When a Heart Stops Read online

  © 2012 by Lynette Eason

  Published by Revell

  a division of Baker Publishing Group

  P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287

  www.revellbooks.com

  Ebook edition created 2012

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

  ISBN 978-1-4412-3967-9

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

  Scripture quotations used in this book, whether quoted or paraphrased by the characters, are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

  The internet addresses, email addresses, and phone numbers in this book are accurate at the time of publication. They are provided as a resource. Baker Publishing Group does not endorse them or vouch for their content or permanence.

  Published in association with Joyce Hart of the Hartline Literary Agency, LLC.

  To my wonderful family and friends.

  I couldn’t do this without you.

  And to Jesus Christ,

  my Lord and Savior—

  and my reason for writing.

  I pray people see you on every page!

  CONTENTS

  Cover

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Dedication

  1 2 3 4 5

  6 7 8 9 10

  11 12 13 14 15

  16 17 18 19 20

  21 22 23 24 25

  26 27 28 29 30

  31 32 33 34 35

  36 37 38 39

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  Books by Lynette Eason

  Back Ads

  Back Cover

  1

  TUESDAY, 2:40 A.M.

  If she moved, would she die? Serena Hopkins kept her eyes shut and lay as still as possible in the king-size bed, doing her best to keep her breathing even.

  Which was becoming more impossible by the second.

  As her fear increased, so did the rate of her heartbeat and respirations.

  Was he still there?

  A slight rustle to her left answered that question. A sliver of moonlight through her window cut a path across the room, allowing enough light for her to see shadows.

  A drawer slid open, then closed with a light click.

  She opened her eyes into a narrow squint. How did he get in? Where was Yoda, her golden retriever?

  Terror made her shudder.

  The figure at her dresser paused. Looked around. She felt his gaze land on her.

  What should she do? Move and draw attention to herself? Continue to pretend to be asleep?

  Please, Lord, please.

  Her cell phone lay on the end table, could she grab it fast enough and dial?

  Not a chance.

  Another chill slid through her. Why hadn’t her home alarm gone off? The tremble started in her hands and quickly spread.

  No! She couldn’t move. Curling her fingers into fists, she did her best to still them.

  Her eyes moved back to the figure. His attention had moved from her to another drawer. What was he looking for? How much longer would he look, and if he didn’t find what he wanted, would he turn to her? Wake her? Threaten her? Worse? Her mind registered the slender, lanky build of the intruder.

  He went for the next drawer. Slid it open. He turned to look over his shoulder at her and she slammed her eyes shut.

  Serena’s heart thudded in her chest. Surely he could hear it. See it. Was he still watching her? She let her eyes crack. No, his focus was on the drawer in front of him. Slowly, inch by inch, never taking her gaze from the person’s back, she slid her hand toward the end table.

  The drawer slid shut. A whispered curse brushed her ears. He hadn’t found what he was looking for. He knelt. She heard a popping sound and froze. His knees. Somehow that simple sound demoted him from terrifying monster to dangerous human.

  A low, almost nonexistent grunt filtered to her.

  Her fingers brushed the phone on the edge of the nightstand. The phone teetered.

  No! It couldn’t fall.

  Straining, nearly strangling on the need to keep her breathing even when she wanted to gasp in huge gulps of air, she managed to snag the phone with her thumb and forefinger.

  She pulled it toward her, slowly, painstakingly silent, until finally, she had it under the covers with her.

  Now what?

  Would the touch screen light up the room even under the cover of the blanket?

  She had to chance it.

  And she had to light the screen so she could see the numbers. Right now, she wished she had a phone with buttons one could just feel and know exactly what number it was.

  There was one button on this phone she could find by touch. The one that would light the screen. But if she hit the numbers, the rest of the touch pad would make noise. If she’d left the phone on ring instead of vibrate.

  She couldn’t remember.

  Panic nearly smothered her.

  He was in the closet. Maybe he wouldn’t hear it.

  Maybe.

  She pressed.

  Not a sound. Squinting, still watching his back as he searched, she suppressed a relieved sigh when he never paused.

  The phone was on vibrate.

  Thank you, Lord.

  Her intruder disappeared farther into her walk-in closet.

  Now was her chance.

  Fingers still wrapped around the phone, Serena pushed back the covers as silently as possible and swung her legs off the edge of the bed closest to the door. She finished dialing 9-1-1 and pressed Send, keeping her hand over the screen to minimize the light.

  Even as the phone rang and the 9-1-1 operator picked up, Serena was moving toward the open bedroom door. Her bare feet never made a sound on the hardwood floors.

  But she couldn’t speak into the phone yet.

  She slipped out of the bedroom and into the hall. Her goal was the back door to the garage.

  And then she heard him curse.

  “Serena, where are you?”

  The silky-smooth low voice shot new terror through her as she used a precious second to debate her next move. Getting out of the house was no longer an option. He would be on her before she got the dead bolt turned.

  Footsteps—terrifying, unhurried footsteps—came her way. “I’ll find you. You can’t be far.”

  She spun on her heel and hurried as silently as possible to the spare bedroom. Hopefully, he would expect her to make a run for one of the doors that led outside.

  Serena closed and locked the bedroom door and turned to answer the operator, who was asking, “. . . Is someone there? What’s your emergency?”

  Serena held the phone to her lips and whispered, “104 Bennett Drive. Someone’s in my house.”

  Her foot kicked something soft. And warm.

  “Yoda,” she whispered. Grief welled up in her as she placed her hand on Yoda’s chest. And felt a beating heart.

  Relief replaced the grief, but she didn’t have time to do more than offer the unconscious animal a soft pat. She tossed the phone on the bed, the operator still talking. Hurrying toward the closet, she flipped on t
he light and blinked as her eyes adjusted to the sudden brightness.

  Serena pulled out a locked box.

  And froze as the bedroom doorknob rattled.

  “Serena, I know you’re in there. Give it up, honey. If you just give me what I want, I’ll leave you alone.”

  Sure he would. Fingers shaking, she went to the nightstand, opened the drawer, and pulled out the key.

  It took three tries, but she finally managed to get the box open.

  “I’m running out of patience, Serena. Open the door or I’ll kick it in.” He did sound irritated. And that made her blood churn. She was an irritant to him. A mere bother.

  She had no doubt that if he got his hands on her, she was dead.

  How long would it take for the cops to arrive?

  A few minutes at least.

  “Serena!”

  It just registered that he knew her name. So this wasn’t some random break-in.

  Still, she refused to answer him.

  Her fingers worked the magazine into the Glock 17. Her father’s gun. The one he insisted she learn how to shoot and handle as well as any police officer.

  Her palm racked the slide at the top and the round chambered. The semiautomatic pistol felt comfortable, reassuring. Some of her terror dissipated. Enough that her hands steadied.

  Now all she had to do was pull the trigger as many times as it took. Surely seventeen bullets would do the trick. “I have a weapon!” she hollered. “And if you come through that door, I’ll use it!”

  A pause. Then a low laugh. “Sure you do, Serena.”

  Gripping the gun with both hands, she lifted the pistol and fired.

  The bullet slammed into the door.

  She heard a scream, another curse.

  Then the sound of sirens filled her ears. Seconds later, through the window, flashing blue lights filled the room.

  “The cops are here! Leave now!” she ordered, wishing her voice didn’t tremble with each word.

  A loud boom hit her ears and the bedroom door slammed open. His slender frame filled the opening and his malevolent green eyes met hers.

  Serena felt a cold chill invade her and knew she was going to have to shoot to kill.

  “Please, don’t make me do this,” she whispered.

  He lunged toward her and she pulled the trigger for the second time that night.

  2

  THURSDAY, 6:15 P.M.

  “It’s time,” he breathed. “Are you ready?”

  An anxious longing twisted inside the listener. “I’m ready. I’ve waited a long time for this. But why now?”

  “Doesn’t matter why now.” Then he laughed and rhymed, “I’ve missed the game, it’s time to play, I have the name, you pick the day.”

  “What are the names?”

  “Leslie Stanton and Kelly Popour.”

  He reeled off the street addresses. “Call me when it’s done.”

  3

  SUNDAY, 10:45 A.M.

  Leslie’s hand shook as she stared down the barrel.

  Kelly Popour sat at the table, arms shackled at the biceps, effectively holding her in place. She pleaded, “Don’t, Leslie, don’t!”

  But Leslie didn’t have a choice. Not if she wanted to live. Her heart shuddered as she looked to the left. To the person who’d brought this nightmare down on them.

  “Why?” she whispered. “Why?”

  An insane giggle reached her and she knew her life would never be the same. If she even had a life after tonight.

  “It’s your turn, Leslie,” the voice singsonged. “You lost the hand.”

  Leslie looked at the cards scattered across the table. Nausea welled up, gagging her. The bullet in her shoulder caused it to burn like someone had touched a blowtorch to it.

  She couldn’t do it. She simply couldn’t. Her mind scrambled for a plan, a way to escape. And the only way to do that was to end the life of the person who’d snatched her from her home two days ago.

  But she couldn’t turn the gun on her captor either. The steel bar attached to the table ensured the gun would point in only one direction.

  Toward her best friend, Kelly.

  And Leslie had been warned. If she didn’t pull the trigger, she would die.

  The only way to live was to pull the trigger. “God! Help me!”

  Her finger tightened and Kelly flinched, screaming as she ducked her head into her shoulder. “Don’t! Don’t!” The shackles kept Kelly bound to her chair.

  Leslie felt the bite of her handcuffs. The ones around her ankle, binding her to her own steel chair that had been bolted to the floor. No shackles this time. The shooter didn’t have shackles.

  A sharp pain sliced through her shoulder, and her arm convulsed.

  “Do it, Leslie. Kelly pulled the trigger on you, didn’t she? What’s keeping you from doing the same?”

  She couldn’t do it. Glancing at the one who was now in control of whether she lived or died, Leslie suddenly knew without a doubt she wasn’t going to live much longer.

  With a deep breath, she set her jaw, determination sliding through to push the terror aside a fraction. If she was going to die, she wouldn’t die a murderer.

  She dropped her arms, heard the gun clatter to the table as the steel bar fell over. “I won’t do it.”

  She felt something slam into her forehead and knew no more.

  4

  MONDAY, 7:02 A.M.

  Dead, dark eyes stared up at her, and Medical Examiner Serena Hopkins suppressed the shiver that slid over her. The feeling was unwelcome—and unexpected—since she saw dead bodies on a daily basis.

  Ignoring her odd reaction, Serena leaned in and examined a small package with a bright red bow. It lay on the woman’s midsection with her rigid hands grasping it. If she didn’t know the woman was dead, Serena would think she was lying there, stretched out on the bench, taking a short nap while waiting on someone to wake her.

  Only this woman would never again wake up.

  Serena let her gaze move down the body, taking note of the pink hoodie jogging jacket over a white T-shirt, matching pink jogging shorts, skinned knees, and bare feet.

  Detective Katie Isaacs cleared her throat. “Well?”

  Serena watched as the bomb squad van pulled away. It hadn’t taken them long to examine the package and declare it nonexplosive. But Serena wouldn’t open it. CSU, the crime scene unit, would take care of that. Her job was the body. “I would say she’s been dead anywhere from eight to thirty-six hours. She’s cold and stiff. From the hole in her forehead, I’ll make a wild guess and say that was the cause of death. But until I do the autopsy, I won’t know for sure. I can say for certain that she wasn’t killed here, though.”

  “Not enough blood,” Katie stated.

  Serena nodded. Head wounds bleed profusely, but this woman . . . “Not any blood. At least none that I can see.” Serena pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes on the woman’s head. “Something’s just not right . . .”

  Straight dark hair, slender, tall, athletic.

  But there was something familiar . . .

  “I don’t want to move her until Mickey gets here.” Mickey Black, the CSU photographer, would get the pictures from every conceivable angle before Serena would move the body. And then he would take more pictures. But she could take in as much information as possible while she waited on him.

  As she continued to study the woman’s face, recognition finally came like a punch to the gut. “I know her.” Stunned, Serena straightened and looked at Katie. “Her name’s Leslie Stanton. She was in my graduating class in high school. You were a senior when we were freshmen.”

  Katie took another look, then shook her head. “She doesn’t look the slightest bit familiar to me.”

  Serena lifted a brow. “Death has a way of messing with a person’s looks. I’m sure she would prefer the yearbook picture.” She paused. “Where’s your partner?” Serena had no idea how Hunter Graham worked with Katie Isaacs. The woman could be crass and downright
rude, but she and Hunter had developed a relationship that worked for them.

  And Serena had to admit Katie seemed to have mellowed a bit since being shot a few weeks ago.

  Katie said, “He and Alexia took a little trip trying to track down her father.”

  Hunter Graham and Alexia Allen, two of Serena’s closest friends, needed the break from the trauma they’d just lived through four weeks ago. Someone had been after Alexia and almost succeeded in killing her.

  Fortunately, she’d escaped and Hunter was determined to stick close while she searched for the father she hadn’t seen in ten years.

  Katie shielded her eyes with her hand and looked at the crowd behind the tape. “Chad’s here working with some of the other officers asking questions, trying to find someone who saw something.”

  Detective Chad Graham, Hunter’s brother and a bit of a loose cannon. But likable enough and a good detective. He was going through a nasty divorce, but Serena noticed he was learning to leave his personal life at home while he focused on the job.

  Another man caught her attention. Tall, with broad shoulders and reddish blond hair, he was an all-around good-looking man. “Hey, isn’t that Colton Brady? What’s he doing here?”

  Katie looked over her shoulder. “Yes. He was transferred to our department two weeks ago. Word’s out that he has his eye on the captain position when Captain Murdoch retires in a few months.”

  Serena bit her lip. “Huh.” She watched him move through the crowd, stop to speak to officers, and then engage in conversation with Chad. He had an air of authority around him. It would be interesting to see if he got the captain’s job.

  Mickey arrived and, after briefly greeting them, got to work.

  Serena stepped back, tilted her head toward Katie, and refocused on her news. “So they found Alexia’s father?”

  “They think so. With all the feelers they put out, they finally got some hits. A homeless shelter director in Charlotte, North Carolina, said he thinks the man’s been staying there for the past week.”

  Serena continued her observations, making notes and studying the area around Leslie.

  When Mickey finished snapping, he said, “We can turn her now. I’ll snap while you move her.”