“I’m going to find every person involved, every enemy of Jack’s, every cop that is willing to avenge Grahm’s death…and I’m going to eliminate the threat.” She looked at Jared. “It’s what Dad would have done.”

Jared looked at his baby sister with an appreciative smile. “And when do you plan on doing this?”

Claire walked over to the table and unzipped the hot pink duffle bag. Within seconds, she molded a rifle from several pieces and then clicked on the scope, swinging the thick black strap over her shoulder.

“When are you coming back?” I asked, leaning forward in reaction to her apparent departure.

“When the job’s done,” she smiled, loading her holsters. She lifted her foot to the table and twirled a large knife around her finger, shoving it into a case in her thick, black boot.

Jared rested his hands gently on her shoulders, kissing her forehead. “Watch your six,” he said, joining me on the couch.

“Claire….” I said, feeling my eyes gloss over.

She laughed. “Don’t be ridiculous. I never miss.” Her eyes became unfocused and her expression turned menacing. “They ended their lives when they aimed at my sister.”

She pulled her sunglasses over her eyes, and her straight, platinum bangs fell over the top of the rims. Walking to the door, she gripped the strap of her rifle with one hand, and twisted the knob with the other.

“Gotta go to work,” Claire smiled wickedly, and then shut the door.

Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements

Thank you is not enough to say to my amazing mother Brenda, for a lifetime of love and encouragement, and to my daughters Eden and Hailey, for hugs, kisses and patience when Mommy was on a roll;

my best friend/sister/cheerleader Beth for inspiration, endless enthusiasm, support and encouragement, and for being, without fail, overly confident that good things would come;

my friends Lisa and Carrie, for swinging their pom-poms after every chapter, and who without this book might not have been finished;

to my agent Jeff Mayhugh, who turned hope into reality, and Lindsey Bechtel Toscano for introducing me to the man who would become my agent;

my friend Nicole Lambert whom I’ve never had the pleasure of meeting in person, but who devoted her time to my first web page, simply on the basis that she is generous and kind;

my editor Ginger Hunter, who spent an entire summer turning the pages of Providence with a red pen so that it would be a novel instead of a good try;