Found Wanting

FOUND WANTING

By Joyce Lamb

What others say about FOUND WANTING

“Top-notch suspense as believable characters in an action-packed plot will enthrall readers. Like Tami Hoag and Iris Johansen, Lamb weaves the textures of romance and suspense together in a satisfying read.”

 -- Booklist

“An exhilarating romantic suspense starring a wonderful female protagonist.” -- Harriet Klausner

“Found Wanting is one of the best romantic suspense novels I have ever read!”

 -- Romance Junkies

“(Lamb) excels at giving her readers complex, dark drama coated with lots of intrigue.” -- Romantic Times

“A chilling suspense ... an exceptional story.” -- Love Romances

Found Wanting

Copyright 2004 Joyce Lamb

Relative Strangers excerpt

Copyright 2002 Joyce Lamb

Other books by Joyce Lamb

Caught in the Act (now in e-book for the first time)

Cold Midnight (Berkley Sensation paperback)

True Vision (Berkley Sensation paperback)

True Colors (Berkley Sensation paperback)

True Shot (Berkley Sensation paperback coming in December 2011)

FOUND WANTING

Prologue

When the doorbell rang, Alaina stopped dusting, slightly annoyed at the interruption. She had only begun cleaning, and because it was one of her least favorite things to do, it had been hard to get motivated. Pausing at the stereo to turn down Bruce Springsteen's Born to Run, she mentally prepared the usual excuses as she went to the door.

"I bought from the kid down the street."

"My child is selling them, too."

"Have all the magazines I need, thanks."

"My higher power is chocolate."

But when she opened the door to the icy Colorado air, she wasn't prepared for the woman shivering on her porch. She had not seen her in nine years, had thought she would never see her again.

The woman, overcome by emotion, threw her arms around Alaina. Alaina didn't hug her back. Instead, she pulled her mother into the apartment and, after scanning the quiet apartment complex to see whether they had been observed, shut the door. Her hands on her mother's arms, Alaina gave her a slight shake. "How did you find me? Were you followed?"

"Followed? Why would I be followed?"

"Just answer me. How did you find me?" She checked her watch. Jonah was due home from school in half an hour.

"A private detective found you." Seeming to regain her composure, Eve smiled through her tears and grasped Alaina's face in her palms. "Look at you. You're so grown up, so beautiful." Tears welled again. "Your father's eyes."

Alaina noticed that the past nine years had ruthlessly aged her mother. She was only in her middle fifties, but she looked eighty, her face creased and sagging with exhaustion. Last time Alaina had seen her, her hair had been a chestnut brown, but now it was pure white. And bags underscored her sad, faded blue eyes.

"What private detective, Mother? Someone you hired?"

"Yes, of course. Someone I hired."

"Did you tell anyone you were coming to see me?"

"No. I told them I had a fundraising conference." Eve was the wife of a corporate CEO, and she'd chosen charity as her career, using the power and influence of her husband to benefit the underprivileged.

"What about Addison?"

"No, I didn't tell your sister."

Alaina turned away, jammed a hand through her hair. Another look at the clock. Twenty-five minutes before Jonah was due. Ten minutes earlier, and she could have picked him up at school before he got on the bus.

It didn't matter that her mother said she had told no one. They would have to move -- again. Resigned, she went into Jonah's bedroom, grabbed the suitcase out of his closet and started throwing in clothes. Her hands were shaking, her heart hammering. She didn't think, just plowed through the same routine she had plowed through just a year before in Madison, Wisconsin.

"What are you doing, Ali?" Eve asked from Jonah's bedroom door, then she seemed to notice the room, and her expression turned wistful. "Where is my grandson?"

Ali. She hadn't been called that in fourteen years. Because she wasn't that person anymore. Alaina glanced at her mother, saw that her eyes had teared up, then went back to her furious packing. Eve had never understood and never would, so Alaina didn't bother trying to explain.

"It's time for you to come home, Ali," Eve said. "It's time for you to bring Jonah home."

Alaina stopped packing to stare at her mother. "And you think all will be forgotten the minute I walk in the door?"

Eve's lower lip trembled. "I miss you. Your father misses you."

Alaina snorted. "Yeah, right."

Eve stepped into the room. "We'll work it out. Your father --"

Alaina whirled on her. "I can never come home, Mother. I'm a fugitive. The minute I show up, I'll be arrested." She snapped the suitcase closed, dropped it by the door and went into her own bedroom to begin emptying drawers.

Eve, looking appalled, followed. "I don't understand why you would think that. Yes, you made mistakes, but there's no --"

"Hello, ladies."

Whirling from the closet, Alaina saw him blocking the door. She didn't waste time on surprise or fear. She just lunged for the bedside table, fumbled with the drawer and had the gun in her hand before he could grab her. Cocking it, she aimed it at his chest, praying he wouldn't call the bluff. There wasn't a bullet in the house.

Layton Keller raised his hands, palms out, a relaxed smile on his lips. Alaina's finger flexed on the trigger, and for a moment, she wished for bullets. She and Jonah would never have to run again.

Eve stared at her daughter in astonishment. "What on earth are you doing?"

"Don't come any closer," Alaina said to Layton. "I'll shoot."

Layton's smile spread. "Sure you will." He was as handsome as ever. Blond hair and blue eyes, square jaw and perfect, white teeth. He worked out regularly, not an ounce of fat on his hard, lean body. She remembered his strength, remembered how powerless she'd been beneath him. The gun started to shake, and she braced it with both hands.

"Would you mind leaving Alaina and me alone? There's something we need to talk about," he said to Eve, ever the gentleman. He had won over hundreds with his charm and good looks. He knew how to get what he wanted, and if he didn't get it, he took it. By brute force.

When Eve didn't move, Layton tossed car keys at her. "My car is parked out front. Why don't you go wait in it? We'll be out in just a few minutes."

Eve glanced at her daughter, clearly shocked by the weapon in Alaina's hands.

"Just go," Alaina said, not wanting her mother to get caught in any crossfire.

Eve backed out of the room, and Layton kicked the door shut behind her. "Alone at last," he said, grinning. "I've missed you, Ali. I've missed your fire, your passion." He positioned himself in front of the door, the only escape route. "When does he get home?" he asked.

She gauged she had fifteen minutes before her nine-year-old son charged through the door. "He's staying at a friend's house until tomorrow."

"You're a terrible liar. Pity that no one ever saw that but me." He stepped toward her, his grin broadening when she edged back. "No bullets, huh?"

She threw the gun at his head. He ducked, charged her. She had nowhere to go. He caught her around the middle, threw her onto the bed and, as she tried to scrabble away, straddled her. The air lodged in her chest, and Alaina fought the violent memory of him on top of her a decade ago. She clawed at his face and got only air. He backhanded her twice before she lay still, stunned and tasting blood.

Breathing heavily, he pinned her hands on either side of her head. "Ah, memories."

He nuzzled her neck, and panic choked her. Not again. God, not again.

"You changed your perfume," he said near her ear. "I like it much better than that cheap, lemony scent you used to wear."

Biting back the fear, she tried to focus on figuring out how to get him out of the house.

He smiled down at her, his eyes as empty and cold as ever. "What? You don't recall our night together as fondly as I do? Then perhaps a re-enactment is in order." With one hand, he ripped her blouse open.

Alaina shrieked in rage, gnashed her teeth, snarled at him. Her fist glanced off his temple before he restrained it again. Rearing up, she slammed the top of her head into his chin and saw stars. He grunted once before toppling sideways off the bed. Alaina didn't comprehend what had happened until she saw her mother standing over him with a heavy, cast-iron skillet held high in one hand, ready to nail him again if he moved.

Rolling off the other side of the bed, Alaina gained her feet for only a moment before her knees buckled. She caught herself against the dresser. She was going to be sick. Dammit, no time, no time. Still, the room was spinning, turning gray.

Then Eve was beside her. "Put your head between your knees."

Alaina pushed her mother away.

Only when the strength drained out of Alaina's limbs was Eve able to shove her daughter's head down. As the blood flowed back into her brain, Alaina took several deep breaths. She saw Layton sprawled beside the bed. "Is he dead?"

"He's breathing," Eve said.

Alaina pushed to her feet. "Jonah will be here any minute." She looked down at her shredded blouse. Yanking it off, she replaced it with a T-shirt from the dresser. Her hands weren't steady. She couldn't think, didn't know what to do next.

Then the front door banged open, and his voice called out to her. "Mom!"

The moment snapped back into place. Alaina looked at her mother, saw tears on her face. "We have to go."

Eve nodded, her eyes sober. "I understand."

Alaina thought she really did. After so many years, so many lies. All it had taken was seeing her son-in-law in action. Her fear for Jonah propelled her toward the door, but she didn't know what to say to her mother.

Eve waved her on. "Hurry. Don't let him see this." She nodded at Layton. "I'll make sure he stays put."