CLS’s face. We need this to end. She clenched her jaw. Losing her identity sucked the life out of her, and her weary body couldn’t take much more.

Jace and his team gathered downstairs, going through plausible scenarios as Forensics dusted for prints. With their permission, she stood in the doorway observing and sketching. The crude message on the wall above Violet’s bed surprised them all. Seemed CLS had veered from his normal MO, both with this new act and Violet herself. Even though she fit the age range, she was a redhead. Not the killer’s type.

Whatever his type truly was.

She finished her sketch and returned downstairs to the group hovering in the cheerful yellow kitchen.

Jace riffled through a box of lipsticks.

Scarlet approached. “Did you find the red one used to write the message?”

“Just a sec.” Jace gestured toward the door. “Guys, can you double-check the perimeter for forced entry?”

Constable Lewis scowled. “Bro, you think we missed something the first time?”

“This is my friend, Lewis, and she’s pregnant. I need to be sure.”

Constables Lewis and Heller exited through the patio door, stepping into the backyard.

Jace rubbed his sinuses. “I didn’t mean to sound so bossy.”

Scarlet’s heart hitched. She’d do anything to comfort the amazing man before her. “You’re under stress. I’m sure they’ll understand.”

“To answer your question, no, we didn’t find the lipstick, but I’m not surprised. I’ve never seen her wear that bright shade of red. CLS must have brought it with him.” He swiped his cell phone’s screen and zoomed in on the picture he’d taken. “I wonder why he chose this particular color.”

“Is it the same lipstick used on the last woman? Did we ever get the name of it from tests?”

“We did.” Jace flipped through his notebook. “Rouge sang d’assassin.”

She huffed. “Really? That’s French for ‘assassin bloodred.’ What kind of name is that for a lipstick?”

He held up his hands. “You tell me. I’m not a woman. Why do you think he picked it?”

“Gotta be some significance for him to choose that color.”

“Red has a variety of symbolisms. Violence, courage, anger, love.”

“Passions.” A thought emerged. “Sounds like it could be a special brand. I’ll look it up.” She entered the name into her cell phone’s search engine.

Seconds later, the name and lipstick brand popped up. “Now, that’s strange. This color is discontinued and has been for thirty years.”

“What? So how

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.