Deadly Purpose Read online

  THE SILVER LINING

  Meghan Bennett is a desperate woman running for her life, and the one place she’s sure she’ll be safe is the old cabin in the Eastern Sierras she inherited from her father. Exhausted, and fighting a nasty flu, Meg can’t believe someone is squatting in her cabin. The tall, handsome, bearded stranger who answers the door is her worst nightmare. Grumpy, growly and intractable, she can’t convince him to leave. When she nearly collapses, she finds herself on the couch in front of a welcome fire. Over the next few days she thinks she can trust this man with more than her safety. Too late, she learns he has betrayed her, and he shatters her trust right along with her heart.

  Declan Murphy has been trying to rebuild his life, and he revels in the solitude his old friend and mentor’s cabin provides. When a gorgeous, pissed-off woman shows up in the middle of a cold, snowy night insisting the cabin is hers and he needs to get out, Dex is ready to shut the door in her face—until he realizes she’s sick, and even he’s not that big a Neanderthal. When he finds out she’s the daughter of the man who’d owned the cabin, and that she’s the biggest asset in the investigation he’s working on with the FBI, he can’t believe how screwed he is. He’s fallen hard for the stubborn, independent beauty, yet he can’t tell her the truth about what he’s doing. He knows when she finds out, he’s going to lose the woman he hadn’t been looking for but needs more than his next breath.

  PRAISE FOR DIANE BENEFIEL

  Solitary Man

  NATIONAL READERS’ CHOICE AWARD WINNING NOVEL

  “I am in love with this story. I devoured this book and didn’t want it to end. The chemistry between the characters and the plot kept me wanting to read late into the night. This is my first read from Diane Benefiel but definitely not my last. I can’t wait to read more from this amazing author. Thank you Diane Benefiel for getting me hooked on your books!” ~ CJ’s Book Corner

  “Ryder was exactly who Brenna needed in her life, and trust me when I say you will love him because yeah he really is that good of a guy. Solitary Man is my first book by this author and it will not be the last. I really think you all will enjoy this one as much as I did it is one I do recommend.” ~ I’m A Sweet And Sassy Book Whore

  “I really enjoyed this book and there were a few twists and turns that kept me completely involved in the story. This is the first time I have read this author and it definitely won’t be my last!” ~ Sassy Southern Book Blog

  HIGH SIERRAS SERIES

  Flash Point

  “Diane Benefiel takes us on a story filled with mystery, suspense, and action as we try to solve what is going on in the small town of Hangman’s Loss. Flash Point is a story that will have you flipping the pages and wondering who is the behind the attacks against Hangman’s newest resident and why.” ~ Sarah Reads

  “Flash Point really surprised me. It’s not what I was expecting but I really enjoyed reading it. It’s a fun easy read that captured me from the start.” ~ Coffee Chat

  Dead Giveaway

  “Diane has written yet another winner in her High Sierra series. Murder witness and 'person of interest' Gwen flees with her godson to Cameron's uncle Eli. Gwen and Eli have no use for one another but come together for Cameron's sake and to find the true murderer...and in the process find their way to one another. My evening with Gwen and Eli couldn't have been more delightful, and I look forward to the next installment of the High Sierras.” ~seniorphotog

  “I loved this second book in the High Sierras series. This is a story of two people who are attracted to each other, but reconnecting under the worst of circumstances. I discovered Ms. Benefiel’s books and have loved the careful way she draws you in to the story with characters that make you feel as if you are reading about friends. I am really looking forward to the next High Sierras book, Already Gone.” ~paytonpuppy

  Already Gone

  “This series has only gotten better and better! Seriously, there’s something that really speaks to my heart about Maddy and Logan, and Hangman’s Loss FEELS like a small California town tucked away in the Sierras. They’re such a power couple! I read this book in just a couple of days--totally sucked me in. It’s that perfect blend of fun, sizzle, and suspense! I just want to live in Maddy’s life forever but since I can’t--I can’t wait for the next book!” ~Katharine Montgomery

  “A wonderful story about second chances. The minute you start reading, you will be instantly hooked. The author weaves a tale of drama and romance that keeps you enthralled and turning the pages. Maddie is feisty and Logan is her brooding and over protective suffering hero. The sparks fly every time they see each other. Eventually they give in and realize that they are perfect for each other and have always been. This is a great story right up to the last word.” ~Simatsu

  Burnover in Rescued Anthology

  “Sweet, Sexy stories featuring furbabies and helping to save lives, it’s a win win for all.” ~Kara’s Books

  “8 stories by 8 outstanding authors. In these stories, there is a tattoo artist, two firefighters, two sheriff deputies, a famous furniture maker, a veterinarian, and a country music singer, and I loved them all. Then add in that each story has a dog or puppy that is rescued, along with a story of love and romance, it is a winning combination.” ~Susan D

  DEADLY PURPOSE

  High Sierras – Book 5

  Diane Benefiel

  www.BOROUGHSPUBLISHINGGROUP.com

  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. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, business establishments or persons, living or dead, is coincidental. Boroughs Publishing Group does not have any control over and does not assume responsibility for author or third-party websites, blogs or critiques or their content.

  DEADLY PURPOSE

  Copyright © 2019 Diane Benefiel

  Smashwords Edition

  All rights reserved. Unless specifically noted, no part of this publication may be reproduced, scanned, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of Boroughs Publishing Group. The scanning, uploading and distribution of this book via the Internet or by any other means without the permission of Boroughs Publishing Group is illegal and punishable by law. Participation in the piracy of copyrighted materials violates the author’s rights.

  ISBN 978-1-948029-58-2

  E-book formatting by Maureen Cutajar

  www.gopublished.com

  To my sisters, Ellen and Sandy, who share my memories of family vacations in the Sierras

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  I want to acknowledge the guidance and support of Michelle Klayman at Boroughs Publishing Group, who not only is CEO of the company, but is now my editor. Michelle sold me on the idea of the High Sierras series and I couldn’t be more grateful. Thanks, Michelle.

  CONTENTS

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  About the Author

  DEADLY PURPOSE

  Chapter One

  The shabby cabin should have looked dark and forlorn. Meg frowned,
ignoring the throbbing behind her eyes, tightening her fingers on the steering wheel while the car engine idled and she tried to make sense of what she was seeing. Warm yellow light glowed from the windows, firewood lay neatly stacked on the porch, and a swirl of gray smoke rose from the chimney to dissipate into the tall pines towering overhead. A Thomas Kinkade painting come to life with the promise of home. But lighted windows and burning fireplaces in this particular cabin meant people, and her cabin should be empty.

  On a sigh she pulled onto the driveway blanketed with pine needles and bordered by patches of dirty snow, frozen remnants of a storm from the not-too-distant past. The leaden clouds sinking over the pines looked heavy enough to drop from the sky. This cabin had been her Emerald City, the singular goal that had kept her going for the past week. If she could make it to the cabin, she’d be safe. If she could make it to the cabin, Julius would never find her. If she could make it to the cabin, she’d pull on her dad’s old Pendleton shirt and curl up under the Hudson Bay blanket and feel again the unwavering but complicated love of her father.

  But someone had beaten her to it. The cabin should look cold and dark, waiting for her to bring it to life. Instead, some trespasser had intruded into her space.

  Turning off the engine, she considered what to do. Had she gotten turned around—somehow missed a road and ended up at the wrong house? She’d only been to the cabin a handful of times, but it had been longer than a dozen years, so it was possible she’d messed up the directions.

  Surely the pitched metal roofs weren’t unique. Lots of cabins had them to slough off winter snow. But she remembered the shed to the left that had housed a snowmobile, and the drive through the mountains from the town of Hangman’s Loss was etched into her consciousness clearly from when she’d been that anxious young girl joining her father at the cabin for the first time.

  She spied the hand-carved sign she’d made at Girl Scout camp when she was eleven, the one with little painted bears and squirrels circling the words “Welcome to Our Cabin.” The memory of her father holding the nail (quite bravely, she realized now) while she’d used a hammer to tap it into the wood and hang the sign next to the door came back to her.

  This was her cabin.

  Forcing herself to move despite bone-deep achiness, she opened the car door. The warmth from the heater faded immediately in the frigid mountain air, and the shaky feeling that came with bone-deep chills she’d been experiencing returned with a vengeance. The plan had been to get to the cabin, get a fire started in the fireplace, then burrow under as many blankets as she could find until whatever bug she had caught passed. But maybe, like Dorothy on her way to the Emerald City, Meg had another challenge to overcome before reaching her goal. A glance at the sky indicated the clouds were even darker, obscuring the tops of the pines on the slope behind the cabin. She didn’t know what snow clouds looked like, but with the seriously cold temperatures she’d probably find out soon enough.

  Who was occupying her father’s cabin? The mud showed furrows where a vehicle had driven around to the back. With a wary glance at the sky, she pulled a beanie out of her daypack and tugged it onto her head and followed the tracks. A mud-spattered, older-model Toyota 4Runner sat parked in the back. Damn, damn, damn. Why couldn’t anything ever be simple?

  She’d have to go to the door—should she use her key, unlock it, and walk right in or should she knock politely?—and ask what the hell the occupant was doing in her father’s cabin. And get that person out as quickly as possible so she could crawl under those blankets before she passed out.

  She dug down to try to find the old Meg, but the punishing past year on top of a bad case of she guessed the flu had knocked that woman out at the knees. The low burn of anger at having her sanctuary violated let her know kick-ass Meg wasn’t dead; she’d only been taking a break. Squaring her shoulders, she stepped onto the porch, keys clutched in a tight grip. She’d start off nice and see what happened. She raised her fist to knock, then jerked back when the door swung open before her knuckles could connect.

  The surly face of a bearded man was not what she expected. Tall and long-limbed, his wide shoulders filled the door. Furrowed brows shadowing dark brown eyes and a scowling expression did nothing to alleviate the feeling that she’d awakened a bear in its den. And a hungry bear at that.

  “What do you want?”

  About the same time he growled out the question, the warmth hit her. It emanated from inside the cabin and felt like a thick blanket pulled fresh from the dryer and wrapped snugly around her. She wanted to slip past him and find a place to lie down for the next week or so. Someplace out of the way where she could ignore him until she felt better and could deal with his intrusion.

  He stepped forward and wariness had her taking a step back before she recovered herself. Grow a spine. Don’t cower. Stand up for yourself.

  He stepped onto the porch and pulled the door shut behind him.

  Meg suppressed a groan at the loss of warmth. Gathering her resolve, she asked, “Who are you?” At least her voice sounded strong. “And what are you doing in my cabin?”

  “Not your cabin. You must have missed a turn. Go figure out where.” He reached back to lay a hand on the doorknob.

  “This is my cabin. You need to leave.”

  He gave her a once-over before locking his gaze on hers. “I know what the owner of this place looks like, and you don’t fit the bill. Go away.”

  “If I go away, I’ll get the sheriff and let him deal with you. I don’t think he’ll tolerate squatters in these mountains. I’ll give you ten minutes to get your things around, then you’re gone.”

  “Go for it, lady. We have a police chief, not a sheriff, and cell coverage is spotty up here. By the time you get into town, it’ll be dark. Chief Gallagher is too smart to bother with this right now. He’ll tell you to get a room at a motel somewhere and figure it out in the morning.”

  She sized up the man. With his tough build, he wouldn’t be easy to budge. This was not how she envisioned her day ending. She tightened her arms around her middle to stop the shiver snaking up her spine. A glance out from under the porch showed fat snowflakes wafting softly from the sky. She’d never seen snow falling before. Watching the drift of hazy white made her head swim.

  “What the hell?” She jerked back when strong hands gripped her elbows, backing up her breath in her lungs. “What are you doing? Let go.”

  “Then don’t act like you’re going to pass out.”

  “I’m not going to pass out.” She pulled against his hold. “Hands off.”

  He released her, putting his hands up like he was calming an emotionally disturbed person. The headache brewing at her temples spiked.

  “You on something?”

  Either irritation made his voice gruff, or it was his natural tone. She gave her forehead a surreptitious rub, not bothering to verbalize a response.

  “Look at me.” He cast his gaze over her face. Only full, sensuous lips softened the rough planes of his face. He raised a hand and she backed up. A fuzzy sensation crowded at the edge of her brain, reminding Meg of when she’d suffered a concussion after being beaned in the head by a softball pitch.

  “Steady there.” He held up a finger. “Without moving your head, follow my finger with your eyes.”

  She looked him straight in the eye. “You know what you can do with that finger, don’t you?”

  Only the slight crinkling at the corner of his eyes gave her any indication that the comment had struck home. He laid the back of his hand against her forehead. She didn’t jerk back this time, but it was a close call.

  “You’re not high, you’re sick. Your skin is hot to the touch.”

  She probably did have a fever, but while her face felt flushed, the rest of her couldn’t get warm. “Would you go away? I want my cabin.”

  “Not your cabin,” he reiterated. Stepping back, he rested his hands on his hips, brows lowered, reluctance evident in the lines on his face. “You’re less than
twenty minutes from town. Get yourself a motel room. Take some Tylenol.”

  Where did that kind of self-assurance come from? Maybe she’d had been like that once. She’d find that woman again. But for now, this man wasn’t budging and her energy was draining away with the setting sun. The reality of another night spent in her car made that little spark of happiness she’d felt when she’d arrived at the cabin fade like embers in a cold fireplace.

  Not sure how much longer she could stay on her feet, she turned to step off the porch. Something wet touched her flushed face, blessedly cool. That’s right, it was snowing. She opened the back hatch of her small SUV. The folded-up rear seats had given her space to stow her belongings on one side and sleep on the other. She was barely medium height and if she tucked up her legs in her sleeping bag, she could sleep, albeit not comfortably.

  Sitting in the door opening, she bent forward to unlace her boots. A quick hand to the door jamb helped steady her when her head threatened to fall off her shoulders. Moving slow was the name of the game. Moving slow and not bending over.

  “What the hell are you doing?”

  The man did cranky really well. With focused effort, she brought her foot up to rest on the bumper so she could reach the laces more easily. She hoped the fading light was a result of the sun going down, not loss of consciousness. If she could sleep, maybe she could beat this flu. Sleeping in the cabin would be loads better, but she’d slept in her SUV for the past four nights. She could make it one more. Then tomorrow first thing she’d go in search of the chief of police he’d mentioned.

  “Lady, tell me what you’re doing.”

  She leaned her head against her upraised knee. “You win for tonight. You get the cabin. I’ll sleep here and in the morning get the police chief.” Except she couldn’t get the police chief. She rubbed her forehead against her knee. How could she have forgotten? Law enforcement of any type had to be avoided, at least until she finished what needed to be done. Exhaustion spread like an insidious poison, dragging at her limbs until she was sure she was about to dissolve into a boneless heap. She’d figure out her next step tomorrow.