Dee Henderson - Danger in the Shadows (Prequel to The OMalley Series)

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT

DANGER IN THE SHADOWS

Dee Henderson had me shivering as her stalker got closer and closer to his victim. The message that we have nothing to fear as long as God is in control was skillfully handled, but I got scared anyway! I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes suspense.

TERRI BLACKSTOCK, BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF TRIAL BY FIRE

Dee Henderson is quickly rising to the top of Christian suspense! Ms. Hendersons sparkling characters and superb plotting in Danger in the Shadows sweeps the reader along to a breathless conclusion. Youll want to keep the light on for this one!

LORI COPELAND, AUTHOR OF THE ISLAND OF HEAVENLY DAZE

Dee Hendersons romantic suspense is a satisfying read. Shes tweaked the story line just enough to keep the tension taut and the romance springy.

ROMANTIC TIMES MAGAZINE

A Masterstroke! Dee Henderson gives the reader not one but two irresistible heroes; a rare occurrence that should not be missed by serious romance readers.

COMPUSERVE REVIEWS

Romantic suspense fans, if you also crave an emotionally-charged, inspirational read, Danger in the Shadows is the perfect blend. This book goes on my keeper shelfits a winner!

BOOKBUG ON THE WEB

An excellent read for those looking for a nail-biting read with lots of heart.

ALL ABOUT ROMANCE

Dee Henderson has meticulously woven an intriguing tale of faith, love, and suspense.

WRITERS CLUB ROMANCE GROUP ON AOL

I read Danger in the Shadows last night and it was great. I picked it up in the evening and didnt go to bed until 2:30 when I finished it. The story had twists you couldnt see coming and a touch of real romance with a spiritual base. The surprise ending had me holding my breath.A. B.

I absolutely LOVED Danger in the Shadowsnow I am hooked. Count me a new Dee Henderson fan.P. G.

I loved it! I could hardly put the book down and cant wait for more.E. L.

Thanks for the great read. I love being able to read romance and suspense and learn more about God at the same time.T. P.

I really enjoyed the book!!! The plot, the characters, the suspense, and the romance were wonderful. Im already anticipating the OMalley family series. You keep writing and Ill keep reading.V. C.

It grabbed my attention at the very beginning. I love that in a book. This was the first of your books I have read but it will not be the last.

I just completed reading Danger in the Shadows. It was so gooooooood!M. M.

RITA Award Winnerthe highest national award given for excellence in romantic fiction

National Readers Choice Award Winner Booksellers Best Award Winner

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Danger in the Shadows

Copyright 1999, 2002 by Dee Henderson. All rights reserved.

Cover photograph copyright by Getty Images. All rights reserved.

Cover photograph of trees copyright by iStockphoto.com. All rights reserved.

Designed by Ron Kaufmann and Dean H. Renninger

Previously published in 2003 by Multnomah Publishers, Inc. under ISBN 1-57673-97-9.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

This novel is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons living or dead is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of either the author or the publisher.

ISBN 978-1-4143-1055-8

TITLES BY DEE HENDERSON

THE OMALLEY SERIES

Danger in the Shadows (prequel)

The Negotiator

The Guardian

The Truth Seeker

The Protector

The Healer

The Rescuer

UNCOMMON HEROES SERIES

True Devotion
True Valor
True Honor

Kidnapped

The Witness

Before I Wake

Fear not, for I am with you,
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.

ISAIAH 41:10

T he summer storm lit up the night sky in a jagged display of energy, lightning streaking and fragmenting between towering thunderheads. Sara Walsh ignored the storm as best she could, determined not to let it interrupt her train of thought. The desk lamp as well as the overhead light were on in her office as she tried to prevent any shadows from forming. What she was writing was disturbing enough.

The six-year-old boy had been found. Dead.

Writing longhand on a yellow legal pad of paper, she shaped the twenty-ninth chapter of her mystery novel. Despite the dark specificity of the scene, the flow of words never faltered.

The child had died within hours of his abduction. His family, the Oklahoma law enforcement community, even his kidnapper, did not realize it. Sara didnt pull back from writing the scene even though she knew it would leave a bitter taste of defeat in the mind of the reader. The impact was necessary for the rest of the book.

She crossed out the last sentence, added a new detail, then went on with her description of the farmer who had found the boy.

Thunder cracked directly overhead. Sara flinched. Her office suite on the thirty-fourth floor put her close enough to the storm she could hear the air sizzle in the split second before the boom. She would like to be in the basement parking garage right now instead of her office.

A glance at the clock on her desk showed it was almost eight in the evening. The push to finish a story always took over as she reached the final chapters. This tenth book was no exception.

This was the most difficult chapter in the book to write. It was better to get it done in one long sustained effort. Death always squeezed her heart.

Had her brother been in town, he would have insisted she wrap it up and come home. Her life was restricted enough as it was. He refused to let her spend all her time at the office. He would lean against the doorjamb of her office and give her that look along with his predictable lecture telling her all she should be doing: puttering around the house, cooking, messing with the roses, doing something other than sitting behind that desk.

She did so enjoy taking advantage of Daves occasional absences.

His flight back to Chicago from the FBI academy at Quantico had been delayed due to the storm front. When he called her from the airport out East, he cautioned her he might not be home until eleven.

It wasnt a problem, she assured him, everything was fine. Code words. Spoken every day. So much a part of their language now that she spoke them instinctively. Everything is fineall clear; Im fineIve got company; Im doing fineIm in danger. She had lived the dance a long time. The tight security around her life was necessary. It was overpowering, obnoxious, annoyingand comforting.

Sara turned in the black leather chair to watch the display of lightning. The skyline of downtown Chicago glimmered back at her through the rain.

With every book, another fact, another detail, another intense emotion, broke through from her own past. She could literally feel the dry dirt under her hand, feel the oppressive darkness. Reliving what had happened to her twenty-five years ago was terrifying. Necessary, but terrifying.