Read Going Once (Forces of Nature) for Free Online Page A

position, she hit the control on her bed until she was sitting completely upright.
    Beaudry smiled as he headed for her bed.
    “Hey, Nola, it’s good to see you. I hear you had a rough time of it out there.”
    She nodded, but her gaze was fixed on the men behind him.
    Beaudry could see she was as shocked by Benton’s appearance as Benton had been when he’d found out she was the witness, but they were here on police business, not unfinished business.
    “These men are from the FBI, and they’re working a case connected to the recent murders in our area. We got a copy of the statement you gave Lieutenant Carroll about what you saw, but they want to talk to you some more, okay?”
    She pointed at the men behind him. “What is he doing here?”
    Beaudry frowned. “Uh, like I said, these men are from the FBI. That man is Special Agent Benton and—”
    “I know who he is. I asked you what he’s doing here.”
    * * *
    Tate thought he’d prepared himself for this moment, but he was wrong. The girl he’d left behind had turned into a stunning woman. The soft round cheeks he used to kiss were firmer, the cheekbones more defined. Her eyes were still as blue, and the black winged brows above them were gathered into a mute statement of her anger. The abrasions on her face and hands were evidence of what she’d suffered. It hurt to think about what she must have endured before she was rescued.
    “I’ll speak for myself,” Tate said. “Hello, Nola. This is a heck of a way to meet again.”
    Tate. Oh, Lord. I can’t go there. Nola’s heart was beating so fast she felt faint, but it was anger that came up first.
    “It’s a damn shame people had to die to bring you back.”
    He ignored the anger. It was to be expected.
    “These are my partners, Special agents Luckett and Winger.”
    “And that’s their problem, not mine, ” she muttered.
    Cameron frowned. “Ma’am, excuse my bluntness, but whatever is going on with you and Agent Benton is going to have to be shelved. We’re looking for a serial killer, and you’re the first person who’s gotten a look at him and survived.”
    Nola accepted the setdown. Her personal issues with Tate needed to take a backseat to finding a killer.
    “Fine, Agent Winger. I’ll answer any questions you ask, and if you’re going back to Queens Crossing afterward, I would certainly appreciate a ride home.” Then she sighed. “I need to rephrase that. I need a ride back to town. My home and everything I owned are gone.”
    “We’ll be happy to take you, but will the doctor release you?” Tate asked.
    She wanted to ignore him, but, as Winger had so clearly stated, there was more at stake here than hurt feelings.
    “Yes, as of this morning. I just didn’t have anyone left who could come get me.”
    “You don’t have a husband?” When she glared without answering, he took that as a no and tried to ignore the relief pouring through him.
    “What about your mom?” he asked.
    “She died last Christmas.”
    “I’m sorry. I—”
    Her voice was shaking as she cut him off. “So am I. You read my statement. I don’t know what else I can tell you, but take a seat and ask me whatever you please. I’ll do anything I can to help.”
    Wade took the first question to take the pressure off Tate.
    “Miss Landry, I’m Agent Luckett. I read that you didn’t get a good look at his face. Is there anything else you’ve remembered since you talked to Lieutenant Carroll?”
    Nola shook her head. “No, I wish there was. I was stranded up that tree for nearly eighteen hours, and I know they were on their roof at least that long, too. We saw a helicopter once, but it was a long ways off, and then there was nothing to see but debris, bloated animal carcasses and the occasional gator swimming past us in the floodwater—which kept rising, by the way. I kept climbing up, hoping it would stop before I ran out of tree.”
    There were tears running down her cheeks, but she didn’t seem to know