Alessandro Donato.
Tall, dark and mysterious.
The quintessential playboy, or so the rumors went. Hero in disguise or con man with an agenda?
Colleen would give the charming Italian the benefit of the doubt, since Alessandro had protected Holly and Jake when theyd needed it.
But if Alessandro Donato was up to no good, shed nail his hide to the wall all over the front page of the Colorado Springs Sentinel, regardless of how attractive she found him.
FAITH AT THE CROSSROADS: Can faith and love sustain two families against a diabolical enemy?
A TIME TO PROTECTLois Richer (LIS#13)
THE DANGER WITHINValerie Hansen (LIS#15)
THROUGH THE FIRESharon Mignerey (LIS#17)
IN THE ENEMYS SIGHTSMarta Perry (LIS#19)
STRICTLY CONFIDENTIALTerri Reed (LIS#21)
HEARTS ON THE LINEMargaret Daley (LIS#23)
TERRI REED
grew up in a small town nestled in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. To entertain herself, she created stories in her head. And when she put those stories to paper, her teachers in grade school, high school and college encouraged her imagination. Living in Italy as an exchange student whetted her appetite for travel, and modeling in New York, Chicago and San Francisco gave her a love for the big city, as well. She has also coached gymnastics and taught in a preschool. She enjoys walks on the beach, hikes in the mountains and exploring cities. From a young age she attended church, but it wasnt until her thirties that she really understood the meaning of a faith-filled life. Now living in Portland, Oregon, with her college-sweetheart husband, two wonderful children, a rambunctious Australian shepherd and a fat guinea pig, she feels blessed to be able to share her stories and her faith with the world. She loves to hear from readers at P.O. Box 19555, Portland, OR, 97280.
Strictly Confidential
Terri Reed
Special thanks and acknowledgment are given to
Terri Reed for her contribution to the
FAITH AT THE CROSSROADS miniseries.
Thank you to Diane Dietz and Steeple Hill for this opportunity to work on this series. I had such fun working with and learning from the other authors.
Draw close to God, and God will draw close to you.
James 4:8
CAST OF CHARACTERS
Alessandro Donato Tall, dark and handsome, he showed up wherever there was trouble. Was Alessandro working for the European Union, as he claimed, or for the bad guys reviving the drug trade in Colorado Springs?
Colleen Montgomery Her reporters nose smelled a story brewingand Alessandro was her prime target. But would her curiosity get her killed?
Dahlia Sainsbury The museum curator wanted Colleen out of the picturebecause she wanted Alessandro for herself or was there a more devious motive?
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
EPILOGUE
DEAR READER
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
ONE
T his is strictly confidential. Off the record. Mums the word.
Colleen Montgomery paused in the act of pulling out a navy business suit from her closet to arch a brow at her sister-in-law, Holly.
Holly flipped back her long dark-brown hair, which shed curled and wore loose rather than in her traditional ponytail. Im serious. You cant tell anyone what Im about to tell you.
Grimacing, Colleen stared. Thats like asking me not to breathe.
Holly rolled her brown eyes. And youre not wearing that suit. Youre wearing the dress I brought you.
Rehanging the suit, Colleen gestured with her hands. Hello. Im an investigative reporter. My life is about telling everyone what I see and hear.
Promise me, okay? Holly shifted on the bed where shed sat as soon as shed entered Colleens bedroom. She was wearing a pretty lilac party dress that flattered her even with her bulging tummy, and shed come in on the pretext of bringing a dress for Colleen to wear to the museum gala. Now, however, Colleen suspected her sister-in-law had another agenda, one that brought worry to her pretty brown eyes and marred the normally smooth skin between her brunette eyebrows.
Is this about my brother? Colleen moved to her vanity to brush her blond hair. Cause if it is, Im not sure I want to hear it.
Holly twisted her diamond wedding ring. It is about him and me.
Colleen held up a hand and met Hollys gaze through the mirrors reflection. I can already tell this is going to be more information than I want to hear about my big brother. Unless hes dragged you back into the FBI with him, in which case Ill go clobber him on the head. Considering youre carrying my niece or nephew, the FBI is not a good place for you.
Holly grinned and patted her burgeoning belly. No, of course not. She lifted the sheath dress off the bed. Here, put this on while I explain.
Eyeing the little black shift with trepidation, Colleen said, You really think I should wear that?
Yes. For once dress like a woman.
Colleen pulled a face. Cute.
Holly laughed. You know what I mean. All you wear are pants and button-down blouses. Time to move out of your comfort zone.
Colleen took the dress. It wasnt exactly something that could be worn while chasing down a story, not if you still hoped to be taken seriously. Of course, tonight she hardly expected to find anything of interest worth reporting. She moved into the bathroom to dress. Fine. Start talking.
Do you remember when Victor Convy kidnapped me?
Colleen scoffed as she changed out of the jeans and cotton T-shirt shed put on after showering earlier. Hard to forget a thing like that.
Right. Well, something happened that I never told anyone about.
Anticipation of a story fluttered in Colleens belly. Her parents often joked that shed greeted the world with a notepad and pen in hand. Okay.
Remember how Jake had said he couldnt remember if hed shot Convy or not because of his concussion?
Stepping into the dress, Colleen made a noise of affirmation. The fear of losing her brother still gnawed at her like a dog with a bone. But that came with love. She had no choice but to love her brothers and now their wives, but thought thankfully that she didnt have time for a romantic love. She didnt want to carry around that kind of fear.
He didnt, Holly said.
Colleens heart picked up speed at the juicy tidbit of information. She stepped out of the bathroom, holding the dress to her chest. You did?
No. Holly lowered her voice and a conspiratorial light entered her eyes. Alessandro Donato did.
What?! The dress dropped to the floor and pooled around Colleens ankles. She quickly pulled it back up and slipped her arms through the holes.
Holly eagerly nodded. Im telling you, he came out of the trees dressed all in black like some superhero, shot Convy, and made certain Jake was alive before untying me. Then he disappeared as stealthily as he came when he heard the sirens coming.
Colleen blinked, unsure how to process Hollys tale. So youre saying that Alessandro Donato rescued you and my brother from Convy?
Eyes wide, Holly bobbed her head. Thats what Im saying.
Wow! Thats huge.
Rumor had it that the mysterious newcomer, although Lidia Vances nephew, had somehow been responsible for the shooting of his uncle, Mayor Maxwell Vance.
How could Donato save one mans life and then be suspected of trying to take the life of someone in his own family?
Shed seen Donato at church with his aunt and cousins, but was that just for show? What was the Italians relationship with God? And why would he sneak around playing hero?
Struggling with the zipper, Colleen asked a question only Holly could answer. Why didnt you tell anyone?
Come here, let me do that, Holly said.
Obliging, Colleen turned her back to Holly.
Hey, he saved our lives. I figured I owed him my silence when he asked for it. Holly pulled the zipper to the top.
The silky fabric of the dress clung to Colleens curves and swished softly as she sat down on the bed next to Holly. Why tell me this now?
Holly took Colleens hands. Because I dont believe that he had anything to do with my uncle Maxs shooting.
Hmm. Colleen hadnt wanted to believe the good-looking Italian was capable of such evil when shed heard he was a suspect in the mayors shooting, either, but she hadnt anything concrete to base her gut instinct on.
And in light of the tale Holly had just told
I wonder what his story is?
Holly squeezed her hand. I knew I could count on you.
Meaning?
Holly wiggled her eyebrows. I saw the way you and he were making cow eyes at each other at the Valentines dinner.
Oh, please. Colleen stood to hide the heat in her cheeks. We were not making cow eyes.
Come on, you cant tell me you dont find him attractive.
Colleen reached to the back of her closet and grabbed a pair of black strappy sandals that she hadnt worn since her oldest brothers wedding. So hes attractive. Big whoop. Im not in the market for a man.
Hollys little chuckle grated on Colleens nerves. A romantic relationship would only hinder her career. Colleens plans for the future didnt include risking her heart. Shed tried that once in college and the constant worry and concern shed felt took her focus away from journalism. Now that she was moving up in her chosen profession, she had no interest in anything romantic.
Hollys intent gaze captured Colleens attention. In all seriousness, would you investigate him for me? I need to know whats up with him before I tell anyone about what happened.
Colleen held out her hand to help Holly from the bed. Ill see what I can do. But I cant promise I wont report what I find.
Hollys mouth quirked. Can you promise to tell me first so I can prepare Jake?
You should tell him anyway.
I know. Distress entered Hollys eyes. I will. But I want all the facts before I say anything. You know your brother, hell want all the details.
Colleen smiled. That is true.
Holly preceded Colleen into the hall. As Colleen pulled her bedroom door shut behind her she thought about Alessandro Donato.
Tall, dark and mysterious.
The quintessential widower playboy, or so the rumors went. Hero in disguise or con man with an agenda?
Shed give the charming Italian the benefit of the doubt, since hed protected Holly and Jake when theyd needed it.
But if Alessandro Donato was up to no good, shed nail his hide to the wall all over the front page of the Sentinel regardless of how attractive she found him.
Alessandro Donato had a vow to fulfill. A vow to rid the world of drug dealers. Such people had cost him his family.
From his vantage point on the opposite side of trendy Fourth Street, he surveyed the bustling crowd making their way toward the door of the Colorado Springs Impressionist Museum for the opening of the Monet, Manet and Renoir collection.
He tugged on the stiff bow tie at his neck, wishing hed thought to bring his own tux from his home in Italy.
But hed had no way of knowing hed still be here on this crisp May night. Hed thought that with the death of Baltasar Escalante, known drug lord, his time in Colorado Springs would have ended long ago and hed have moved on to another assignment.
But against all logic, Escalante hadnt died when his plane went down and now had resurfaced back in this thriving community.
Only, Alessandro couldnt ID him.
His sources were confident that Escalante had had plastic surgery, so the drug lord could be any one of the men in this town. He could even be here tonight.
At the door to the museum Alessandro showed his invitation and was admitted with a cursory nod from the burly doorman.
Once inside, Alessandro took stock of the situation, noting the exits, the windows and the corridor leading to the offices where the staff of the museum worked. Hed only lived this long because he never took anything for granted.
To his right, a young, fresh-faced girl took coats and wraps from the glittering partygoers. He moved forward into the heart of the museum. Gleaming blond hardwood floors shone with a high gloss, picking up the effervescence of the crystal chandeliers.
Several benches were arranged in strategic positions, giving patrons places to sit while they contemplated the works of art on the walls. Classical pieces that attracted a huge crowd. Alessandro had to give the curator credit for securing such masterpieces.
A waiter laden with trays of savory appetizers paused and offered his fare to Alessandro.
No, grazie , he murmured as his gaze snagged on the museums curator, Dahlia Sainsbury.
She moved with lethal grace, like a feline on the prowl. Her tall, elegant frame was draped in a signature Chanel dress of soft pink, which emphasized her pale, almost translucent skin.
As usual her dark-as-night hair was sleekly pulled back into a fancy twist at the base of her neck. Her ruby-red lips spread into a slight smile that didnt reach her sultry eyes.
Her beauty left him cold, and it had nothing to do with his vow never again to be romantically involved with a woman. No, he suspected Dahlias beauty covered a heart of deceit.
Alessandro made his way through the crowd toward Dahlia. His instincts had been on full alert for some time now, warning him that she had something to do with Escalante. Alessandro had found a strong tie, one he hoped would lead him to the man responsible for the escalating drug trade in Colorado. The man most likely behind the shooting of Mayor Maxwell Vance.
Derisive anger shot through Alessandro. Some people thought that he had had something to do with his uncles shooting. Ridiculous.
Nice show tonight, Miss Sainsbury. Your gala is a fine success, Alessandro said as he halted and forced himself not to choke on the cloyingly sweet perfume permeating the air around the evenings hostess.