You can probably tell that I have tremendous respect and admiration for the Texas Ranger Division of the Texas Department of Public Safety. I’ve written many books that feature them. Unleashed is the newest of my novels to feature a Texas Ranger as a hero—Colter Banks, who has had cameos in many of my stories over the years. Clancey, Colter’s assistant in the cold-case office, is eccentric and sweet. I hope you’ll like her. (He doesn’t. LOL.)

I have dedicated this book to the brave men and women of law enforcement and to our military. My great-great-grandfather was a deputy US marshal back in the early part of the twentieth century. My husband’s best friend is a former sheriff’s department homicide detective and still serves as a volunteer sheriff’s deputy. When I was a teenager, we played penny ante poker with my best friend’s father’s best friend, who was a lieutenant of detectives with the Atlanta Police Department. When I was a newspaper reporter, sixteen years’ worth, I spent a lot of time around people in law enforcement. I gained great respect for them as I covered news stories in my county and surrounding counties.

I’m especially fond of the Cornelia Police Department, the Clarkesville Police Department and the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office, all in northeast Georgia. I have friends in all three places. Brave men and women, past as well as present.

I’ve also known a lot of people in the military, including members of my own family and group of friends. That’s a job that comes with hardship and grief, but we have some gutsy people, men and women, who bear it for all of us, all over the world. Big hug, guys and gals!

I hope you enjoy the book. I like the way it turned out. I hope you do, as well. Love and hugs. And, as always, I’m still your biggest fan!

Diana Palmer

ONE

“Even a doctor couldn’t read this handwriting,” Clancey muttered to herself as she tried to decrypt a note jotted in the margin of a photocopied arrest record.

“What are you muttering about now?” Colter Banks asked from the doorway.

Colter was her boss, a Texas Ranger who worked cold cases for the San Antonio office of the Department of Public Safety. He was gorgeous: tall, narrow hipped, with powerful long legs and broad shoulders. He had dark brown hair and liquid black eyes. Those eyes were glaring at her.

She looked up with a disgusted expression on her oval face. She brushed away a strand of dark wavy hair from her forehead. Pale gray eyes glared at him. “I can’t read this.” She waved the sheet at him.

“If you’d like to resign...?” he offered, and looked hopeful.

“I can’t resign. This was the only job available and I have to eat,” she grumbled.