Carla Neggers - Rival’s Break

A deadly poisoning, a stolen painting and a criminal mastermind challenge the skills of FBI agents Emma Sharpe and Colin Donovan as never before in their latest high-stakes case. New York Times bestselling author Carla Neggers has crafted a gripping novel of international intrigue and suspense not to be missed.

Emma Sharpe is recovering from a shattering loss while her husband, Colin Donovan, is deep into his latest undercover mission. So theyre grateful to enjoy a peaceful autumn weekend together on the southern Maine coast to celebrate Colins brother Andys wedding.

But the peace is short-lived when Kevin Donovan, a marine patrol officer, receives a call to check on suspected food poisoning at a party aboard a yacht. Colin decides to tag along. He is surprised to recognize one of the victims as an undercover British intelligence officer, and it quickly becomes evident theyre dealing with something very sinister. At the same time a valuable painting by Irish artist Aoife OByrnea friend of Emma and Colinsis missing from the yacht, and the connections make the investigation international and extremely personal.

Emma and Colin discover they are up against a deadly foe who plans to strike again. With the help of HIT, their small, elite Boston-based FBI team, they must foil an attack that will have devastating effects. Its a case that will alter their lives beyond anything theyve ever imagined

Also by Carla Neggers

Sharpe & Donovan

IMPOSTORS LURE

THIEFS MARK

LIARS KEY

KEEPERS REACH

HARBOR ISLAND

DECLANS CROSS

ROCK POINT (novella)

HERONS COVE

SAINTS GATE

Swift River Valley

STONE BRIDGES

THE RIVER HOUSE

RED CLOVER INN

THE SPRING AT MOSS HILL

A KNIGHTS BRIDGE CHRISTMAS

ECHO LAKE

CHRISTMAS AT CARRIAGE HILL (novella)

CIDER BROOK

THAT NIGHT ON THISTLE LANE

SECRETS OF THE LOST SUMMER

BPD/FBI Series

THE WHISPER

THE MIST

THE ANGEL

THE WIDOW

Black Falls

COLD DAWN

COLD RIVER

COLD PURSUIT

Cold Ridge/U.S. Marshals

ABANDON

BREAKWATER

DARK SKY

THE RAPIDS

NIGHTS LANDING

COLD RIDGE

Carriage House

THE HARBOR

STONEBROOK COTTAGE

THE CABIN

THE CARRIAGE HOUSE

Stand-Alone Novels

THE WATERFALL

ON FIRE

KISS THE MOON

TEMPTING FATE

CUT AND RUN

BETRAYALS

CLAIM THE CROWN

Carla Neggers

Rivals Break

To my grandparents, gone before I was born, well loved, never forgotten

Contents

Emma Sharpe opened all the windows in the small Maine coastal house she shared with her husband of almost four months, ending with the stubborn one above the kitchen sink. A crisp, salt-tinged breeze blew in on her, and she shut her eyes, taking it in, relishing it after her slog of a drive up from Boston. Shed left her FBI office early, hoping to beat the worst of the foliage traffic. Maybe she had. Maybe it was even worse now, at rush hour.

The weather forecast called for a sunny, cool weekend, perfect for leaf-peeping, hiking, kayakingor a family wedding.

Ill be there for the wedding, Emma. Promise.

That was three weeks ago. Long weeks, Emma thought. Hard weeks. The details of Colins whereabouts were on a need-to-know basis, and in her role as an art crimes analyst, Emma didnt need to know.

But tomorrow, after many ups and downs, her brother-in-law Andy, a lobsterman and third-born of the four Donovan brothers, and his marine biologist love, Julianne Maroney, were finally getting married in their small hometown of Rock Point, Maine.

A fresh, gusty breeze caught the calendar Emma had bought in Ireland and hung on the wall by the refrigerator, one of her touches in the Craftsman-style house. Colin hadnt objected. Theyd met a year ago...fallen in love fast...married in June...a whirlwind of a love affair, every second etched in her memory. But the last weeks of summer and first weeks of autumn had been a blur of grief, work and long walks in the Irish hills with her grandfather, mourning his only son, her father...gone too soon...and Colin, the hardheaded, hard-driving man she loved, away on his latest FBI undercover mission...

Emma noticed the calendar was still set to August. She pulled it off its prosaic nail and flipped past September to October. The blank weeks reminded her of the passage of time since she and Colin had last been here, in the house hed bought before theyd met. Shed added a few touches of her own here and there. In time, shed add more.

She hung the calendar back on its nail and admired the photo of Molls Gap on the southwest Irish coast. She and Colin had stopped there in June on their honeymoon. Holding hands, taking in the stunning views of the mountains and lakes, it was as if time stood still and nothing bad could ever happen to them.

Faintly unsettled, she took off her lightweight leather jacket and hung it on the back of a chair at the table. She was in black slacks and a white blouse, but would change into something more casual for tonights rehearsal dinner, a casual affair at Hurleys, a favorite Rock Point watering hole on the harbor. Would Colin get back in time?

Emma yanked open the refrigerator. Three bottles of a local craft beer sat on the top shelf. Colin wouldnt mind not coming home to actual food in the fridge, but beer? A staple for any Donovan. She wondered how many times in the past weeks hed thought about the beer waiting for him when he finally made his way back home.

Then she spotted a glass jar of local, whole-milk yogurt tucked on a shelf in the door. Had she left it on her last visit?

She shook her head. No.

As she shut the refrigerator door, she felt the flutter in her stomach she always felt when she knew Colin was near.

And he was, she thought. He was here.

Footsteps sounded on the back stairs. She saw him through the screen door as he pulled it open and came into the kitchen. Her heart skipped a couple of beats. The tousled dark hair, the blue-gray eyes, the small scar on his upper cheek. The broad shoulders. The slight, knowing smile. He wore jeans and a dark blue sweatshirt. His Maine clothes, his undercover clothesit didnt matter.

He shut the door behind him. Hey, there. Did you see I got you your favorite yogurt?

I did see that.

I got your favorite granola, too. Its in the cupboard.

Youre the best, Colin Donovan. Emma smiled as he slipped his arms around her. Shed pulled back her hair, fair and straight, but a few strands came loose as she took in the feel of him, his warmth, his strength. When did you get back?

After lunch. I went for a walk.

Of course. Felt good?

Not as good as this. He drew her closer, opening his palms on her hips. How are you, Emma?

Happy youre here, safe and sound. She eased her arms around his waist, settling them where sweatshirt and jeans met on his back. How did you get here?

Mike picked me up at the airport in Portland. I didnt want to fly into Boston and risk not getting here in time.

Mike was the eldest brother, a Maine wilderness guide and an occasional security contractor. You didnt want to miss tonights rehearsal dinner, Emma said.

And you. I didnt want to miss tonight with you.

Heat spread through her, a contrast to the cool late-afternoon breezes blowing through the small house. Now here we are.

Yes. Colins eyes held hers. Together again.