The Boys Club (23 page)

Twenty-one
months later…

Logan pulled the door open and
rushed inside to escape the chilled air. He scraped his snow-covered boots
against the black, rubber mat at the front door before continuing down the
quiet hall. His shoes squeaked against the waxed floor and bounced off the bad
acoustics, as he counted the passing halls until he reached D hall. He had
checked out the layout of the building prior to coming here to make sure he
took the most direct route. Pulling up the sleeve of his leather jacket, he
hoped he wasn’t too late. The full parking lot told him he still had some time.

He shoved his gloved hands into his pockets, still trying to
warm up from the below zero temperatures. His blood had thinned after years of
living and working primarily in warm weather climates. He couldn’t understand
how anyone would want to live in a place as cold as Kansas. It could be worse,
he thought. He could be in Alaska.

Halfway down D hall, he slowed his pace and read the numbers
on his left, until he found D18. He stopped just before he reached the wooden
door with one window. A knot formed in his stomach and he reconsidered his
actions. He didn’t belong here, so far away from home, not knowing the result
of his intrusion.

But his heart overrode his brain, reminding him that after
all he’d been through in the past four years, he could force his legs to move
forward. Just three more feet.

He took the steps, his heart starting its pounding in his
throat and head, canceling out everything else around him. Peeking in the
window, he caught his breath.

Sara wrote out an unseen phrase on the chalkboard and turned
to face her classroom. He heard her voice, but could not interpret any words.
He was content just to watch her, with her hair pulled up into a ponytail, much
longer than he remembered, and her light makeup accentuating her large, brown
eyes. Every movement held an air of confidence and authority, one he had seen
hints of during the time they spent together.

She rotated back to the chalkboard, this time in the
direction of where he stood. She stopped herself halfway through the turn and
the chalk tumbled out of her fingers, as her eyes fixed on his. Her lips
parted, and Logan wondered if her surprise was positive.

Her mouth moved a little, as if trying to talk, and then she
looked back at her class. He read her rapidly moving lips. “I’ll be right back,
class.”

The closer she got to the door, the more nervous Logan
became. She closed the door behind her, as she stepped out into the hall.

“Logan,” she said, with a breathy voice. She covered her
lips with her fingertips.

“Hi, Sara.”

“How did you… I mean, when did you get here?”

“My plane landed a bit ago at Mid-Continent Airport. I drove
straight here.”

Her hands dropped to her side, but she remained speechless.

He realized the folly of showing up unannounced and wondered
if he had made a mistake. “I probably shouldn’t have come without letting you
know first.”

“No, it’s fine. I’m just… I just—”

“It’s okay. I should have called before just dropping by.”
He smiled at her hesitation. “You look great, Sara.”

“I could say the same thing. I’m glad to see that smiling
thing stuck with you.”

Her words made his smile grow. “Maybe just a little. You
changed your last name. Sara Bennett.”

“I thought it was only fitting to officially change it to my
mom’s maiden name after everything that happened.”

“I’m sure she’d approve of that.”

“Schaffer came to the trial. He was there every day. I… I
asked about you.”

“He told me,” Logan said.

Pain crossed her face and creased her brow. “I thought maybe
you’d come at least one time with him—”

“I couldn’t. I wanted to, but I couldn’t.”

“That’s what he said. But I still kept hoping.”

Logan took a step forward. “He told me you were incredible
on the stand. That your testimony is what put Langston away.”

“That’s what they say,” Sarah said. “I’d like to think it helped,
but it was still scary. As powerful as he always looked in daily life, he
looked so old and frail in that orange jumpsuit. It’s strange how that one
thing changed his whole appearance, but it didn’t change my memory of what he’d
done to me. To you.”

Her gaze dropped to his gloved left hand, and he held it up.
“I’m all healed now,” he said. “It doesn’t bother me at all anymore.”

“I had nightmares about it,” she said. “I couldn’t get it
out of my mind.”

“I’m so sorry you had to witness all that. I wish I could
take that away from you.”

“Just knowing you’re okay is more than enough for me.” She
shifted her weight and crossed her arms. “So, what are you doing in town? Do
you have a job here?”

“In Wichita? No job. I’m just here to check on an old
friend.”

Sara smiled and looked down.

“Why move here?” he asked.

“After Langston was killed in prison, I couldn’t stay in
witness protection. His organization was pretty much dismantled already. I
wanted to find a new place to start over. I thought this city sounded as good
as any.”

When Logan had heard about Langston’s untimely end in the
prison cafeteria—stabbed with a shank by someone he had crossed years
earlier—he wasn’t sure how his death would affect Sara. He now saw she hadn’t
missed a beat, and it probably served to strengthen her even more.

“Do you like it here?” he asked.

“Absolutely. Maybe a little cold for my taste and I haven’t
found the ocean quite yet.”

Logan laughed. “I only ask because while I’m not here for a
job, it is still official business. I heard your teaching contract ends in a
few months and you haven’t yet signed a new one.”

She rolled her eyes. “If I even get offered a new one. There
are so many teacher layoffs throughout the country that I was lucky to get this
job.”

“What if you didn’t have to worry about layoffs anymore?
Steady, permanent job, great pay, and still doing what you love.”

She arched an eyebrow. “And where exactly can I find a job
like that?”

“Schaffer is finally retiring at the end of the year, and
I’ll be in charge of The Boys Club. We thought it would be a great idea to have
a full-time teacher on staff. Someone who could help the new recruits with
studying for their GED and other teaching duties as needed.”

Her lips curled upward into a mischievous smile. “That
sounds pretty cushy. Are benefits included in that package?”

“Oh, I don’t know.” Logan moved to her and lowered his head.
“I’m sure we can come up with something.”

She lifted up on her tiptoes and met his lips. Logan forgot
all about being in the middle of a school hallway, until the sounds of “oohs”
from behind her closed door started up. They broke away from each other and
chuckled. Peeking over her head, he saw a few of her students with faces
pressed against the glass. With a flushed face, Sara waved them away from the
door.

When they disappeared, Logan said, “Go finish your class. I
have to check into the hotel still. Then I’ll pick you up for dinner and we can
discuss the details. How’s six o’clock?”

“That works.” She thumped her forefinger against his chest.
“I suppose you already know where I live.”

He grinned. “Of course.”

“I should have known.” She stepped back and smiled. “I’ll
see you at six, Logan.”

“Perfect. Just one last thing, Ms. Bennett.”

She tilted her head. “What’s that?”

“Call me Gabe.”

###

Best
seller on Amazon US and Amazon UK for Psychic Suspense

Winner
~ Gold Medal for Paranormal Fiction in the 2014 Reader’s Favorite International
Book Awards

How do
you hide from a killer when he’s in your mind?

Emily Monroe conceals her
psychic gift from the world, but her abilities are much too strong to keep
hidden from an equally gifted killer. A savvy private investigator, she
discreetly uses her psychic prowess to solve cases. When the police ask her to
assist on a new case, she soon learns the killer they seek is not only psychic,
but is targeting her
.

The killer wants more than
to invade her mind; he wants her. Believing they are destined for each other,
he u
ses his victims as conduits to communicate with her,
and she hears their screams while they are tortured. She opens her mind to help
the victims, but it gives him a portal that he uses to lure her to him. With
the killer taking over her mind, she must somehow stop him before she becomes
his next victim
.

Reader Reviews for Conduit

“Conduit
is a unique masterpiece…The amount of details given by the author and the
wonderful way it was written causes heart pounding moments, fear of the dark
and the need to check behind every closed door.” ~ 5-star review from Amazon

“To say
CONDUIT is a thriller is an understatement. From the first page to the
harrowing conclusion, this is an absolute page-turner.” ~ 5-star review from
Amazon

“‘Conduit’
is an absorbing psychological thriller…which blends in more than a little
splash of the paranormal as it gets underway with a suitably creepy and curious
prologue setting the tone of the book and sinking claws of intrigue in from the
word go.” ~ 5-star review from Amazon

Rachel
Thomas longs for normalcy, but if she stops running, she could die…or worse.
Chased by a past that wishes to imprison her, haunted by dreams that seek to
destroy her, Rachel finds solace in a love she could not predict. A love she
cannot deter.

Mark
Jacobson is the man who never needed love. He has his bookstore, his
bachelorhood, and his freedom. In the moment he meets Rachel, he is swept into
a world he didn't know existed. One filled with the purest of love. One filled
with betrayal, lies, and murder.

Now
Rachel and Mark are forced to face her past. The truth may kill them both.

Reader Reviews for False Security

"I
HIGHLY recommend this book if you like suspense and surprises. Martin is a
master at her craft and I cannot WAIT to read her next novel!" ~ 5-star
review from Amazon

"Ms.
Martin had me rooting for Rachel and Mark… As danger escalated, I found it
impossible to stop reading. A riveting story: if you enjoy romantic thrillers,
you're in for a treat with 'False Security'." ~ 5-star review from Amazon

"False
Security by Angie Martin is the kind of book I just couldn't stop reading. It's
a new haunting love story…and this author knows how to get me hooked into a
tale from the first page. There are…moments of beauty, quiet moments of love,
and seething times of terror…False Security is a beautiful love story that you
will not want to miss." ~5-star review from Amazon

"Excellent
read for lovers of suspense thrillers." ~ 5-star review from Amazon

"the three o'clock in the
morning sessions" is a poetry collection of works written over the span of
almost fifteen years. This book also contains two short stories, "the
door" and "brief love". All of the works deal with lost love or
unrequited loves.

Reader Reviews for three o’clock

“The best word I can find to describe the poetry and prose
in this book is elegant. I have far too many favorites in this short book to
mention them all.” ~ 5-star review from Amazon

“She writes from her heart as she pours out her soul onto
these pages filled with real-life emotions. These gripping pieces touched me as
I found a connection.” ~ 5-star review from Amazon.

“These poems…are filled with so much emotion that you can
relate to you. The short stories leave you wanting more and using your
imagination to continue the story.” ~ 5-star review from Amazon.

“This collection of poetry was impressive and moving. Each
one is unique and draws upon the reader’s emotions. It is thought provoking and
channels into the reader’s very soul. This collection is beautiful and
amazing.” ~ 5-star review from Amazon.

Angie Martin lives with her husband and pets in Overland
Park, Kansas. She grew up in Wichita, Kansas and has lived all over the United
States. Her work reflects not only her background in criminal justices, but her
love of music.

A suspense novelist by day, her debut suspense novel,
False Security
, was published in Oct
2013.
Conduit
, a psychological
thriller with a paranormal twist, was released in March 2014. Conduit won the
Gold Medal for paranormal fiction in the 2014 Readers’ Favorite International
Book Awards. She has also published a poetry collection. She is hard at work on
her next projects.

Website:
www.angiemartinbooks.com

Facebook:
www.facebook.com/authorangiemartin

Fan Group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/angiesconduits

Twitter:
www.twitter.com/zmbchica

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