About the Book

College student and part-time health aide, Amira Connors, wants nothing more than to graduate and successfully launch a non-profit with her latest crush, Attorney Darius Browne. But when a nursing home patient (Claire Stewart) shares shocking details surrounding her husband’s death, Amira pieces together the fractured memories and helps law enforcement identify the actual killer. But is he? Or have Claire’s ramblings entangled Amira into becoming the next target?

Amazon ~~ Barnes & Noble ~~ Apple Books ~~ Kobo ~~ Books2Read

Excerpt

Amira maneuvered the Jaguar off the last stretch of the interstate before reaching the Brookside exit, the fading sunlight casting long shadows across the road, and parked along a grassy knoll. The rest stop seemed like an oasis in the quiet twilight, offering a temporary respite from her troubled thoughts. She approached a small lemonade stand by the road.

Around her, fellow travelers bustled about, their activities casting long shadows in the fading daylight. Some hurriedly made their way to the restrooms, while others tended to their restless dogs or disposed of fast-food remnants. Amira decided to take a momentary break from her journey, seeking solace in the routine tasks of organizing her life.

Resting at one of the nearby tables, she pulled out her planner and sifted through a stack of mail, determined to regain control amidst the chaos. With furrowed brows, she meticulously reviewed her budget, making note of impending deadlines and the feasibility of timely payments. The weight of responsibility settled upon her shoulders as she marked what could and could not be handled in time.

As the sun sank behind a grove of cedar trees, a blanket of fog began to creep along the ground, shrouding the rest stop in an ethereal haze. The young entrepreneurs who had been running the lemonade stand gathered their supplies, while parents dutifully folded down tables and stacked chairs into their van. Amira bid them goodnight with a weary smile, her mind preoccupied with a nagging sense of urgency, and returned to the car.

Feeling the weight of unanswered questions pressing upon her, Amira reached for a notepad and pen, determined to unravel the threads of mystery that had entangled her life. She needed a plan. Frustrated, she attempted to diagram what little she knew so far, hoping that a missing piece would emerge and bring clarity to the enigma.

The strain of the situation with Claire weighed heavily on her, and she rubbed her tired eyes, attempting to refocus her thoughts. Sensing the need for fresh air, she rolled down the car windows, allowing the cool, damp night to invade the confined space, its misty grasp obscuring her view. Pushing aside the scattered papers, Amira stepped out of the car, intending to clear her mind.

In the midst of the fog, she noticed a familiar sight—the same SUV from Dupont Ave parked across from her. A jolt of recognition sparked within her, and instinctively, she grabbed her phone, capturing a quick snapshot of the license plate. The image secured, she hurried back to the shelter of her car, and hastily crafted an email to Harper, requesting information about the owner.

As she pressed the send button, a figure in uniform materialized by her car, a police officer casting a watchful eye over the Jaguar. Amira's pulse quickened, her palms growing clammy with unease. The officer approached the driver's side door, his stern gaze fixed upon her.

"License and registration, Miss," he demanded, his tone betraying a suspicion that hung heavy in the air.

Confusion mingled with fear as Amira questioned the reason for this sudden intrusion. "Why? What have I done? I'm just sitting here," she protested, her voice tinged with apprehension.

His gaze unwavering, the officer's words cut through the tense atmosphere. "This car has been reported stolen."

“No, that’s impossible.”

“Step out of the car.” Another voice from the passenger side.

“Okay, one sec while I get that for you. I have it right here.” Amira twisted the key and dropped it into gear. The car jolted forward, tires screeching against the asphalt as her foot pressed down on the accelerator, her body pressed firmly against the seat, melding with the raw power of the machine. She gripped the steering wheel tightly, her heart pounding in her chest as she glanced nervously in the rearview mirror. The flashing lights of the police car behind her illuminated the darkness, casting an eerie red and blue glow on the road ahead.

She had never been in this situation before; never thought she would be the one fleeing from the law enforcement like a scene in a movie. But here she was, racing down the highway with the sound of the police sirens blaring in her ears.

She had no choice. It was either this or face the litany of questions. She knew she had done nothing wrong, but she had been lured into helping Claire, and now she was paying the price.

About the Author

Barbara Howard is a mystery and YA author of over a dozen books, including the trilogy, Finding Home Mystery Series; Final Harvest, Charlotte's Revenge, and Milo's Journey. She is a first generation tech geek turned master gardener. She returned to her Midwestern hometown after an extensive career as a Department of Defense Project Manager at the Pentagon and spends most of her time treasure hunting, spoiling her fur-babies, growing veggies, and plotting whodunits.

She has also published a collection of books on food-related topics, food safety, and heirloom recipe cookbooks under the pen name, Arlene Lee.

Memberships/Affiliations: Mystery Writers of America (MWA), Sisters in Crime (SinC), Great Lakes Fiction Writers (GLFW), Crime Writers of Color (CWoC), Gamma Xi Phi (GXP)

Website ~~ Facebook ~~ Instagram ~~ Twitter ~~ Goodreads ~~ BookBub ~~ Pinterest