Echoes From the Past
Book 4.6 in The Agency
A young woman with a complicated past finds herself fighting for her life in New York Times bestselling author Alexandra Ivy’s thrilling novel of secrets, murder, and riveting romantic suspense . . .
That secret explodes when Melanie Cassidy spots two men trying to kidnap a young boy she tutors and responds by ramming them with her car. The last thing she expects is for the man she once loved, Detective Gray Hawkins, to appear and rescue them both. Now she has no choice but to trust him as they investigate the truth about a conspiracy of dirty, drug trafficking cops—and the truth about their relationship…
Note: Echoes from the Past, a novella, was previously published in Pivot.
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CHAPTER ONE
Few people whizzing along Interstate 5 noticed the blocky, white stone buildings. The structures looked like any another office complex in Seattle. It wasn’t until you entered the front door that it became obvious it was a correctional facility that housed many of the city’s most dangerous prisoners. Including, Bart Kowalski.
Kowalski, or Ski, as he was known on the street, was a ruthless criminal who had a long history of violence that’d recently ended when he was shot and arrested for attempting to kidnap Lily Jones, the newly adopted daughter of Ian Brodie.
Detective Gray Hawkins had been called in to assist in the takedown of Ski, along with Ski’s partner in crime, Joey Bandini.
Gray had returned to Spokane after the arrest. Then, three weeks ago, he’d suddenly decided to move back to Seattle. He told people that he wanted to be closer to his family who lived in the area. A perfectly legitimate excuse. Only the Chief was aware of the true reason for his return.
Well, the Chief and Bart Kowalski who was hoping to avoid a life sentence by turning state’s evidence. Not only against his partner Joey Bandini, but the dirty cops who were involved in trafficking drugs into the city.
Entering the jail, Gray allowed the uniformed guard to lead him to one of the conference rooms that were reserved for attorney-client meetings. It’d been arranged by the Chief, since it was the only place in the jail where they could speak without being monitored.
The guard glanced over his shoulder, taking in Gray’s casual jeans and flannel shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. He could sense the younger man’s puzzlement. God knew he didn’t look like a lawyer with his thick chestnut hair tousled by the stiff breeze and a five o’clock stubble on his lean face. And he suspected his silver-gray eyes were smoldering with frustration.
No doubt the guard was wondering if he was there to stage a jail break. Then, with a small shrug, the young man seemed to conclude that his unease about the unknown visitor was above his paygrade and he shoved open the door.
Gray entered the small, windowless room to find a narrow table and two wooden chairs bolted to the tiled floor. Bart “Ski” Kowalski was already seated and glaring at him with blatant impatience.
The man was as large as a mountain with a bald head and heavily chiseled features. Most of the bruises he’d received during his arrest looked like they’d healed up in the past weeks. Gray couldn’t see the bullet wound on the man’s leg beneath the blue prison uniform, but he assumed it was healing as well.
Gray closed the door, moving to take the empty seat across the table from Ski.
“Bout time you got here,” the man groused.
Gray leaned forward, his expression hard with warning. “I shouldn’t be here at all. You’re going to blow my cover.”
