Colton's Body of Proof Read online

  Liam. She’d know him anywhere.

  Same dirty-blond hair, square jaw and broad shoulders. Though the tough-looking boy had morphed into a drop-dead sexy man. As their gazes met, she felt an instant jolt of attraction, eerily reminiscent of her sixteen-year-old self every time she’d been anywhere near him. Judging by how his eyes darkened, she affected him the same way.

  The light changed and she started across, checking both ways to make sure traffic had stopped. Halfway there, she heard a loud pop, too loud to be a car backfiring. Gunshot? A woman a few paces behind her screamed and immediately everyone on the crosswalk panicked and started running. Since Ellie had instinctively crouched low, the mad rush of people trying to get away nearly ran her over, shoving her sideways into the cross street. Struggling to get to her feet, she’d just turned herself around and got upright when Liam sprinted out and grabbed her, yanking her away from traffic.

  Somehow, they made it to the sidewalk. Heart pounding, blood pumping, Ellie struggled to catch her breath.

  “Are you all right?” Liam asked, still holding on to her arm.

  Dear Reader,

  I love the Coltons! I know you do, too. I always get excited when I start working on one of these. Colton’s Body of Proof was even more exciting, because it’s set in one of the most magical cities ever—New York. Even better, the hero, Liam Colton, is a reformed bad boy, now doing his part to help keep troubled teens from making the same mistakes he did.

  And the heroine, Ellie Mathers, is a crime scene investigator. Brilliant and beautiful. What fun! She and Liam were high school sweethearts, though they lost touch over the years. When they reconnect, sparks fly.

  Add in the huge Colton family, the hustle and bustle of NYC and the unmistakable fact that someone is out to get Ellie—ever since she recognized her former best friend, who’s been missing for sixteen years, in a crowded subway station. When Liam offers to help keep Ellie safe, she can’t pass up his offer. And as the attraction between them deepens, she wonders if she’ll be able to protect her heart.

  Come along with me for another wild Colton ride! I hope you enjoy the journey as much as I did.

  Karen Whiddon

  COLTON’S BODY

  OF PROOF

  Karen Whiddon

  Karen Whiddon started weaving fanciful tales for her younger brothers at the age of eleven. Amid the gorgeous Catskill Mountains, then the majestic Rocky Mountains, she fueled her imagination with the natural beauty surrounding her. Karen now lives in north Texas, writes full-time and volunteers for a boxer dog rescue. She shares her life with her hero of a husband and four to five dogs, depending on if she is fostering. You can email Karen at [email protected]. Fans can also check out her website, karenwhiddon.com.

  Books by Karen Whiddon

  Harlequin Romantic Suspense

  The Coltons of New York

  Colton’s Body of Proof

  The Rancher’s Return

  The Texan’s Return

  Wyoming Undercover

  The Texas Soldier’s Son

  Texas Ranch Justice

  Snowbound Targets

  The Widow’s Bodyguard

  Texas Sheriff’s Deadly Mission

  Texas Rancher’s Hidden Danger

  Finding the Rancher’s Son

  The Spy Switch

  Protected by the Texas Rancher

  Secret Alaskan Hideaway

  Saved by the Texas Cowboy

  Visit the Author Profile page at

  Harlequin.com for more titles.

  To my daughter, Stephanie Waters, and all the other educators out there. I’m so proud of you for making such a huge difference in the world.

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Excerpt from Operation Witness Protection by Justine Davis

  Chapter 1

  Sometimes Ellie Mathers wished she had the kind of nine-to-five job she could leave at work. Instead, she tended to take her cases home with her, reviewing the evidence, looking for that one thing that would finally provide the answer NYPD needed her to provide. She loved her job and was good at it, even though the constant need to stay on could be exhausting and counterproductive. She’d tried yoga and meditation, learned she didn’t have the patience for either, and settled on hitting the gym three to four times a week for grueling workouts with weights and machines. She’d found a good morning workout prior to going into the precinct helped get her blood pumping, which tended to clarify her thought process. Which served her well, since her job as a crime scene investigator required her to be sharp and focused.

  Which was why today, leaving her gym and heading for the subway to begin her forty-minute trip to Brooklyn, she couldn’t help constantly scanning her surroundings as she hurried to catch the train at 42nd Street. As she jogged down the steps, mentally urging the slow-moving people in front of her to go faster, she eyed the crowded platform and quietly groaned. She needed to make a quick decision where she wanted to wait for quick access off, which meant she needed to get on last. Whether she got a seat or not, she never cared, but she had to be as close to the exit as possible. Some of the awful things she saw at her job had taught her to always keep her back toward the wall whenever possible and have an escape route mapped out.

  As she reached the bottom step, she once again scanned the crowd. Most people barely even noticed her, but as a woman with short, dark hair looked up and met her gaze, Ellie froze. Their gazes locked before the woman looked away.

  It couldn’t be. Aliana Martin. Ellie wanted to rub her eyes. Instead, she battled her way through the crowd on the platform, determined to reach the woman’s side.

  Just then, the train arrived, coming to a stop with the familiar screeching sound. The doors opened, the crowd moved and somehow the dark-haired woman melted into the throng and disappeared. Heart pounding, Ellie followed.

  Inside the car, Ellie grabbed the pole closest to the door, ignoring the swirl of people moving around her. Holding tight, she continued searching for Aliana. If indeed, that was who she’d seen. After all, Aliana had vanished without a trace sixteen years ago. Despite the fact that this woman had dark hair and Aliana had been blond, Ellie would recognize her face anywhere. After all, they’d been best friends, as close as sisters, inseparable since kindergarten.

  Finally, Ellie thought she’d found her, standing at the other end of the same packed car, gripping a pole close to the last set of doors. Taking a deep breath, Ellie began to make her way toward her. This earned her several glares from her fellow passengers, which she ignored.

  But when she managed to reach the opposite end of the car, the dark-haired woman with Aliana’s face was nowhere to be found.

  Damn. “Maybe I’m just working too hard,” Ellie muttered to herself. “Seeing things.” Except she’d long ago learned to trust her gut feelings. And she knew without a doubt that she’d seen her long-missing best friend.

  Which meant Aliana had to be here somewhere on this moving train car.

  It would take about forty minutes to get from Midtown to Queens. Plenty of time to find her. Unless she got off at one of the earlier stops. Which hopefully Ellie would see.

  Unless... Ellie glanced at the door between cars. Illegal unless an emergency, but people still did it. She thought she remembered reading that there had been eight deaths so far this year due to people trying to move from car to car while the train was in motion.

  Since Aliana wasn’t here, that had to be what she’d done. Eyeing the door, with the warning sign clearly posted above it, Ellie decided to wait until they reached their destination. If she could spot Aliana again, when they got out, she could catch up to her. Would catch up to her. Aliana had disappeared once. Ellie didn’t intend to let her do so again.

  The back of Ellie’s neck crawled, alerting her that someone was watching her. Casually, she looked left, toward the next car. Sure enough, Aliana stood on the other side of the door, staring at her. As soon as Ellie met her gaze,, Aliana moved away. Soon, Ellie lost sight of her as she disappeared into the crowded car.

  No matter. They were nearly at their destination. Aliana might try to move fast, but Ellie felt confident she’d be faster.

  Finally, the announcement for Jamaica-179th Street came. Ellie moved as close as she could get to the exit door, ready to sprint the second it opened. She figured Aliana would try to get the jump on her since she clearly, for whatever reason, wanted to avoid Ellie. As the train shuddered to a screeching halt, a burly man stuffing a donut into his mouth elbowed his way in front of her just as the doors opened.

  Somehow, Ellie managed to dart around him. Though she was one of the first to exit her car, the steady stream of people moving away from the train made it difficult for her to locate Aliana. But she tried. Weaving through the crowd, she searched for a tall woman with glossy brown hair wearing a pale blue sweater.

  But after a good five solid minutes, she reluctantly had to admit defeat. Aliana had
once again managed to disappear.

  Walking to the lab, she began to question herself. Had she really seen Aliana, or just someone who resembled her? Every person had a doppelganger out there, or so she’d heard. Maybe this sighting was just a random, weird coincidence brought on by wishful thinking. After all, she’d just gone over the case for the umpteenth time. She always did as the anniversary of Aliana’s disappearance came around.

  But Ellie knew what Ellie knew. She felt certain she’d seen her missing former best friend. More than certain—positive. Yes, life had been completely different back in high school. She and Aliana had been teenagers, joined at the hip, though when Ellie had started dating Liam Colton, Aliana had stepped back to give her some space.

  Talk about a blast from the past. Liam Colton. He’d been cocky then, his bad boy persona and rakishly handsome looks drawing Ellie in like a magnet. Liam had been there for Ellie when her best friend had vanished, comforting her and even helping her search for clues as she tried to figure out what had happened.

  Despite Ellie’s attempts to reform him, however, Liam had drifted away, getting in more and more trouble. He ran around with what Ellie’s mother had called a bad crowd and ultimately wound up in prison for helping steal a Lamborghini. When Ellie went to visit him in jail, he broke up with her. But that was a long time ago. Doing time had changed him. These days, he ran a scared straight program at high schools throughout the city, including the one where Ellie’s mom worked as principal. Since she worked with Liam’s older brother Sean, she’d heard about his transformation there too.

  Liam. Despite his obvious failings as a teen, he’d become a steadfast, responsible adult. She almost couldn’t picture that.

  Shaking her head, she heaved a sigh. Odd how seeing Aliana had brought to mind a man she’d managed to avoid thinking about too deeply for years.

  Impulsively, she dug out her phone. Scrolling through her contacts, she stopped when she reached his name. How was it even still in here? And was it even current? He’d called her once, after he’d gotten out of prison. Though she hadn’t picked up, she’d saved his information just in case she changed her mind. Since she’d eventually forgotten it, she hadn’t.

  Adrenaline still pumping, she stabbed the button to call him before she could reconsider. To her surprise, he picked up on the second ring.

  The instant she heard his husky and still familiar voice, she started talking. Babbling, actually. “Hi, Liam. It’s Ellie. I know it’s been a long time, but I swear I saw Aliana today and you are the only person I could think of who might believe me.”

  Silence from his end. She filled that with an awkward laugh. “But then again, maybe I shouldn’t have bothered you. In fact, I’m sorry I did. I’ll let you go now...”

  “Ellie, wait.” He cleared his throat. “I have to admit, I’m surprised to hear from you.”

  Self-conscious now, she began to walk faster. “Yeah, when I saw Aliana...”

  “This isn’t a conversation for over the phone,” he interrupted. “How about you meet me for coffee and we can discuss it?”

  “When?” she asked, before she had time to think better of it.

  “How about now?”

  She checked her watch. “Where? I’m in Brooklyn right now. Greenpoint, to be specific.”

  “So am I,” he said, sounding surprised. “I’m giving a talk at Midwood High School later this morning. I’m actually on my way over to Joe’s. Do you want to grab a cup with me?”

  “Midwood? You know my mom’s the principal there?”

  “I do.” He laughed. “She sings your praises often. What do you think about having coffee?”

  Joe’s wasn’t far from the NYPD Forensic Laboratory where she worked. “I can do that,” she replied. “I should be there in five.”

  Ending the call, she continued at a good pace, though she still took time to appreciate the bright sunshine that promised a warmer afternoon. Since March mornings were still chilly, she kept her hands jammed in the pockets of her coat. Soon, bare branches would bud, then give way to lush green leaves. Since she took this route to work every morning, many of the shopkeepers recognized her and waved. She always smiled and waved back.

  Though the building where she worked was only a few blocks away, she took a quick detour down Humboldt Street. Joe’s Coffee Shop sat down the block, on the opposite side, almost at the end. She’d been there more than a few times since she loved their imported Jamaican coffee.

  “Ellie!” someone shouted. There, on the other side of the street, a tall, muscular man with killer blue eyes grinned at her.

  Her heart stopped, then started up again, rapid-fire.

  Liam. She’d know him anywhere. Same dirty blond hair, square jaw and broad shoulders. Though the tough-looking boy had morphed into a drop-dead-sexy man. As their gazes met, she felt an instant jolt of attraction, eerily reminiscent of her sixteen-year-old self every time she’d been anywhere near him. Judging by the way his eyes darkened, she affected him the same way.

  The light changed and she started across, checking both ways to make sure traffic had stopped. Halfway there, she heard a loud pop, too loud to be a car backfiring. Gunshot? A woman a few paces behind her screamed and immediately, everyone on the crosswalk panicked and started running. Since Ellie had instinctively crouched low, the mad rush of people trying to get away nearly ran her over, shoving her sideways into the cross street. Struggling to get to her feet, she’d just turned herself around and gotten upright when Liam sprinted out and grabbed her, yanking her away from traffic.

  Somehow, they made it to the sidewalk. Heart pounding, blood pumping, Ellie struggled to catch her breath.

  “Are you all right?” Liam asked, still holding on to her arm.

  “I think so.” She frowned, refusing to be embarrassed. “What the hell was that? It sounded like a gunshot.”

  “I agree.” Letting go of her, Liam glanced around. “No one got hit if it was. It sounded as if it came from a car driving by, though I didn’t see it. Like someone took a shot out of a car window.”

  Still stunned, Ellie took a deep breath. “What do you think they were shooting at?”

  “You, Ellie,” Liam replied. “I believe they were shooting at you.”

  Considering that, she stood stock-still. She had been ahead of everyone else in the crosswalk, by several feet. “If that’s the case, they are a terrible shot. I made a perfect target.”

  The lack of emotion in her voice had him searching her face. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine.” She brushed off his concern. “Thank you for helping me back there. And while it might be tempting to go with supposition, there were a lot of other things someone could have been taking a shot at besides me.”

  “Maybe so. But I still think this needs to be reported.”

  She nodded. “You’re right. I might as well head into the precinct and make a report on my way to my office.”

  “Would you mind if I escort you?”

  Liking that he asked instead of insisting, she managed a smile. “Of course not. We still need to talk about my seeing Aliana. We can do that on the way there.”

  As they walked, side by side but not touching, she told him everything. “I’m absolutely positive it was her,” she said, once she’d finished. “Without a doubt.”

  “Okay,” he agreed, which she loved. Immediate acceptance. “Then we need to figure out what she’s been doing the last sixteen years.”

  “And what happened to her.” They’d reached her work building. She’d just started for the door to pull it open when Liam easily reached around her and did it instead. “After you,” he said. His easy smile made her entire body buzz.

  “Hey, Mathers.” The woman manning the front desk motioned to her. “One of your friends stopped by and left you coffee and a bagel. She said it was your favorite.”

  Grateful, Ellie accepted the cardboard cup and paper bag she held out. “Did you get a name?”

  “Sorry.” She shrugged. “The phone started ringing and I barely had time to talk to her. Pretty brunette. That’s all I’ve got.”

  Not too helpful since that described more than a few of her friends, but she smiled and thanked her. Two of her best friends often sent coffee or cookies and she reciprocated. “Come on, Liam. Let’s go call your brother and make that report so I can get to work.”