Genre:
Romantic Suspense/ Action Adventure
eRelease Date: 6.26.07
Publisher:
Samhain Publishing
Length: 106k
ISBN-10:
1-59998-174-6 (eBook)
ISBN-13:
978-1599987682 (print)
Excerpt: The Living Legend
She left her home and followed the covered walkway leading into the main building where the kids were housed. It had been a train depot way back when. All six buildings in the complex were remnants of a failed mining town, restored and re-fitted for their use.
Inside the depot were ten dormitory rooms where the inmates slept. There was also a common room, kitchen, cafeteria, entertainment center, library, a couple classrooms, and a veritable maze of quiet alcoves. Most of the rehabilitation happened in them, and what didn't go on in there went on in the athletic complex behind the depot.
Keeping the inmates' minds and bodies fully occupied was a must. Idle inmates were ornery inmates as the counselors liked to say, and the kids in this facility were not your average offenders. They all possessed genius-level IQs and certain other attributes that could make them either a great asset to society or public enemy number one.
Right now they were at their preferred limit of six cases. Tina, two gang members, a boy who'd been compiling an explosive device in his high school's boiler room and an arsonist.
Last but not least was their newest arrival, David Brighton. He'd been here almost six months, and he was the first and only one she saw in the common room, draped across a chair, sulking as usual.
The most troublesome of the lot by far, David was one of the smartest but most tempestuous people Kate had ever met, and while he was a threat, he was here more for his own protection than society's. At age sixteen, he'd already used his computer wizardry to perpetrate a string of thefts so daring and impressive the FBI's Internet Crime Unit and the National Security Agency were prepared to go toe-to-toe over the boy's future career.
They'd have to wait. David was nowhere near ready to be let loose into the wild again. Drug dealers and organized crime figures had been his victims of choice, and his life expectancy until certain deals were struck was minimal at best.
He was a strong candidate for success, however. No matter what his history might imply, David had a healthy sense of right and wrong, and could be very charming when he wasn't busy hating them all. Plus he was already handsome enough to stop traffic, which certainly wouldn't hurt any career choices he might make.
At the moment, his curly blond mop hung over his eyes, and his clothing was atrocious. Jeans hung low on narrow hips and the button-down shirt he'd pretended to button was a wrinkled disaster.
Kate approached with a sigh, too tired to engage in the usual battle they had every time she'd been gone a few days.
As for David, he continued to sprawl, one eyebrow raised in haughty annoyance.
"Good evening, Warden Crawford," the boy said in mock respect.
"Hello, sunshine. Make anyone scream today?"
"Two. A banner day. Sorry you missed it."
"Mmm. Where is everybody?"
"Computer training until nine-thirty, so I'm banned for the duration," he grumbled. "You look tired."
"I am."
"Where have you been all week?"
She hated these questions. The kids were led to believe this was a federally run facility. Her Sanction duties were never discussed.
David, unfortunately, already knew more about the Sanction than he should, especially about the operative who'd finally caught the little puke at his own game. The operative in question had also been a thief. Still was, in fact, even though he worked for the Sanction now.
They were very similar creatures, David and his captor. Both very handsome, very charming, and as untrusting as they were brilliant.
"You know I can't tell you anything," Kate said. "So stop asking."
"Fine. Then tell me when I'll get computer privileges."
"Uh...never?"
"You are so totally unfair!"
"I'm sure it seems that way to you, but it makes perfect sense to me. Giving you access to a computer would be like handing a murderer a loaded weapon."
His annoyed look deepened into a scowl. "And just when I was about to offer a shoulder rub. Shot down in flames."
"Do we need to talk about inappropriate exchanges again?"
"Cut me a break. You may be almost twice my age, but you're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen."
She warned, "I don't find this amusing."
"Neither do I. A guy's ego can only take so much, you know. And I'm in a very delicate mental state."
"Which is why I don't find it amusing."
The boy's long lashes made his eye roll impressively dramatic. "Do you have to take everything so damned seriously? I don't mean anything by it."
"Yes, you do. Making people uncomfortable gives you a measure of control, and I'd be a fool to cooperate."
"Has anyone ever gotten the better of you? I mean, seriously. You're cold."
He might be right. She supposed she was over-sensitive to David because of Patrick, and she'd kept her distance as a result. Being objective was impossible, and despite David's arrogance, he was indeed delicate. Any misstep on her part, and the staff would pay for it.
Problem being, David felt her distance and it bothered him. If matters worsened, she might have to tell him why she didn't spend as much time with him as the others, just so he'd understand she had nothing against him personally.
The time was upon them, she knew, watching the boy fold in on himself. It was a common occurrence around here and always meant backward progress.
"David, I think it's time I 'fessed up."
"To what?" he snapped.
"You remind me very much of someone, and the similarities make it hard for me to deal fairly with you. So I'm sorry if I seem cold. I don't mean to be."
"Doesn't stop you from avoiding me, though, does it?"
This was the part that always amazed her about these kids. It didn't matter how hard they could be or what they'd done, they still ached for approval and attention. The interesting thing about David was that he was refreshingly upfront about his needs.
Or he could be baiting her again. She was about to ask him whether he was when his eyes fixed on something behind her and he uttered a sharp, "Holy shit!"
"David," she scolded, so busy glaring at him that it took her a moment to glance over her shoulder at whatever had him transfixed.
When she saw the man behind her, she very nearly said the same thing.
eBook Ordering Options
Purchase Print
Buy from Amazon
BarnesAndNoble.com
Want More?
General InformationInsider Information
©2002-2007
All EmmaWaynePorter.com and Emmatyville content is copyright protected. Unauthorized use or distribution is prohibited by law.