Love's Protector: A Maverick's Shield Novel Read Online Free Page A

memories. Rising up in bed, she caught her reflection in the large black flat screen television that sat directly across from her causing her to fully come to the conclusion that she was actually going through with this. She rubbed her eyes and then focused on her reflection again. “Are you ready for this Amour?” she asked herself. Unsure of what to expect from this trip to Los Angeles when she’d arrived the night before, she decided to go into this with as open a mind as one could have in this particular situation.
    Taking in a deep breath, she slowly exhaled and then scooted to the edge of the bed planting her bare feet on the plush cream colored carpet beneath her. Walking towards the large picture window to the left of her, she could see the bright sun peeking through the sheer white curtains. As she drew them open, she admired the view of the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Monica Pier. Looking at such beauty made her wish her father hadn’t taken her away from this place as a child. Of course she wouldn’t trade the homey and close nit feel of where she was brought up for anything the world but Nebraska, which was beautiful in its own right, didn’t have all the breathtaking beach front scenery she was admiring now. She’d definitely planned to return to Los Angeles sometime in the near future when she wasn’t busy playing detective.
    She headed to the attached bathroom, washed up and then slipped on the denim skirt, pink tank and silver flats she’d gotten out of her suitcase. After quickly running a brush through her hair, she gathered all the pertinent paperwork she needed to take with her and placed it in a large tote bag. Just as she was about to head out of the bedroom, she noticed that the photo of her mother she kept with her had fallen out of her wallet and onto the floor. Looking at her mother’s face made her come to the realization of what her father had told her. She did look very much like her, so much, it was almost…creepy. She dropped the photo into her purse, grabbed the charmed bracelet her father had given her out of the pouch, and then slid around her wrist. She never got to know her mother, but somehow wearing the bracelet made her feel closer to Carly and gave her an odd sense of strength. Entering the small kitchen of the suite, she made herself a cup of coffee, drank it as fast as she could without burning herself, and headed out the door.
     
    The engine roar of the red convertible Ford Mustang she’d rented gave her the feeling of being on the track when it was being brought to her outside the front of the hotel. That put her in a good mood at the start of her day. She quickly tipped the valet, hopped inside and pulled out onto the road.
    The choice to stay on the west side of Los Angeles proved to be a convenient one. Her mother’s former home was in the city of Mar Vista, which was in close proximity to Santa Monica. She’d done as much internet research on Carly’s death as possible while in Nebraska, so she figured she would take what she learned so far and visit the police station that was involved with the twenty-seven year old case. She entered the station’s address into the car’s navigation system and headed towards interstate 10 east. The traffic was surprisingly light for a Monday morning that is…until she hit interstate 405 south. It was bumper to bumper traffic for what looked like miles ahead. L.A.’s 405 freeway was infamous for being one of the most horrific, traffic filled highways in the country and it was definitely living up to its reputation.  Her good mood had vanished by the time she’d exited the freeway. According to the navigator, the trip should have only taken about ten minutes but because of all the traffic, it took over thirty. Being a person that’s not used to this kind traffic where she’s from, this agitated the hell out of her. Once she reached the West Side Community Police Station and parked in the visitor lot, her mood quickly went