“You better not have traded in my Subaru for a Harley—I told you I have more common sense than to be racing around at ninety miles a hour with nothing between me and the pavement except freezing cold air and a wish.”
“No. Well, not yet. Maybe when the weather gets warmer. I’ll make an old lady out of you yet.”
“Then what?”
“You don’t have to worry about your mom trying to subpoena your medical records or sabotaging your career.”
Now it was her turn to stop short. “What? How did you do that?”
“I have a new friend over at the IRS. And I realized that an audit on your mom’s accounts would probably turn up enough tax evasion felonies that she’d be facing longer federal time than she would if she took the state’s plea bargain for the homicide.”
“You had your friend blackmail my mother to save my career?” She was stunned. Amazed.
His expression dampened. “Are you upset?”
Now it was her turn to hug him. “Hell no. I’m kicking myself for not thinking of it first. Jake Carver, you are amazing!”
“That’s what all the ladies say.”
“Really? And who are all these ladies? Maybe one of them can give you a ride home.”
“Nope. There’s only one lady I’d trust to drive me anywhere, and she’s right here.”
“And not going anywhere, so don’t you forget it.” They passed outside, shivering as the Baltimore March wind cut through their thin clothing. Jake wrapped his arm around her, sharing his warmth. Sharing so much more.
Caitlyn snugged her arm around his waist, giving it right back. Together, their steps in synch, they headed home.
ALSO BY CJ LYONS
Blind Faith
Black Sheep
Praise for Blind Faith
“This story is so fast-paced with so many mesmerizing characters, ‘fantastic’ is not high enough praise. Lyons proves once again that she is a master of suspense.”
—RT Book Reviews (TOP PICK! 4½ stars)
“Blind Faith is a haunting, intense, and multi-layered thriller that adroitly combines an action-packed plot and delicately drawn relatable characters.”
—Night Owl Reviews
“This stand-alone story starts slowly like an extreme roller coaster, but once it crests its first peak, it rolls and twists and turns with non-stop page-turning adventure … With its multi-layered secrets and betrayals, readers who love romantic suspense are sure to find this a compelling read!”
—Fresh Fiction
Praise for CJ Lyons and her bestselling novels
“Everything a great thriller should be—action-packed, authentic, and intense.”
—#1 New York Times bestselling author Lee Child
“Compelling … I love how the characters come alive on every page.”
—New York Times bestselling author Jeffery Deaver
“A pulse-pounding adrenaline rush.”
—Lisa Gardner, New York Times bestselling author
“The perfect blend of romance and suspense. My kind of read.”
—Sandra Brown, #1 New York Times bestselling author
“A high-stakes adventure with dire consequences.”
—Steve Berry, New York Times bestselling author
“Packed with adrenaline.”
—David Morrell, New York Times bestselling author
“Tense, whip-smart medical scenes … gripping.”
—Tess Gerritsen, New York Times bestselling author
“Harrowing, emotional, action-packed, and brilliantly realized … an irresistible read.”
—Susan Wiggs, New York Times bestselling author
“Exciting … engrossing, intriguing.”
—Heather Graham, New York Times bestselling author
“An adrenaline rush and an all-around great read.”
—Allison Brennan, New York Times bestselling author
“Characters with beating hearts and three dimensions.”
—Newsday
“Breathtakingly fast-paced.”
—Publishers Weekly
“An intense, emotional thriller [that] climbs to the edge.”
—National Examiner
“Thrilling … you won’t be able to put this one down.”
—RT Book Reviews
“A powerful, taut thriller.”
—Mystery Gazette
“A master.”
—Pittsburgh Magazine
“Simply exceptional. The action never lets up … keeps you on the edge of your seat.”
—Roundtable Reviews
“Explodes on the page … I absolutely could not put it down.”
—Romance Readers Connection
—Romance Reviews Today
“Highly engaging characters, heart-stopping scenes … one great roller-coaster ride that will not be stopping anytime soon.”
—Bookreporter.com
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
CJ LYONS is a pediatric ER doctor and New York Times bestselling author. Among other adventures, she has assisted police and prosecutors in criminal investigations; worked as a crisis counselor, victim advocate, and flight physician; and drawn from her life experiences to write acclaimed novels of medical suspense. She is the author of several cutting-edge series including Angels of Mercy, Hart and Drake, and most recently, Rock Bottom with Erin Brockovich. Her books have earned her numerous awards including the Golden Gateway, National Readers’ Choice, and Daphne du Maurier Awards.
You can visit CJ at www.cjlyons.net
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
HOLLOW BONES
Copyright © 2013 by CJ Lyons.
All rights reserved.
For information address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010.
www.stmartins.com
eISBN: 9781250015365
St. Martin’s Paperbacks edition / September 2013
St. Martin’s Paperbacks are published by St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010.
Table of Contents
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
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
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
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