An excerpt from The Killing Tide Raleigh, North Carolina Gabby Rowley drove through the nearly deserted downtown streets. The press-awards banquet had been a success, according to her boss at the Raleigh Gazette , but the local event was nothing like the press galas she'd attended before Asim Noren destroyed her international journalism career and nearly ended her life. She glanced at the moonlight glinting off the faux crystal trophy she'd been awarded for excellence in journalism for her exposé on drug dealer Xavier Fuentes. A shiver tickled her spine at the thought of their last encounter--his dark eyes boring into hers. She jumped as her cell rang--her Bluetooth signaling a call from Noah. She exhaled a steadying breath and answered. "Hey, bro." "Hey, kid.
Just wanted to check in. How'd the banquet go?" "Fine. What's new with you?" She stopped at a signal, the red light refracting off her windshield, making an upside-down L across her dash. "Just finishing up some paperwork. The games start tomorrow." Every year the Coast Guard Investigative Service team went head-to-head with the NCIS unit. She glanced around as Noah said something that didn't even register. Sunday night in the business distract left dark buildings surrounding her.
Her sense of isolation heightened, despite being on a call with her brother. She ticked off the seconds with no cars passing by, and yet the light remained red. "Gab? Everything okay?" "Yeah. Sorry. Just waiting for the light to change." And for the uneasiness sloshing inside to dissipate--an uneasiness she hadn't experienced since that day in South Sudan. The guttural roar of a motorcycle reverberated behind her. Headlights glared across her rearview mirror as a Triumph slowed to a stop beside her.
Relief at not being alone filled her until she glanced over at the black bike. The man shifted toward her, raising his arm. Is that a . ? Lunging over, she'd barely collided with the passenger seat when a thwack shattered her window. "Gabby!" Noah said. Clutching her hands over her head, she scrambled out the passenger door, her hands and knees colliding with the pavement. She crawled toward the alley. "Gabby!" Noah called.
She couldn't afford to give up her position, so she remained silent. Heavy footfalls hit the pavement. He was coming for her.