Read Online L.A.P.D. Special Investigations Series, Boxed Set: The Deceived, The Taken & The Silent by LINDA STYLE - Free Book Online Page A

seat and closed her eyes, welcoming sleep. She’d hardly had a wink since Detective Ramsey had first shown up on her doorstep.
    She was just drifting off when she heard the flight attendant ask someone, “And what would you like to drink, sir?”
    A deep, familiar voice replied, “I’ll have what this young lady is having,” and, for one brief second, she thought she was dreaming.
    Jillian’s eyes snapped open. Adam Ramsey stood next to the aisle seat. Looming over her, he smiled—a lazy sort of smile, as if bumping into her on a plane bound for Costa Rica to search for an imposter who might be a criminal was an everyday occurrence.
    “Hello there,” he said in a friendly tone.
    She nodded. “Detective.”
    “Mind if I sit here?” He gestured to the empty aisle seat.
    Somewhere between Chicago and Houston she’d moved to the middle in her row of three because she’d felt a draft sitting next to the window. The other two seats were empty, and she had no reason to refuse his request.
    “Suit yourself.”
    “Thank you. Don’t mind if I do.”
    When he settled, he turned to her with a quizzical look. “I’m surprised, Jillian Sullivan. I had no idea you’d be on this plane. Fancy that.”
    “And vice versa. Let’s see, what were the words…something about following procedure, and your department couldn’t afford a trip like this, and if they did, there was all that paperwork to get it approved, which would take forever, and then there was a little matter of red tape because it was a different country, not to mention your office wasn’t looking for an imposter but a murderer. Or did I misunderstand all that?”
    He tipped his head in acknowledgment. “What an excellent memory you have. You’re assuming, of course, that I’m on this plane for business and not pleasure.” He grinned.
    After a pause, she said, “You’re right. I made an assumption. If it’s incorrect, why don’t you enlighten me? Are you on vacation? Or is it that everything you told me before was a lie and you’re going to Mirador to find the man who’s impersonating my late husband?”
    “No. Not a lie. Actually, I thought your idea was brilliant and decided to forgo the paperwork and follow up on it myself by taking a little vacation time?”
    She frowned. “If you’re not traveling to Mirador in any official capacity, what can you do?”
    “I’m going for the same reason you are. To find the man in the photograph.”
    “Well, I doubt we’re on this plane for the same reasons, Mr. Ramsey. I believe you want to find the man because you think he’s my dead husband and that he’s done something criminal and went missing because of it. I want to see who the imposter is because his taking Rob’s identity could affect my family and my business.”
    His gaze locked with hers, his expression questioning. “You haven’t, for even a minute, entertained the thought that this guy might be your husband?”
    Her nerves drew taut. “Of course I’ve had the thought. Especially since you mentioned…” she hesitated, “…those mitigating circumstances. In truth, it’s plagued me ever since. So, to get any peace of mind at all, I have to know. Because if by some bizarre twist of fate, Rob is still alive…”
    A lump grew in her throat. She took a breath. “If he is still alive, it would be a miracle, and I’d do everything I could to help him.”
    Adam’s brows crinkled, questions dancing in his eyes, as if she’d said something very perplexing. And wrong.
    “That’s all pure conjecture, though,” she added. “I highly doubt the possibility, but I need to know so I can sleep at night.”
    He was staring at her mouth, and she had an urge to moisten her lips. Her skin warmed as she realized how easily his gaze unnerved her. She didn’t want to be unnerved by this man.
    “Hmm,” he said. “Since we’re going to the same place for the same purpose, perhaps we should join forces?”
    Her skin prickled. “We may be going