Asking for Trouble
(Tremayne Family #1)
Anna J. Stewart
Anna J. Stewart
Adult Contemporary Romance
February 17th 2015 by Berkley InterMix
Morgan Tramayne has a heart of gold, but to keep her children’s charity afloat she’s had to resort to some less than legal means: donations from a notorious cat burglar who targets the wealthy. It’s only a matter of time before Morgan’s criminal connection blows up in her face—especially since her undeniable attraction to the man heading the investigation keeps putting her in tricky situations.
Former police detective-turned-investigator Gage Juliano has two goals: salvaging his career and nabbing Lantano Valley’s present-day Robin Hood. But when he meets a beautiful, curvaceous woman who’s more interested in helping others than amassing a fortune like the rest of the town’s residents, Gage finds his desires pulled in an unexpected direction…
Note: This novel contains some mature content.
A solitary page of official FBI letterhead listing a string of contact numbers was topped with a fluorescent pink sticky note covered in almost illegible scribbles. Gage’s gut clenched as he made out a smattering of phrases and names, but one word stood out enough to raise the hair on his neck. “Why would the FBI be interested in the Nemesis case? And what does that case have to do with the Tremayne family?”
“I’m thinking that’s what he wants us to find out. Whoever this Kolfax is,” Evan said, “he knows you. I got the impression he didn’t think you’d been up-front with me about your time working with them on that joint task force. Or about how it ended.”
“Shocking to think the FBI might be wrong about something.” Gage’s left shoulder throbbed—a quick burn shooting through him like a match had been struck against his skin. As fast as the sensation appeared, it was gone, but the flash ignited embers of resentment he’d worked hard to bank.
“Look, Gage, I know your history with the Feds isn’t the greatest, but if they’re looking into the Nemesis case—”
“They can look all they want.” Gage tried not to sound as edgy as he felt as they rounded the corner and Gage squinted into the late afternoon sun. His so-called “history” with the FBI had nearly gotten him killed. Having them pop up now, just when his life was getting on track again, felt like another knife in the back. “It’s my case. I agreed to head up your new investigative unit provided you get me the Nemesis case. That was our deal.”
“And I have no plans to change that deal, Inspector,” Evan said. “Which is why I agreed to your plan to use the press to our advantage. But if this Agent Kolfax has gone to the trouble of coming out here from Washington, D.C., to hover over your case, not to mention one of our most prominent families, I’m damned well going to take notice.”
“Good to know. In my experience, the FBI uses whomever and whatever they need to produce the results they want.” Bitterness cut like a razor through Gage’s words. “Even if it means innocent people get caught in interdepartmental cross fire.” And it sounded to him as if the Tremaynes had been moved directly into their cross hairs.
“That I’m used to.” For the first time, Gage caught a hint of strain on Evan’s face. “I kept my word, Gage, but I do not need to add the Feds to the mix, which is why I’m going to do a little digging. I’m counting on your experience to stay one step ahead and keep them in check. Beginning with that note Agent Kolfax just happened to leave out in the open for me to see.”
Gage eased the throttle back on the anger. “You think he wanted you to see it?”
“Considering that everything we talked about could have been said over the phone?” Evan shrugged. “I have no doubt he wanted this note in our hands. Any idea why?”
“Did you make out anything else on this note that might be important?” Gage asked, wondering what this Kolfax’s agenda was.
“A couple of Nemesis’ victims, I think. But then I saw he’d made a special note of the Tremayne family along with the Tremayne Foundation, and while I’m not convinced I was meant to see that, today’s meeting can’t be a coincidence. There’s a fund-raiser for the foundation tonight, and Kolfax didn’t strike me as the party crasher type.”
“He’s trying to distract us.” Or maybe Kolfax was one of those agents who hoped to make a name for himself by closing a case with the potential for national media exposure. “I didn’t walk away from fifteen years on the force to let the Feds come in and take over.”
“I know it hasn’t been easy for you,” Evan said, “taking this job. Especially given how your former bosses at the police department feel about me.”
“I try not to let politics interfere with any job that needs doing.” But Evan was right. It hadn’t been easy to walk away from the job, not to mention the cops at his hometown precinct who had welcomed him home after the time he’d spent away.
Gage cleared his throat and swallowed the bitterness. Dwelling on a past he couldn’t change didn’t do anything but raise his blood pressure. He was moving on, finding where he fit. For now, he was content with the refinished office and skeleton staff two floors below Evan. Just in case this Kolfax was on to something, “This fund-raiser tonight. Were you invited?”
“I was.”
“Too bad you won’t be able to go.” Gage popped the lid off his cup and tossed it into a trash can as they passed.
Excerpt
A solitary page of official FBI letterhead listing a string of contact numbers was topped with a fluorescent pink sticky note covered in almost illegible scribbles. Gage’s gut clenched as he made out a smattering of phrases and names, but one word stood out enough to raise the hair on his neck. “Why would the FBI be interested in the Nemesis case? And what does that case have to do with the Tremayne family?”
“I’m thinking that’s what he wants us to find out. Whoever this Kolfax is,” Evan said, “he knows you. I got the impression he didn’t think you’d been up-front with me about your time working with them on that joint task force. Or about how it ended.”
“Shocking to think the FBI might be wrong about something.” Gage’s left shoulder throbbed—a quick burn shooting through him like a match had been struck against his skin. As fast as the sensation appeared, it was gone, but the flash ignited embers of resentment he’d worked hard to bank.
“Look, Gage, I know your history with the Feds isn’t the greatest, but if they’re looking into the Nemesis case—”
“They can look all they want.” Gage tried not to sound as edgy as he felt as they rounded the corner and Gage squinted into the late afternoon sun. His so-called “history” with the FBI had nearly gotten him killed. Having them pop up now, just when his life was getting on track again, felt like another knife in the back. “It’s my case. I agreed to head up your new investigative unit provided you get me the Nemesis case. That was our deal.”
“And I have no plans to change that deal, Inspector,” Evan said. “Which is why I agreed to your plan to use the press to our advantage. But if this Agent Kolfax has gone to the trouble of coming out here from Washington, D.C., to hover over your case, not to mention one of our most prominent families, I’m damned well going to take notice.”
“Good to know. In my experience, the FBI uses whomever and whatever they need to produce the results they want.” Bitterness cut like a razor through Gage’s words. “Even if it means innocent people get caught in interdepartmental cross fire.” And it sounded to him as if the Tremaynes had been moved directly into their cross hairs.
“That I’m used to.” For the first time, Gage caught a hint of strain on Evan’s face. “I kept my word, Gage, but I do not need to add the Feds to the mix, which is why I’m going to do a little digging. I’m counting on your experience to stay one step ahead and keep them in check. Beginning with that note Agent Kolfax just happened to leave out in the open for me to see.”
Gage eased the throttle back on the anger. “You think he wanted you to see it?”
“Considering that everything we talked about could have been said over the phone?” Evan shrugged. “I have no doubt he wanted this note in our hands. Any idea why?”
“Did you make out anything else on this note that might be important?” Gage asked, wondering what this Kolfax’s agenda was.
“A couple of Nemesis’ victims, I think. But then I saw he’d made a special note of the Tremayne family along with the Tremayne Foundation, and while I’m not convinced I was meant to see that, today’s meeting can’t be a coincidence. There’s a fund-raiser for the foundation tonight, and Kolfax didn’t strike me as the party crasher type.”
“He’s trying to distract us.” Or maybe Kolfax was one of those agents who hoped to make a name for himself by closing a case with the potential for national media exposure. “I didn’t walk away from fifteen years on the force to let the Feds come in and take over.”
“I know it hasn’t been easy for you,” Evan said, “taking this job. Especially given how your former bosses at the police department feel about me.”
“I try not to let politics interfere with any job that needs doing.” But Evan was right. It hadn’t been easy to walk away from the job, not to mention the cops at his hometown precinct who had welcomed him home after the time he’d spent away.
Gage cleared his throat and swallowed the bitterness. Dwelling on a past he couldn’t change didn’t do anything but raise his blood pressure. He was moving on, finding where he fit. For now, he was content with the refinished office and skeleton staff two floors below Evan. Just in case this Kolfax was on to something, “This fund-raiser tonight. Were you invited?”
“I was.”
“Too bad you won’t be able to go.” Gage popped the lid off his cup and tossed it into a trash can as they passed.
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Growing up in the 70′s and 80′s meant there weren’t a lot of YA books, so she ventured early into mainstream fiction and read Stephen King’s CARRIE at the age of 8. Discovering Nora Roberts and romance novels early in high school opened her eyes to the wonders of storytelling and the beauty of a happily ever after.
So here she is, many years later with an English degree from CSU Sacramento, an RWA Golden Heart nomination behind her, countless stories in her head, and a serious addiction to STAR TREK, SUPERNATURAL, and SHERLOCK. She recently wrapped up a nearly 8-year stint working as assistant to NYTimes bestselling author Brenda Novak where she helped run Brenda's annual online auction for diabetes research. When she's not writing or reading (which she never has enough time for!), she's working on dollhouse miniatures and tolerating her overly-affectionate cat named Snickers (or perhaps it's Snickers who tolerates her).
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