Barbara Freethy - Dont Say a Word

Rave reviews for the novels of Barbara Freethy

ALL SHE EVER WANTED

"Three friends reunited to uncover a haunting mystery-I couldn't put it down." -Luanne Rice "RITA Award winner Freethy succeeds in developing a suitably eerie atmosphere that doesn't eclipse the story's main focus on the renewal of fabulous friendships and romances." -Publishers Weekly

"A fabulous story! The mystery, the romance, and the reconnecting friendships all come together in the perfect mix of romantic suspense the perfect story to curl up in front of a fire with." -Romance Junkies

"A gripping tale uplifting and hopeful well written and compelling a fascinating blend of romance, mystery, and suspense. Don't miss it!"

- Romance Reviews Today

GOLDEN LIES

"An absolute treasure, a fabulous page-turning combination of romance and intrigue. Fans of Nora Roberts and Elizabeth Lowell will love Golden Lies." -New York Times bestselling author Kristin Hannah "

"A lively romp Freethy's smooth prose, spirited storytelling, and engaging characters are sure to send readers on a treasure hunt for the author's backlist books." -Publishers Weekly

"Multidimensional characters at all levels (especially the strong-willed hero and heroine), realistic and sometimes funny dialog, and a well-constructed plot that Freethy unwraps with such consummate skill that the conclusion is at once surprising and totally logical result in a rich and compelling tale." -Library Journal

SUMMER SECRETS

"Barbara Freethy writes with bright assurance, exploring the bonds of sisterhood and the excitement of blue water sailing. Summer Secrets is a lovely novel." -Luanne Rice

"In the tradition of LaVyrle Spencer, gifted author Barbara Freethy creates an irresistible tale of family secrets, riveting adventure, and heart-touching romance. Told with wisdom and clarity, her story of love, forgiveness, letting go, and starting over will linger in your heart long after the book is closed." -Susan Wiggs

"Freethy's zesty storytelling will keep readers hooked, and the sisters' loving but prickly interactions will make anyone with a sibling smile." -Publishers Weekly

"Graced with sympathetic, well-defined characters and an intriguing, multithreaded plot, this is an emotionally involving story sure to please Freethy's growing fan base and, like Kristin Hannah's novels, neatly bridges the gap between romance and traditional women's fiction." -Library Journal

"Freethy skillfully keeps the reader on the hook, and her tantalizing and believable tale has it all-romance, adventure, and mystery." -Booklist (starred review) Praise for Barbara Freethy "Barbara Freethy is a fresh and exciting voice in women's romantic fiction." -Susan Elizabeth Phillips "Superlative." -Debbie Macomber "Barbara Freethy delivers strong and compelling prose." -Publishers Weekly

"Freethy has once again penned an exceptional piece of fiction." -Library Journal

Other Books by Barbara Freethy

All She Ever Wanted

Golden Lies

Summer Secrets

BARBARA FREETHY

DON'T SAY A WORD

CONTENTS

Z

A SIGNET BOOK

SIGNET

Published by New American Library, a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014, USA Penguin Group ( Canada ), 90 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 700, Toronto, Ontario M4P 2Y3, Canada (a division of Pearson Penguin Canada Inc.) Penguin Books Ltd., 80 Strand, London WC2R ORL, England Penguin Ireland, 25 St. Stephen's Green, Dublin 2, Ireland (a division of Penguin Books Ltd.) Penguin Group (Australia), 250 Camberwell Road, Camberwell, Victoria 3124, Australia (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty. Ltd.) Penguin Books India Pvt. Ltd., 11 Community Centre, Panchsheel Park, New Delhi - 110 017, India Penguin Group (NZ), cnr Airborne and Rosedale Roads, Albany, Auckland 1310, New Zealand (a division of Pearson New Zealand Ltd.) Penguin Books (South Africa) (Pty.) Ltd., 24 Sturdee Avenue, Rosebank, Johannesburg 2196, South Africa Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R ORL, England First published by Signet, an imprint of New American Library, a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

First Printing, October 2005

10 987654321

Copyright Barbara Freethy, 2005 All rights reserved \Jj REGISTERED TRADEMARK-MARCA REG1STRADA Printed in the United States of America Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

PUBLISHER'S NOTE

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party Web sites or their content.

If you purchased this book without a cover you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as "unsold and destroyed" to the publisher and neither the author nor the publisher has received any payment for this "stripped book."

The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author's rights is appreciated.

To the Fog City Divas, Carol Grace, Diana Dempsey,

Candice Hern, Barbara McMahon, Kate Moore and honorary Diva Lynn Hanna,

who always offer support, friendship, great ideas and lots of chocolate

Prologue

25 years earlier

She took her bow with the other dancers, tears pressing against her lids, but she couldn't let those tears slip down her cheeks. No one could know that this night was different from any other. Too many people were watching her.

As the curtain came down one last time, she ran off the stage into the arms of her husband, her lover, the man with whom she would take the greatest risk of her life.

He met the question in her eyes with a reassuring smile.

She wanted to ask if it was all arranged, if the plan was in motion, but she knew it would be unwise to speak. She would end this evening as she had ended all those before it. She went into her dressing room and changed out of her costume. When she was dressed, she said good night to some of the other dancers as she walked toward the exit, careful to keep her voice casual, as if she had not a care in the world. When she and her husband got into their automobile, they remained silent, knowing that the car might be bugged.

It was a short drive to their home. She would miss her house, the garden in the back, the bedroom where she'd made love to her husband, and the nursery, where she'd rocked

No. She couldn't think of that. It was too painful. She had to concentrate on the future when they could finally be free. Her house, her life, everything that she possessed came with strings that were tightening around her neck like a noose, suffocating her with each passing day. It wasn't herself she feared for the most, but her family, her husband, who even now was being forced to do unconscionable things. They could no longer live a life of secrets.

Her husband took her hand as they walked up to the front door. He slipped his key into the lock and the door swung open. She heard a small click, and horror registered in her mind. She saw the shocked recognition in her husband's eyes, but it was too late. They were about to die, and they both knew it. Someone had betrayed them.