Hearts on the Line

Hearts on the Line
Margaret Daley

TO: AL CRANE@CSSENTINEL.ORG FROM: COLLEEN MONTGOMERY@CSSENTINEL.ORG Boss, I'm finishing up all my articles before Alessandro and I get married later this month.He's thrilled his uncle Max is out of the hospital and can attend the wedding. If only Baltasar Escalante weren't still out there–Alessandro believes he's plotting against the Vance and Montgomery families.My cousin Quinn has been busy restoring detective Becca Hilliard's house, but he's also on alert following the explosion at the hospital. I'd be thrilled if Quinn and Becca became a couple but I wonder how safe it is to fall in love when there's a madman on the loose….

“Do you think there’s a connection between the fire chief, the museum curator and Baltasar Escalante?” Becca asked her partner.

Her mind spun with the incidents that had occurred over the past few months in Colorado Springs, all wrapped up in the Vance and Montgomery families, who had been instrumental in Escalante’s downfall the year before.

When she thought of the drug lord being alive, she grew chilled. Once again she pictured Quinn Montgomery, with his chocolate-brown eyes and a smile that could melt a woman’s heart. He could take care of himself, but worry over his safety took hold and she couldn’t shake off her concern. Someone had tried to burn his business down and had nearly succeeded. What if he’d been in the shop when it had been set on fire?

FAITH AT THE CROSSROADS: Can faith and love sustain two families against a diabolical enemy?

A TIME TO PROTECT—Lois Richer (LIS#13)

THE DANGER WITHIN—Valerie Hansen (LIS#15)

THROUGH THE FIRE—Sharon Mignerey (LIS#17)

IN THE ENEMY’S SIGHTS—Marta Perry (LIS#19)

STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL—Terri Reed (LIS#21)

HEARTS ON THE LINE—Margaret Daley (LIS#23)

MARGARET DALEY

feels she has been blessed. She has been married more than thirty years to her husband, Mike, whom she met in college. He is a terrific support and her best friend. They have one son, Shaun.

Margaret has been writing for many years and loves to tell a story. When she was a little girl, she would play with her dolls and make up stories about their lives. Now she writes these stories down. She especially enjoys weaving stories about families and how faith in God can sustain a person when things get tough. When she isn’t writing, she is fortunate to be a teacher for students with special needs. Margaret has taught for over twenty years and loves working with her students. She has also been a Special Olympics coach and participated in many sports with her students.

Hearts On The Line

Margaret Daley

Special thanks and acknowledgment are given to Margaret Daley for her contribution to the FAITH at the CROSSROADS miniseries.

To Therese, Vickie, Jan, Caron and Gloria

Thank you for all your support and friendship.

To Captain Carole Newell

Thank you for all your help in researching what

a hostage negotiator does.

Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid; for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; He also has become my salvation.

—Isaiah 12:2

CONTENTS

CAST OF CHARACTERS

PROLOGUE

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

EPILOGUE

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

CAST OF CHARACTERS

Quinn Montgomery—The target of vandalism and arson, the head of Montgomery Construction was ready for a break from all the tension. But with a madman on the loose gunning for the entire Montgomery clan, Quinn needed his faith to get him through….

Rebecca Hilliard—The Colorado Springs police detective had been busy for months investigating the various crimes perpetrated against the Vance and Montgomery families. Was she too busy for romance with Quinn?

Baltasar Escalante—The drug lord was hiding out in Colorado Springs with a new face, plotting to take back his only living heir. He’d vowed to destroy his hated enemies for taking his son away from him…but would he succeed?

Ritchie Stark—The small-time criminal had moved himself up in the crime world. Was he El Jefe, the brains behind the drug operation, or was he just a small fish in a large, deadly pond?

PROLOGUE

“Did anyone follow you?” Baltasar Escalante stepped out from the shadows cast by the pine trees.

Dahlia Sainsbury came to a halt on the trail path, feeling out of place in high heels and a pale-blue silk suit, but then she hadn’t had time to change since leaving her office, having spent the past few days trying to convince the police she knew nothing about the drugs being moved beneath the museum. “No, I made sure before turning into the park.” She smoothed a few strands of her hair that had come loose from her chignon.