Honor Bound

Sand Point, Oregon

“LISTEN TO ME, BABY. You gotta quit that job,” Shanna James said, snapping her gum as she navigated the curves of the coastal road. “It’s crappy pay, anyhow. You’ll do better once you get some of that college learning.”

Kelly sighed and stared ahead. “I want to help with the expenses.” That was part of the reason; the other part was that she needed the distraction to keep her mind off Ben and wondering what she’d done wrong.

“I’m making good money. I can handle things.” Her mother took one hand from the wheel and fluffed her hair. Still in her mid-thirties, Shanna was an attractive woman, though Kelly thought she’d be prettier if she wore less makeup. “You know, I’m sure Nate is the one. We’ll probably get married real soon.”

“That’s…nice.” Kelly didn’t say anything else. Her mom was always sure her latest boyfriend was “the one” and that they would get married “real soon.”

But it never lasted.

Shanna’s first broken heart had come courtesy of Kelly’s father. He’d gotten her pregnant at eighteen—the same age Kelly was now—before disappearing from the picture. Kelly didn’t even know his name, though she’d sometimes seen her mother crying over an old high-school yearbook. Shanna claimed they were supposed to get married after he finished his Marine basic training, but she never heard from him again.

Kelly had been so sure it would be different with her, that her first love was real and true and would last forever. But now it seemed the only difference was that she hadn’t ended up pregnant.

“You do good at your classes and don’t worry about working right now. Take that computer stuff,” Shanna continued. “Hell, I don’t frigging care, as long as it ain’t schleppin’ drinks. You got the ass for it, sweetie, but I don’t want you working at a roadhouse the rest of your life. It’s fine for me,” she added quickly, “but not for my baby.”

“Mom, you don’t need to worry, I’m not going to—”

The tires suddenly squealed as Shanna slammed on the brakes and swerved to avoid a deer running across the road. Time seemed to slow as the car spun out of control, flipping as it plowed into the guardrail.

Kelly screamed—she thought it was Ben’s name but it could have been just an echo of the tears she’d shed for him over the past few months. She heard her mom scream, too. Then all at once there was silence.

“Momma?” Kelly whispered.

The car was upright again, but it lay at an extreme angle on the steep slope. An overwhelming scent of crushed evergreen filled the air and she gagged.

“Momma?”

Shanna didn’t say anything and Kelly tried to reach out, but her arms wouldn’t stretch that far.

Oh, God.

She tried to squirm free of the seat belt and debris holding her in place. Pain shot through her shoulder and chest, making her head swim. She struggled again and realized her legs were trapped beneath the dashboard.

“Momma, are you okay? Please say something, Momma.”

She was still pleading when a fire engine came shrieking up the road. Other sirens sounded in the distance, and then voices could be heard through the trees and over the crash of ocean waves thundering at the bottom of the hill. The voices shouted back and forth, but the words were indistinct.

“Help is coming, Momma. We’re going to be all right, you’ll see. Oh, please say something.”

“Is someone in there?” She heard a man’s voice call out. A minute later his face appeared through the driver’s window.

“We’re here,” Kelly gasped.

“Take it easy. We’ll get you out.”

“My mother…get my mother first. She’s not saying anything.”

The fireman pressed his fingers against Shanna’s neck. His face went still and Kelly knew he hadn’t found a pulse.

She couldn’t breathe for a moment.

“Er…yes…we’ll get her out, too.” He disappeared and a few moments later had forced Kelly’s door open. “Hey, there. My name is Mitch Lawson. What’s yours?”

Mitch seemed kind, but he wasn’t Ben, and it was Ben she needed. “Miss?” he prompted gently.

“It’s…Kelly,” she said, tears streaming silently from her eyes.

“You’re going to be okay, Kelly. I promise.”

She wanted to believe him, but Ben had left and her mother was dead.

How could she ever be okay again?

CHAPTER ONE

Sand Point, fifteen years later…

BEN SANTONI SCOWLED AT THE television van parked outside the police station. The local media had arrived early for an afternoon press conference, the recent murders being the most excitement Sand Point had seen in years. Of course, the threatening letters sent to Mayor Stone were partly to blame.

Ben’s frown deepened.

Somebody had leaked information about the death threats to the newspaper. If the Gazette reporter suggested “conspiracy” one more time…

“Hon, your fierce stare might put the fear of God in little ole criminals, but those two reporters out there don’t care,” said Vivian Cox, her voice like a rusty saw as she walked into his office.

Ben relaxed. “Which movie hero sidekick are you channeling today?”

“Hey, I’m an original, babycakes.”

That was an understatement—Vivian was five-foot-nothing, her face wrinkled beneath thick makeup, and her hair dyed a brilliant red. According to longtime residents of Sand Point, she’d worked at the mayor’s office since she was eighteen, way back when her hair was naturally that color. Mayors came and went, but Viv stayed. After just a month on duty as the town’s police chief, Ben had already learned it was wise to stay on her good side.

“What’s up, Viv?”

“Hizonor wants to know if you’ve found the author of those, and I quote, ‘smutty mystery novels.’”

“You mean the mayor actually bothered to read them?” Another voice queried wryly, this one low and very feminine.

Ben’s nerves tightened. It was the town’s public affairs officer. Kelly James was the only person in City Hall who didn’t want to talk to the media, and it was her job.

“Hasn’t read them, doesn’t intend to,” Vivian said. “Mostly he’s upset that the library is carrying so many copies. Thinks it’s a waste of taxpayer money and will ‘rot our young people’s minds.’ You know how he is on this stuff.”

“That’s nonsense. Besides, they were donated by the publisher, not purchased,” Kelly protested. “The book-buying budget has been nonexistent the past couple of years.”

“He still thinks—”

“Is there a reason you’re having this discussion in my office?” Ben asked. Loudly.