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ALSO BY BARBARA FREETHY

Mystery Thriller Standalones

ALL THE PRETTY PEOPLE

LAST ONE TO KNOW

Romantic Suspense

Off the Grid: FBI Series

PERILOUS TRUST

RECKLESS WHISPER

DESPERATE PLAY

ELUSIVE PROMISE

DANGEROUS CHOICE

RUTHLESS CROSS

CRITICAL DOUBT

FEARLESS PURSUIT

DARING DECEPTION

RISKY BARGAIN

PERFECT TARGET

Suspense Duos

SILENT RUN

SILENT FALL

TAKEN

PLAYED

Lightning Strikes Trilogy

BEAUTIFUL STORM

LIGHTNING LINGERS

SUMMER RAIN

Standalone Novels

ALL SHE EVER WANTED

DON’T SAY A WORD

GOLDEN LIES

SUMMER SECRETS

For a complete list of books, visit Barbara’s Website!

LAST ONE TO KNOW - BLURB

It was an ordinary day when I got the call from the hospital. A nurse told me that my mother had been shot, that she might be dying. This could be my last chance to see her, to say goodbye. I needed to go to San Francisco immediately.

I was stunned by the news. It had to be a terrible mistake. My mother had died twenty years ago. I knew the truth. Didn't I?

To find out, I'll have to dive into my mother's life, into her past and mine. But as I get close to the truth, the target moves from her to me…and suddenly her life isn't the only one on the line.

PROLOGUE

New Orleans, Louisiana

The weather had changed since I'd landed in New Orleans twenty-four hours earlier. There was a hurricane stirring up trouble in the Gulf, but it was supposed to miss the city. But even if it didn't, I'd be gone before the storm made landfall.

As I walked through the busy French Quarter on a Saturday night in mid-September, I wouldn't have guessed that anyone was worried about the storm. The bars and restaurants were full, with crowds spilling out into the street. The weather was balmy, humid at seventy-five degrees at eleven fifty at night, and I could feel the sweat beading up on my face, my dark-brown hair getting thicker by the minute. I wished I could leave right this second, hop in a cab, and take a plane back to my normal life. But normal had never lasted long for me, which was why I was here now when I should have been home.

I took a turn at the next corner, walking down a much quieter side street, where the music faded into the distance and the shadows grew longer and darker.

I paused in the doorway of a tattoo shop that was closed for the night and checked my phone. The last text I'd sent sat there with no reply, and my stomach turned over again. I'd been fighting fear and nausea ever since I'd left Los Angeles, ever since I'd lied to the people who loved me.

Looking up from the phone, I saw a cluster of drunken twenty-somethings coming in my direction. They passed by, barely giving me a second glance, too interested in trying to remember the lyrics to a song they were singing as they stumbled down the street. I was twenty-nine years old, not that much older than them, but I felt like an old woman in comparison. I couldn't remember the last time I'd felt so carefree, so confident, so young, and so free.

Maybe I'd never really been any of those things. I'd just pretended to feel like that, so I would be like everyone else. But I had never been like everyone else.

The bells on a nearby church suddenly rang…twelve long, penetrating, clanging bells that were echoed by my pounding heart. I hurried down the street. We were supposed to meet at the cemetery next to the church. Even though I hadn't gotten a text to confirm, I needed to be there, because that's why I'd come.

As the wind lifted my hair, I felt drops of rain. Maybe the city wouldn't take the full force of the hurricane, but the incoming storm only deepened my sense of foreboding. It didn't help that I was heading into an old cemetery with overgrown trees and bushes or that the black iron gates squealed as I opened them, like a painful ghostly scream. This cemetery had been full for decades and as I walked around the crowded, sometimes broken gravestones, my bad feelings increased. I told myself it wasn't evil spirits I had to worry about. If I ran into danger, it would be from someone who was very much alive.

When I reached the mausoleum, a stone building in the middle of the property, I paused under an overhang, happy to have shelter from the increasing rain. Every crack of a twig had my head turning in fear. It felt like someone was watching me, but everyone here was dead. I paced back and forth. The adrenaline surging through my body needed somewhere to go.

This was a mistake. I shouldn't have come.

But I'd had to come. I'd had no choice.

Finally, I heard the gate open again, then footsteps. I held my breath until one of the few nearby lights in the cemetery illuminated a familiar face. Relief ran through me. "You're late," I said. "But it's good to see you."

"I wasn't sure you'd come."

"Yes, you were. I've never not come. But why are we here in this spooky place?"

"The past has caught up to me."

The words were haunting and terrifying, and an icy shiver ran down my spine. "What happened?"

"I was seen. I need to get away. Did you bring what I asked?"

"Yes."

"Good. My…friend should be here soon."

"I hope so. The weather is turning bad," I said. "Is this person someone you can trust?"

"I hope so."

That answer didn't make me feel better. My heart sped up. "The rain is getting worse."

"The storm changed directions. It's heading straight for us. But it might be helpful. It might provide cover for us to leave the city. There will be chaos and confusion."

"I don't need cover." I held out the bag I was carrying. "I brought what you asked. Now I'm going home." I said the words as forcefully as I could, even though I was torn up on the inside as to what I should do.

Headlights from an incoming car lit up the street next to the cemetery, and then they went off. Car doors opened and closed.

"Is this who we're waiting for?" I asked.

"No. It's not. Oh, God! They've found us."

The gate screeched opened again. Two figures were heading straight toward us. "Is there another way out of here?" I asked.

"There's a back gate on the other side of the cemetery that leads to Washington Street. That's where my friend was supposed to enter."

"Lead the way," I said.

We ran around the back of the mausoleum, moving deeper into the cemetery. I thought we might be able to get away. Then I heard a shout behind us. The beam of a flashlight lit me up.

Fear drove me to run even faster, but as we dove into the shadows, it was hard to see where we were going. I stumbled, hitting my knees on a protruding gravestone that tumbled me to the ground. I scrambled back to my feet, ignoring the searing pain in my leg, as I prayed for a way out.

A gunshot rang out, the blast instinctively making me duck my head. Swearing, I ran faster, flying over the ground, desperate to get back to my life. "I'm not dying tonight," I swore. "Not here. Not now."

A flash of lightning and an earth-shaking roar of thunder followed my words, the skies opening up with torrential, windy rain. Maybe the storm would provide the cover we needed to escape.

I had to survive this night. I had to get home. I had to…

CHAPTER ONE

Carmel, California

The biggest call of my life came at three o'clock on a Thursday afternoon in the middle of September. I'd been working at my sister's clothing boutique in downtown Carmel when Ray Price's name flashed across my phone screen. I couldn't take the call in the shop, so I'd jumped into my car and driven a half-mile to the beach where I'd parked along the coastal trail and called him back.

"You're in," Ray said, his voice filled with excitement. "The Pacific Coast Orchestra wants to hire you as a second chair violin for our upcoming European tour. It's the chance of a lifetime, Brynn. We'll be touring for eight weeks starting in November and ending just after the New Year. You'll get to play in eight major cities, ending in Paris."

My heart pounded hard against my chest. "Are you sure? I can't quite believe it's real."

"That's because you've never really believed in how good you are."

"You've always been one of my biggest supporters," I said gratefully. I'd met Ray nine years ago in a music class at UCLA. Ray also played the violin, and we'd become instant best friends. But while we'd started out on the same path, mine had diverged after college, when I'd given up my goal of playing in a world-renowned orchestra and decided to run a clothing boutique with my sister. That goal had seemed far more practical and attainable than the other.

While I'd played for community orchestras on the side and earned extra cash giving lessons, I'd thought it was too late to go back to that childhood dream of mine. But then, last week, Ray had asked me to audition for a last-minute opening with his orchestra, and I'd given it a shot, thinking the odds were very much against me.

"Rehearsals won't start until the first of October," Ray continued. "But they'll need your answer by Monday. Not that I think you need that long to decide. You can't turn this down."

"I don't want to turn it down, but I need to talk to my sister," I said, dreading that conversation.

"I'm sure Dani will be thrilled for you."

"I'm not sure about that," I replied. I was going to bail on our business and that would not make Dani happy. Although it wasn't really our business; it was Dani's store. But I'd been by her side since she'd first opened the clothing shop four years ago. I'd helped her grow the business and managed the store when she'd gone through difficult personal trials.

"Why wouldn't she be happy for you?" Ray questioned. "You have a gift, Brynn, and you're not using it. Your sister can find someone else to help her run the store. She'll want you to take this job. Just say yes."

"I'll call you back as soon as I talk to Dani, but since they are giving me until Monday, I'm going to take the weekend to get things organized here."

"All right. Congratulations, Brynn."

"Thanks, Ray. I know you put in a good word for me."

"I just told them the truth. You're one of the best violinists I've ever had the pleasure to play with."

"Right back at you. I'll call you soon."

As I set down the phone, I looked out the window at the crashing white-capped waves of the Pacific Ocean. There was a storm blowing in, and I felt like the sea echoed the turbulent emotions running through me. I liked my life best when everything was relaxed, on an even keel. I didn't like highs because they were usually followed by painful lows. Today was one of those days that seemed too good to be true.

But it was true. I had an offer to play with an incredible orchestra touring across Europe. It was an unbelievable opportunity. I wanted to believe that my sister would be happy for me. We'd always been there for each other, but the last several years had been more about me being there for her.

I'd moved to Carmel with her after college, when her very serious boyfriend had popped the question right after graduation. Steve had just finished law school and was about to join his parents' firm in Carmel. Dani hadn't wanted to move there without me. So, I'd gone to help her get settled and plan her wedding. It wasn't supposed to be forever. But after the wedding, she'd wanted to open the boutique, and she needed my help again. Then had come her issues with pregnancy, miscarriage, and sadness. My sister had needed me, and I couldn't say no to her, because when I'd needed her, she'd been there.

It had been the two of us against the world since my mother had died when we were seven. Our dad had been around, but his grief had taken him away from us, mentally and emotionally. He hadn’t come out of that grief until he'd remarried, and then it was all about his second wife, Vicky.

But even without the attention of my father and stepmother, I'd always had Dani. Born twenty-two minutes before me, Dani had taken on the role of big sister from the minute she was born. She'd been the bossy one, constantly looking ahead, making sure I wasn't breaking any rules and acting like my second mother. I'd needed her to fill that role. I owed her a lot and leaving now would hurt her. Not just because she'd need to hire someone at the shop, but because after a couple of unsuccessful attempts, she was now four months pregnant, and the last thing she needed was stress in her life. It wasn't the best time to leave.

But would there ever be a good time?

Once she had the baby, Dani would want to be home with her child. She'd want me to keep the boutique running. I couldn't keep putting my own life on hold no matter how much I loved her, no matter how much I didn't want to disappoint her.

My phone rang, and Dani's name flashed across the screen. I felt almost panicked at the sight of it. I knew she was wondering where I was. I couldn't talk to her on the phone. This conversation had to be done in person. I sent her a text, telling her I was on my way back, and then I started the car.

A few minutes later, I pulled into the small lot behind the store, drew in a deep breath and headed inside. I dropped my bag in the office and made my way through the dressing-room area, where all three stalls appeared to be full. That wasn't surprising. This weekend should be especially busy as there were a ton of tourists in town for a big celebrity golf tournament.

Dani was ringing up a customer while our other clerk, Maddie, a local college student was hanging up clothes. I smiled at Maddie, then made my way over to Dani. The customer she was helping gave a double take when she saw me.

"There's two of you," she murmured in bemusement.

I smiled, used to the surprised reaction, although it hadn't happened as much in recent years. Dani and I were identical mirror twins. While we looked alike, she was right-handed, and I was left. She had a freckle above her right eyebrow, while I had the same freckle on the left. But we shared the same brown hair and dark blue, almost purple, eyes.

Beyond that, we'd made some changes to distinguish ourselves over the years. Dani had cut her brown hair to collar length and wore it straight, while my hair fell below my shoulders in tangled waves. Dani's fashion style was trendy and modern, while I was more casual and liked a bohemian look.

"Sorry for staring," the customer continued.

"No worries," Dani said. "Brynn is my twin sister, and we've had some fun over the years confusing people until we changed our hair and the way we dress."

"It must be odd to look at each other and see your own face," the customer said.

"It feels normal to us," I said.

"Enjoy your dress," Dani added, as she handed the customer her bag.

"Oh, I love it already. It will be perfect for my best friend's wedding. Thanks."

As the woman left, Dani's sales smile faded as she gave me an annoyed look. "Where have you been? I told you I need to leave early to get to my doctor's appointment. Steve will be here any second to pick me up."

"Oh, right." I realized my plan to shake up both our lives was going to have to wait. "Sorry, I forgot."

"You've been preoccupied lately. Are you thinking about Jeff?" Dani asked, referring to the man I'd been dating the past month.

I started at the question, realizing I hadn't given Jeff one thought in the last week.

"Are you two getting serious?" Dani asked with a hopeful smile.

"It hasn’t been that long. He's a nice guy, but I don't know…"

"You're so picky, Brynn. Jeff has a good job, and he's Steve's best friend. Think how great it would be if the two of you fell in love. Jeff is already part of the family. He's a good catch."

"I'm not looking to catch someone."

"I wish you would change your mind. I want our kids to grow up together."

"Dani, slow down," I said with a laugh. "Nothing would happen that fast, even if I keep dating Jeff."

"I know. I just like it when we're both happy. And it doesn't feel like you've been that happy lately."

Her words seemed like the perfect opening to say I'd found a way to make myself happy. But then Steve walked through the front door. Dani's husband was an attractive man with blond hair and blue eyes. Steve was dressed in a navy-blue suit. His glasses framed a pair of tired brown eyes. Dani had told me earlier that he'd been putting in long hours at the office and in court as a trial was just getting underway.

He gave me a friendly smile, then walked over to Dani to give her a kiss. "Are you ready to go?"

"I am," she said. "I'm a little nervous."

"It's going to be fine," he told her.

"Just what I wanted to hear you say."

I envied the look of intimacy that passed between them. They'd been through a lot of heartache since their wedding, but they seemed to have grown stronger because of it. I hoped today's exam would provide nothing but good news. They deserved a break.

"I'm going to grab my purse. I'll be right back," Dani told Steve.

As she went into the back room, Steve moved over to the counter. "Have you talked to your dad lately, Brynn?"

"No. Why?" I asked curiously.

"Vicky just called me. She wanted to know if I knew where Ross had gone on his business trip. His assistant told her he'd gone to Portland, but he's not staying at his usual hotel there. Nor is he returning her calls."

"Why would she call you?"

"Ross and I are supposed to play golf on Sunday."

"Oh. Well, my father doesn't check in with me. Dani would hear from him before I would."

"I'll talk to her about it." He paused. "Don't say anything about your dad right now. Dani might worry, and I want her to go into this appointment with a relaxed, positive attitude."

I could see by the tension in his eyes that he wasn't feeling at all relaxed. "I won't say anything, and I hope it goes well today."

"Me, too. It has been a lot to get to this point."

"It's all going to be good from here on," I assured him. "I wouldn't worry about Dad or Vicky. She lives for drama. She has always been insecure, imagining the worst whenever Dad isn't giving her a hundred percent of his attention. But he gets distracted by work, and he doesn't always check his phone when he's with clients. I'm sure he's fine."

"I hope so. I don't want Dani to be stressed about anything right now. Whatever you can do to take pressure off her, I'd really appreciate."

My heart sank at his words. I couldn't promise him I'd be taking pressure off Dani, not with what I needed to talk to her about. But first things first; they needed to see the doctor and find out everything was exactly as it should be.

Dani came back into the shop and gave me a smile. "Thanks for taking over, Brynn. I don't know what I'd do without you."

Her words lingered in the air long after she and Steve had left. She was going to have to do without me if I took my dream job. When I took my dream job, I silently amended.

It was a risk. I could play horribly and get fired within a week, and that might hurt worse than not playing at all. But I'd been playing it safe my entire life.

Growing up, Dani had never let me stray too far. If I got close to the street, she'd take my hand and yank me back. I hadn't always appreciated her tight grip on me, but I had relied on it. She had kept me safe over the years. But I couldn't let my sister's needs dictate the rest of my life. I was twenty-seven years old, and Dani and I both needed more than each other. She had Steve and the boutique and a baby on the way. It was my turn.

But for now, I needed to finish the day. For the next hour, I did everything I could do to keep myself from thinking too much. As the clock ticked toward five, the customers petered out.

Maddie left to get ready for a date, and I was about to turn the sign to Closed when the door opened, and Jeff Dunbar walked in with a smile on his boyishly handsome face. He wore gray slacks and a light-blue shirt with a tie loose around his neck. Jeff was a lawyer at Steve's firm and one of my brother-in-law's best friends. We'd been dating the last few weeks, and I liked him, but I didn't see it going anywhere.

There was nothing wrong with Jeff. He was attractive and nice. There were a few sparks, but I rarely thought about him when we weren't together, which wasn't the best sign. He was also five years older than me and far more interested in settling down than I was. With my change in career looming, I couldn't imagine where he would fit into my life, or if he would even want to. But I couldn't get into anything with him before I spoke to Dani.

"Hey, Brynn," he said with a smile. "How about Happy Hour at Casa Maria tonight? Margaritas, chips, and guacamole are calling my name."

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