PRAISE FOR BRANDILYN COLLINS’
KANNER LAKE SERIES
CRIMSON EVE
“Collins tops herself by creating a suspenseful, nonstop thrill ride.… Truly the best CF suspense title so far this year; this book deserves a place in all collections.”
— Library Journal, starred review
“…teeth-chattering, mind-freezing prose. Crimson Eve is Collins at her very best.… The pacing is so intense there was little opportunity to rest. Collins crafts an unparalleled cat-and-mouse game wrought with mystery and surprise.”
— TitleTrakk.com
“The excitement starts on page one and doesn’t stop until the shocking end… [Crimson Eve] is fast-paced and thrilling.”
Romantic Times
“The action starts with a bang, with an attempt on Carla’s life, and the pace doesn’t let up until this fabulous racehorse of a story crosses the finish line… Collins’s fast-paced and intriguing plot line is sensitively combined with diary entries of Carla’s past heartaches. Crimson Eve will be a welcome addition to the libraries of Christian suspense fans.”
Christian Retailing
VIOLET DAWN
“What a ride! Collins is a high-caliber writer. [She] spices her seatbelt suspense with a dash of humor and heart-wrenching predicaments. Don’t forget to breathe.”
Novel Reviews
“… features a sympathetic heroine and uses flashbacks effectively to set up this tale about child abuse and its long-term impact. With several suspense titles under her belt (Brink of Death, Stain of Guilt, Web of Lies), Collins knows how to weave faith into a rich tale. Possible crossover appeal for fans of Mary Higgins Clark.”
— Library Journal
“Skillfully written… Imaginative style and exquisite suspense.”
1340mag.com
“… a roller-coaster ride with incredible heights and violent spiral twists that leave you quaking as it slows to a stop.”
— North Idaho Lifestyle
“Collins expertly melds flashbacks with present-day events to provide a smooth yet deliciously intense flow.”
— RT BookClub
“Collins’s skill in handling multiple points of view and time shifts, which flow easily together and advance the plot… interesting details of police procedure and crime scene investigation… a promising and entertaining beginning to the Kanner Lake Series.”
Publisher’s Weekly
CORAL MOON
“Thrilling.… Leave the light on when you read this one.… Readers will enjoy spending time with the well-rounded characters in Kanner Lake. This is a fun read with almost no down time, one of those rare books you hurry through, almost breathlessly, to find out what happens.”
— Spokane Living
“A chilling mystery. Not one to be read alone at night.”
— RT BookClub, four stars
Other Books by Brandilyn Collins
Kanner Lake Series
1 | Violet Dawn
2 | Coral Moon
3 | Crimson Eve
4 | Amber Morn
Hidden Faces Series
1 | Brink of Death
2 | Stain of Guilt
3 | Dead of Night
4 | Web of Lies
Chelsea Adams Series
1 | Eyes of Elisha
2 | Dread Champion
Bradleyville Series
1 | Cast a Road before Me
2 | Color the Sidewalk for Me
3 | Capture the Wind for Me
BRANDILYN
COLLINS
KANNER LAKE SERIES
AMBER MORN
BOOK 4
ZONDERVAN
Amber Morn
Copyright © 2008 by Brandilyn Collins
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of Zondervan.
EPub Edition June 2009 ISBN: 978-0-310-82840-2
Requests for information should be addressed to:
Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530
* * *
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Collins, Brandilyn.
Amber morn / Brandilyn Collins.
p. cm.
ISBN-13: 978-0-310-27641-8 (pbk.)
ISBN-10: 0-310-27641-1 (pbk.)
11. Hostages—Fiction. 2. Idaho—Fiction. 3. Resorts—Fiction. I. Title.
PS3553.O4747815A84 2008
813’.54—dc22
2007042521
* * *
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.
Published in association with the literary agency of Alive Communications, Inc., 7680 Goddard Street, Suite 200, Colorado Springs, CO 80920.
08 09 10 11 12 13 • 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Visit Scenes and Beans at www.kannerlake.blogspot.com.
Want to Discuss Amber Morn with Your Book Club?
Insightful questions about the story
and how it applies to your life can be found at
www.kannerlake.com/discussions
Gratefully dedicated to
the original Scenes and Beans blog writers,
who helped shape the characters
in Java Joint.
Sabrina Butcher
Bonnie Calhoun
Rebecca Carter
Laura Domino
Bob Edwards
Stephanie Fowler
Tracy Fowler
Beth Goddard
Gina Holmes
Bev Huston
Pamela James
Jason Joyner
David Meigs
Chris Mikesell
Dineen Miller
Sandra Moore
Vennessa Ng
Kjersten Nickleby
Michelle Pendergrass
Cara Putman
Sherry Ramsey
Janet Rubin
Chawna Schroeder
Wayne Scott
Lynetta Smith
Michael Snyder
Lynette Sowell
Stuart Stockton
Kim Thomas
Jennifer Tiszai
Marjorie Vawter
Karen Wevick
When calamity comes, the wicked are brought down,
but even in death the righ teous have a refuge.
Proverbs 14:32
Contents
COVER PAGE
PRAISE FOR BRANDILYN COLLINS’ KANNER LAKE SERIES
Other Books by Brandilyn Collins
COPYRIGHT
INTRODUCTION
PART ONE: Attack
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
CHAPTE
R TWENTY-ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
PART TWO: Seige
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
CHAPTER THIRTY
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
CHAPTER FORTY
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT
CHAPTER FORTY-NINE
CHAPTER FIFTY
CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE
CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO
CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE
CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR
CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE
CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX
CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT
CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE
CHAPTER SIXTY
CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE
CHAPTER SIXTY-TWO
CHAPTER SIXTY-THREE
CHAPTER SIXTY-FOUR
CHAPTER SIXTY-FIVE
CHAPTER SIXTY-SIX
CHAPTER SIXTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER SIXTY-EIGHT
PART THREE: Ultimatum
CHAPTER SIXTY-NINE
CHAPTER SEVENTY
CHAPTER SEVENTY-ONE
CHAPTER SEVENTY-TWO
CHAPTER SEVENTY-THREE
CHAPTER SEVENTY-FIVE
CHAPTER SEVENTY-SIX
CHAPTER SEVENTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER SEVENTY-EIGHT
CHAPTER SEVENTY-NINE
CHAPTER EIGHTY
CHAPTER EIGHTY-ONE
CHAPTER EIGHTY-TWO
CHAPTER EIGHTY-THREE
CHAPTER EIGHTY-FOUR
PART FOUR: Rebuilding
CHAPTER EIGHTY-FIVE
CHAPTER EIGHTY-SIX
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Brink of Death
Be sure to read Brandilyn Collins’ next exciting novel, Vain Empires — here’s a sample
Three ways to keep up on your favorite Zondervan books and authors
About the Publisher
Share Your Thoughts
INTRODUCTION
Dear Reader:
Here we are at the fourth and final book in the Kanner Lake Series. It doesn’t seem long ago at all that I started writing the first one, Violet Dawn. If you haven’t read the other books in this series, don’t worry. You can still read this one and not feel lost.
Like the other Kanner Lake books, Amber Morn features the gang at Java Joint, who post on the Scenes and Beans blog. In the previous books, many of them were supporting characters. This story places them front and center as an ensemble cast.
As Amber Morn begins, it has been eight months since the events in Crimson Eve that changed Carla Radling’s life — and the face of the nation. And over a year since the confounding murders that occurred in Coral Moon. Kanner Lake has let out its breath, settled back into peaceful existence.
That’s about to be shattered.
Today the town will face the most fearful day it has ever known. Every citizen — whether as friend or family member — is close to someone caught in the trauma.
And now, dear reader, once again the ride begins. This one is a roller coaster in the dark, for its operators are volatile and unpredictable. And they do not care if you reach the end safely. So keep your hands inside the car, strap yourself in tight, and don’t forget to b r e a t h e… ®
PART ONE
Attack
ONE
Any man going on this mission wasn’t coming back.
Cluttered kitchen, cluttered head. Kent Wicksell could hardly think straight. It wasn’t supposed to start like this. Dread anticipation pumped through his veins as he faced off with his second son. Vigilante Brad, gunning to take on the world. At twenty-nine, he thought he knew more than anybody.
Kent’s voice seethed. “For the fifteenth time — this job’s for me and Mitch. You are staying home. We ain’t leaving your mom alone.”
They’d been arguing for the past ten minutes. Too long. They needed to get out of there.
Brad stood his ground, face like granite. His cool blue eyes stabbed Kent. “I ain’t staying here.” His voice pulsed low. “I watched over T.J. since he was born, just as much as Mitch has. And I ain’t stopping now.”
Kent surged forward two steps, finger punching the air. “I’m telling you no! I won’t let you —”
Lenora caught his arm. “Stop, Kent! Let him go.”
He turned to her, jaw loosening. She stared back, a terrible, grim determination pressing her lips. Kent’s knees went weak.
No, no, no.
Where had that look on her face come from? Just this morning she’d clutched at the knowledge she wouldn’t be left by herself. “You’d let him go?” Accusation heated Kent’s cheeks. “You’d trade two of your sons for another?”
She held his gaze until her chin trembled. “It’s for T.J.,” she whispered. And she started to cry.
Kent’s heart cracked. T.J. — their youngest son. Once their greatest hope. Smart. Well liked. Going somewhere in life. Never did drugs.
“I got four fractured ribs,” he’d told them in his weekly phone call from prison two nights ago. Eyes swollen almost shut. A broken arm. His words were racked with pain. An innocent eighteen-year-old in prison, beaten — just for being there.
Of all three sons, this never should have happened to T.J.
At thirty-three, Mitch still lived at home, bouncing from job to job, in and out of jail on various drug and burglary charges. Meth was his latest drug of choice. Just last night he’d shot up for this special event. To Mitch, the greatest day of his purposeless life had dawned this morning. Rescue his littlest brother, betrayed by injustice. Show the world he was worth something.
As for Brad, he was unpredictable. Angry. In jail twice for beating on girlfriends. A high school dropout, like his dad.
Brad flicked his eyes from his mother back to Kent, his mouth drawn in a victorious line. “Don’t forget who went with you yesterday on your scouting mission. Don’t forget who took you to a computer in the library and showed you the blog.”
On Main Street in Kanner Lake they’d watched traffic, people. Noted the police station two blocks up from Java Joint coffee shop. They went into the café and ordered coffee and pastries. Sat at a table, nerves taut, eyes roaming over the big front windows, the layout and size of the place. Kent and Mitch took turns walking down the back hall in search of the bathroom. They’d noticed the other rooms off the hall — a small office, a storage area. The rear door with no glass, a lock and deadbolt…
Kent fixed his gaze on Lenora, watched her tears fall. It’s for T.J.
No way. She’d lost enough. Brad was not walking out of here and leaving her alone. Kent and Mitch would take Java Joint, just like they’d planned. Kill every person in the place if they had to. Brad would stay with his mother.
Mitch stormed into the kitchen, a Rambo expression on his gaunt face. Wired for action. His pupils were huge. He swiveled from Brad to Kent. “What’re you doing standing here? We’re late.”
Kent planted his legs apart, hands on his hips. He wasn’t about to lose this battle. Bad way to start the day, and his hostages would soon feel it. His anger was pumping all the harder — and he’d have to let it out on somebody. “Your brother thinks he’s going.” He aimed a burning stare at Brad. “I say he’s not.”
Brad’s eyes narrowed. Without a word, without a back
ward glance at his mother, he snatched up the lightweight jacket he’d brought into the kitchen — a jacket with a bulging, heavy pocket — and stalked out the front door toward the weapon-loaded truck.
TWO
“Hey, you, ready to go?” Paige called through her roommate’s bedroom door.
“Two minutes!”
Uh-huh. Two minutes meant five, more like ten. Leslie Brymes could primp with the best of them. “Better hurry! You’re the last person who should miss the signing.”
“Like he’s going to do it without me.”
Paige flicked a look at the ceiling and turned away. Anticipation hummed through her veins, thrusting her into action. She trotted outside and plucked the Spokane Review newspaper — Leslie’s current competition, therefore carefully read every day — from the sidewalk. In the nearby field, birds chirped and a prairie dog stuck an inquisitive nose up from the ground. Paige tipped her head back and closed her eyes.
Hey, God. What a perfect day to become engaged.
So she hoped.
Back inside, she made for the kitchen and plopped the newspaper on the table, then stood staring out at the backyard, Frank West’s face filling her mind. The strong jawline she loved to trace, his wide-set, large dark eyes. The thick brown hair he kept short for his work on the Kanner Lake police force. She pictured his nervous smile as he presented her a ring tonight. Why else would he book such an expensive restaurant? Besides, he’d been dropping hints…
When she’d stumbled into Kanner Lake two years ago — scared, running for her life, trusting no one — never would she have dreamed of a day like this.