Not This Time Read Online Free PDF

disappeared behind it. “Nothing. Everyone says NINA’s involved.”
    Her general remark sure felt specific—and it probably was, but Sara could be bullheaded. She always did things in her own time. Apparently whatever she might share she wasn’t going to—yet. “For me, the question isn’t if but why . They didn’t take anything or hurt anyone except Clyde, but I doubt they expected to kill him. So why attack this at all? What did NINA want to prove?”
    Sara stiffened. “That they’re in control. That they can kill us all, or specific ones of us, any time they choose.”
    Knocking them all out and tying fishing line to those women with NINA connections proved that. “Granted, but why the warning? We knew they could get to us. They’ve done it. Kidnapping Lisa, hunting down Kelly Walker. So why attack here now?”
    A tear leaked out of Sara’s eye. “Because they can.”
    “No.” Beth frowned. “There’s a specific reason. NINA’s disciplined and always specific. It never makes general statements. There’s more to this.”
    Sara looked away. Her phone rang. “Maybe that’s Robert.”
    Bad pennies . Giving Sara privacy, Beth joined Mark, Jeff, Ben, Harvey, andRoxy, huddling with Hank. First break in the conversation, she asked, “What did they do to us?”
    “Anesthetic.” Hank looked at Beth. “Used for surgery all the time. Not harmful.”
    “Not harmful?” She lifted a hand. “So Clyde is dead because …?”
    “ Typically not harmful,” Hank said. “Clyde had complications due to other medical issues.”
    Nora wouldn’t take comfort in that. As soon as the initial shock wore off, she’d be spittin’ mad—and poor Roxy looked equally devastated. She had looked forward to this day for months and now attackers had ruined it. Forfeiting three years of her marriage in a divorce she didn’t want but needed to keep her husband alive and safe … Hadn’t she sacrificed enough? Beth’s chest went tight. It just wasn’t right. “How can I help?”
    “Anything you can run down on similar attacks would be great,” Mark said.
    “Wait,” Jeff objected. “I’m not authorized to ask you to do that, Beth.”
    “They knocked us all out.” She slid Jeff a loaded look. “I don’t need to be asked.”
    Relief flashed across his face. He wanted to ask her to share what she found; she saw it in his eyes, but he wouldn’t. Tight budget.
    And she wouldn’t make him. “I’ll courtesy copy you and Mark on everything—in case somebody catches me digging and takes exception.” Bending, she hugged Roxy and then Harvey Talbot. “I’m sorry these jerks messed up your special day.”
    “Me too.” Roxy blinked hard. “But everyone else is okay, we have tomorrow, and that’s what most matters—except for Clyde.”
    And Nora . Beth’s heart wrenched. Clyde had been Nora’s companion for a lot of years, ever since he’d been widowed. She’d feel his loss most, and that she had to infuriated Beth. She owed Nora more than anyone knew and was determined to find out who had done this.
    Sara came over. “We can go now, right?”
    Jeff nodded. “All the cars in the lot have been swept and everything’s fine.”
    Sara’s expression said it all. Her jerk husband, Robert Tayton III, was still missing.
    Head down and shoulders slumped, Sara departed.
    “Is she okay?” Roxy asked. “She looks ready to jump out of her skin.”
    She did. Something was definitely amiss. They were all upset, but Sara carried some extra burden. For some reason, she seemed to be blaming herself for this incident. Why?
    Hank answered Roxy. “Sara’s always been high strung. But if she made it through this without an attack, she’ll be fine.”
    He was right about that.
    “You calling in your old team?” Jeff asked Mark.
    Mark had been in Special Operations. His team had all been in the village to help when Lisa had been abducted. Beth liked them all, but one team member was special . Joe . Her breath hitched.