Anti-drug activists are being sabotaged by the very substance they abhor.
Someone is targeting anti-drug activists and anyone that has dared to support the war against drugs. DEA Agents Grant Rourke and Josh McKenzie have been assigned to figure out who’s behind it, and take the fatal doses of kronilan off the streets for good.
But, while they work to put an end to the latest string of drug-related crimes, whoever is behind the kronilan distribution begins coming for their friends and family, including Grant’s ex-partner – former DEA Agent Greg Nelson by way of Greg’s fiance, Anne.
Can Grant and Josh get to the bottom of this before it’s too late?
Premeditated is a fast paced, page turner that will keep you on the edge of your seat and guessing until the very end.
PROLOGUE
The breeze flowing in from outside flirted with the drawn curtains at the open window, displaying a world of darkness beyond the director’s home office. A large mahogany desk sat between two windows facing the door. All was quiet in the cozy room, but it was only the calm before the storm. Read more…
The breeze flowing in from outside flirted with the drawn curtains at the open window, displaying a world of darkness beyond the director’s home office. A large mahogany desk sat between two windows facing the door. All was quiet in the cozy room, but it was only the calm before the storm. Read more…
CHAPTER ONE
Grant tapped on the open door as he entered his supervisor’s office. “You wanted to see me, Sir?”
The wide shouldered man looked up from the report on his desk. His blue eyes were troubled. “Have a seat, Grant,” his tone was heavy with the gravity of the situation he was about to disclose to his agent. Read more…
Grant tapped on the open door as he entered his supervisor’s office. “You wanted to see me, Sir?”
The wide shouldered man looked up from the report on his desk. His blue eyes were troubled. “Have a seat, Grant,” his tone was heavy with the gravity of the situation he was about to disclose to his agent. Read more…
CHAPTER TWO
Anne hefted herself up onto the examination table while she waited for her doctor to join her in the room.
Checking her phone to be sure of the time, Anne hoped she wouldn’t be late for her lunch date with Shelby. The plan was for Shelby to meet her outside Anne’s doctor’s office after her appointment. She was excited to begin making plans for her wedding. Read more…
Anne hefted herself up onto the examination table while she waited for her doctor to join her in the room.
Checking her phone to be sure of the time, Anne hoped she wouldn’t be late for her lunch date with Shelby. The plan was for Shelby to meet her outside Anne’s doctor’s office after her appointment. She was excited to begin making plans for her wedding. Read more…
CHAPTER THREE
Ashley woke to pain in her chest and back. It took a moment to orient herself in the unfamiliar room and remembered she was in the guest room at her brother’s house.
She scrambled from the bed and pulled out the drawer on the nightstand. Her hand frantically searched for the bottle of nitroglycerin pills. Read more…
Ashley woke to pain in her chest and back. It took a moment to orient herself in the unfamiliar room and remembered she was in the guest room at her brother’s house.
She scrambled from the bed and pulled out the drawer on the nightstand. Her hand frantically searched for the bottle of nitroglycerin pills. Read more…
CHAPTER FOUR
The next morning, Anne woke to the sound of the alarm on her phone. She reached over and slid a finger across the screen to turn it off. The headache from the night before lingered, along with the nausea. Read more…
The next morning, Anne woke to the sound of the alarm on her phone. She reached over and slid a finger across the screen to turn it off. The headache from the night before lingered, along with the nausea. Read more…
CHAPTER FIVE
Grant sat at his desk going over the notes from the interview with Beatrice Ward when Josh came in carrying what looked like a tall, pink, fruit smoothie. He gave a shudder. “You are going to waste away to nothing eating like you do. Then what will I do for a partner?” Read more…
Grant sat at his desk going over the notes from the interview with Beatrice Ward when Josh came in carrying what looked like a tall, pink, fruit smoothie. He gave a shudder. “You are going to waste away to nothing eating like you do. Then what will I do for a partner?” Read more…
CHAPTER SIX
Anne climbed up the ladder to pin a large banner to the wall while Greg went to grab a bag with red and black streamers – the colors used in her foundation’s logo.
She fought to stave off the vertigo she had been feeling all morning as she stuck a tack in the corner of the banner. Read more…
Anne climbed up the ladder to pin a large banner to the wall while Greg went to grab a bag with red and black streamers – the colors used in her foundation’s logo.
She fought to stave off the vertigo she had been feeling all morning as she stuck a tack in the corner of the banner. Read more…
CHAPTER SEVEN
The next morning, Grant spread cream cheese on a toasted bagel. His phone rang, vibrating on his kitchen counter. He set the knife down and grabbed the phone. Seeing it was his partner, he answered, “Rourke.”
“Turn your TV onto the news channel,” Josh said, not giving him a chance to give a greeting. Read more…
The next morning, Grant spread cream cheese on a toasted bagel. His phone rang, vibrating on his kitchen counter. He set the knife down and grabbed the phone. Seeing it was his partner, he answered, “Rourke.”
“Turn your TV onto the news channel,” Josh said, not giving him a chance to give a greeting. Read more…
CHAPTER EIGHT
The sound of the TV faded into the background. Rodriguez shifted his attention as he propped himself against the cool cement wall of the prison cell, folding his brawny arms across his chest. The story on Ashley Randall had captured his attention. Read more…
The sound of the TV faded into the background. Rodriguez shifted his attention as he propped himself against the cool cement wall of the prison cell, folding his brawny arms across his chest. The story on Ashley Randall had captured his attention. Read more…
CHAPTER NINE
The sun had yet to sink below the horizon. Its light glinted off of the bright red fire trucks, blinding Anne as she and Greg walked by them, heading into the firehouse bay.
Laughter rang out, the sound bouncing off of the concrete walls when she and Greg entered the large cemented area. “Hey, guys,” she greeted. Read more…
The sun had yet to sink below the horizon. Its light glinted off of the bright red fire trucks, blinding Anne as she and Greg walked by them, heading into the firehouse bay.
Laughter rang out, the sound bouncing off of the concrete walls when she and Greg entered the large cemented area. “Hey, guys,” she greeted. Read more…
CHAPTER TEN
Grant rested his hands on his hips, watching the taillights to Greg’s truck fade into the night.
Something isn’t right. He could feel it in his gut. There was more under the surface than what they were seeing. Read more…
Grant rested his hands on his hips, watching the taillights to Greg’s truck fade into the night.
Something isn’t right. He could feel it in his gut. There was more under the surface than what they were seeing. Read more…
CHAPTER ELEVEN
“We are here with political candidate Nathan Moore.” The news anchor, Sandra, turned to her guest and inquired, “Mr. Moore, what do you have to say about your opponent, Ashley Randall, since the news of her overdose?” Read more…
“We are here with political candidate Nathan Moore.” The news anchor, Sandra, turned to her guest and inquired, “Mr. Moore, what do you have to say about your opponent, Ashley Randall, since the news of her overdose?” Read more…
CHAPTER TWELVE
Anne desperately searched for the bag containing the syringes and bottle of kronilan.
The edge of the dumpster cutting into her stomach was painful but she had to find that prescription bottle! Read more…
Anne desperately searched for the bag containing the syringes and bottle of kronilan.
The edge of the dumpster cutting into her stomach was painful but she had to find that prescription bottle! Read more…
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Grant swiped a French fry through the little container of ketchup. The door to the diner opened and the breeze from outside ruffled the tips of his dark hair.
“Why do you think Rodriguez is being so tight lipped about this Becker guy? If I didn’t know better, and know the kind of status he held in the drug industry, I’d say Rodriguez was nervous about simply disclosing the name.” He stuffed the fry in his mouth. Read more…
Grant swiped a French fry through the little container of ketchup. The door to the diner opened and the breeze from outside ruffled the tips of his dark hair.
“Why do you think Rodriguez is being so tight lipped about this Becker guy? If I didn’t know better, and know the kind of status he held in the drug industry, I’d say Rodriguez was nervous about simply disclosing the name.” He stuffed the fry in his mouth. Read more…
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Anne’s emotions were in agonizing turmoil. She wanted to cry in frustration, punch something, she didn’t care what. Read more…
Anne’s emotions were in agonizing turmoil. She wanted to cry in frustration, punch something, she didn’t care what. Read more…
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
The door opened to a worried and confused Greg. “Hi Honey, what’s going on?”
She tilted her dainty chin up, giving a weak smile. “Hi.” She shrugged, concealing the fact that her heart was breaking in a million pieces. Read more…
The door opened to a worried and confused Greg. “Hi Honey, what’s going on?”
She tilted her dainty chin up, giving a weak smile. “Hi.” She shrugged, concealing the fact that her heart was breaking in a million pieces. Read more…
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Back at the office, Connor was feeling good. He had joined in on an early morning raid on a child adoption ring. He couldn’t help but smile about the memory of the little girl he’d held at the raid. He’d been ready to go in with guns blazing only to be caught by a little girl’s dark eyes. Read more…
Back at the office, Connor was feeling good. He had joined in on an early morning raid on a child adoption ring. He couldn’t help but smile about the memory of the little girl he’d held at the raid. He’d been ready to go in with guns blazing only to be caught by a little girl’s dark eyes. Read more…
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Darkness descended, and the clinic grew still.
Anne was propped up in bed reading a suspense novel. The room was lit only by the lamp on the bedside table.
The irony of her living what was in the pages of books that she considered a good story was not lost on her. Read more…
Darkness descended, and the clinic grew still.
Anne was propped up in bed reading a suspense novel. The room was lit only by the lamp on the bedside table.
The irony of her living what was in the pages of books that she considered a good story was not lost on her. Read more…
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Greg crossed the rest of the distance and helped Anne stand. Not able to help himself, he wrapped his arms around her. Taking a moment to let his emotions catch up, he buried his face in her disheveled hair. Read more…
Greg crossed the rest of the distance and helped Anne stand. Not able to help himself, he wrapped his arms around her. Taking a moment to let his emotions catch up, he buried his face in her disheveled hair. Read more…
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Connor tossed and turned in his bed, unable to get comfortable. The room was hot and stuffy, although the air conditioning unit was on. He punched the pillow, then tucked his arm underneath.
Every time he’d close his eyes, the images of the past came to haunt him. Read more…
Connor tossed and turned in his bed, unable to get comfortable. The room was hot and stuffy, although the air conditioning unit was on. He punched the pillow, then tucked his arm underneath.
Every time he’d close his eyes, the images of the past came to haunt him. Read more…
CHAPTER TWENTY
Greg caught Anne’s eye in the rear view mirror. She’d been sleeping for a couple of hours. Her eyes still looked sleepy, her lids heavy. He smiled, thinking how cute she looked. Read more…
Greg caught Anne’s eye in the rear view mirror. She’d been sleeping for a couple of hours. Her eyes still looked sleepy, her lids heavy. He smiled, thinking how cute she looked. Read more…
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Anne woke with a start, her body covered in sweat. Shaking uncontrollably and stomach rebelling, she began to reposition herself in the bed. The skin on her neck flexed, causing her to cry out as she jerked to a halt.
She flew up into a sitting position when the door flew open and slammed against the wall as Grant’s tall form filled the doorway, eyes alert as he searched for a threat. Read more…
Anne woke with a start, her body covered in sweat. Shaking uncontrollably and stomach rebelling, she began to reposition herself in the bed. The skin on her neck flexed, causing her to cry out as she jerked to a halt.
She flew up into a sitting position when the door flew open and slammed against the wall as Grant’s tall form filled the doorway, eyes alert as he searched for a threat. Read more…
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Connor studied the victims’ activities several days prior to their deaths. Josh had willingly given all the information Connor had asked for and more. One thing kept standing out. Every single victim, whether it was a paid or volunteer position, was doing something to fight against drugs. Read more…
Connor studied the victims’ activities several days prior to their deaths. Josh had willingly given all the information Connor had asked for and more. One thing kept standing out. Every single victim, whether it was a paid or volunteer position, was doing something to fight against drugs. Read more…
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Grant entered the bull pen to find both Josh and Connor bent over desks searching for information on their computers. “I brought dinner.” Grant said, setting the bags of food on his desk before he moved to his chair to make himself a plate.
“When you called earlier, it sounded like you had tugged another thread. Find anything?” Read more…
Grant entered the bull pen to find both Josh and Connor bent over desks searching for information on their computers. “I brought dinner.” Grant said, setting the bags of food on his desk before he moved to his chair to make himself a plate.
“When you called earlier, it sounded like you had tugged another thread. Find anything?” Read more…
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Garret slipped his ringing phone from its holster. After sliding his finger over the green phone icon, he answered, “This is Barnes.”
“It’s McKenzie,” the voice on the other end of the line said. “I have Anne’s mother on the other line. She’d like to speak with Anne.” Read more…
Garret slipped his ringing phone from its holster. After sliding his finger over the green phone icon, he answered, “This is Barnes.”
“It’s McKenzie,” the voice on the other end of the line said. “I have Anne’s mother on the other line. She’d like to speak with Anne.” Read more…
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Rounding the corner, Grant entered the bull pen and found Josh working at his desk. His partner raised his head. “Sleep any?”
“Some.” Grant stretched his arms out wide and yawned. “I feel a little better anyway.” He lifted an open hand, gesturing to Josh’s desk. “Any bites on our John Doe?” Read more…
Rounding the corner, Grant entered the bull pen and found Josh working at his desk. His partner raised his head. “Sleep any?”
“Some.” Grant stretched his arms out wide and yawned. “I feel a little better anyway.” He lifted an open hand, gesturing to Josh’s desk. “Any bites on our John Doe?” Read more…
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Anne looked up from the book she had been reading when a door closed and she heard footsteps confidently making their way down the hall. Greg came into view, coming to join her in the living room.
She gave him a weak smile, but it quickly slipped away when she saw his mouth drawn down into a firm line. The glimmer was gone from his eyes, brow scrunched into a frown, or was that worry? Read more…
Anne looked up from the book she had been reading when a door closed and she heard footsteps confidently making their way down the hall. Greg came into view, coming to join her in the living room.
She gave him a weak smile, but it quickly slipped away when she saw his mouth drawn down into a firm line. The glimmer was gone from his eyes, brow scrunched into a frown, or was that worry? Read more…
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Moments after entering her room, a hooded person crashed through Anne’s window and fired. The bullet hit her chest point blank, the impact throwing her off her feet. Excruciating pain spread across her torso. Anne fought for breath. Read more…
Moments after entering her room, a hooded person crashed through Anne’s window and fired. The bullet hit her chest point blank, the impact throwing her off her feet. Excruciating pain spread across her torso. Anne fought for breath. Read more…
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
“Do you know where the DVDs are from the rehab clinic?” Josh asked as soon as Grant answered his phone.
“I put them in my desk drawer,” Grant replied. “Did you look for them there?”
“Yeah, but I moved them to my desk since you didn’t have time to view them.” Read more…
“Do you know where the DVDs are from the rehab clinic?” Josh asked as soon as Grant answered his phone.
“I put them in my desk drawer,” Grant replied. “Did you look for them there?”
“Yeah, but I moved them to my desk since you didn’t have time to view them.” Read more…
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Taking a deep breath, Connor let it out slowly. He could do this. He had to.
Connor stepped outside through the glass door to a large building and made for Jake Ramsey’s office. He wanted to run the new idea past him to see what he’d say would be the best way to infiltrate the organization. Read more…
Taking a deep breath, Connor let it out slowly. He could do this. He had to.
Connor stepped outside through the glass door to a large building and made for Jake Ramsey’s office. He wanted to run the new idea past him to see what he’d say would be the best way to infiltrate the organization. Read more…
CHAPTER THIRTY
From where he lay on the hospital bed, Greg heard a knock on the door. He kept his body still. If it weren’t for his pain medication, he’d be writhing in agony. Greg turned to see who had come to visit him. “Come on in.” Read more…
From where he lay on the hospital bed, Greg heard a knock on the door. He kept his body still. If it weren’t for his pain medication, he’d be writhing in agony. Greg turned to see who had come to visit him. “Come on in.” Read more…
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Connor waited for the cover of darkness before he went into the International Medical
Services headquarters. The door opened as it had before and Connor entered the lobby. Since the room was empty, he started down the hall.
Spotting a door that was labeled “maintenance,” he ducked in and found a pair of large coveralls. They were a little short in the legs, but they would do. Read more…
Connor waited for the cover of darkness before he went into the International Medical
Services headquarters. The door opened as it had before and Connor entered the lobby. Since the room was empty, he started down the hall.
Spotting a door that was labeled “maintenance,” he ducked in and found a pair of large coveralls. They were a little short in the legs, but they would do. Read more…
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
This was not how he planned to end his evening. Eating ice cream and talking with a supposedly fellow law enforcement officer was the last thing he expected.
“Why did you cover for me?” Connor asked the question that had been burning inside his head, lifting a spoon of cookie dough ice cream to his lips. Read more…
This was not how he planned to end his evening. Eating ice cream and talking with a supposedly fellow law enforcement officer was the last thing he expected.
“Why did you cover for me?” Connor asked the question that had been burning inside his head, lifting a spoon of cookie dough ice cream to his lips. Read more…
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
Grant answered his office phone. He paused to listen, then said, “Send him up.”
Josh looked from the computer screen to Grant with raised eyebrows.
“We’ve got a walk-in who says he can identify our John Doe.” Read More…
Grant answered his office phone. He paused to listen, then said, “Send him up.”
Josh looked from the computer screen to Grant with raised eyebrows.
“We’ve got a walk-in who says he can identify our John Doe.” Read More…
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Josh read the profile on the computer screen. “This guy, Conrad Phillips, has a rap sheet a mile long,” he commented.
“What’s he been arrested for?” Grant asked, turning away from researching Shelby.
“Breaking and entering, auto theft when he was younger. Disturbing the peace, attempted arson, possibly attempted murder, and the like, in the most recent years,” Josh listed off, then turned to his partner, leaning away from his desk. Read more…
Josh read the profile on the computer screen. “This guy, Conrad Phillips, has a rap sheet a mile long,” he commented.
“What’s he been arrested for?” Grant asked, turning away from researching Shelby.
“Breaking and entering, auto theft when he was younger. Disturbing the peace, attempted arson, possibly attempted murder, and the like, in the most recent years,” Josh listed off, then turned to his partner, leaning away from his desk. Read more…
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
Filtered sunlight sneaked through the dusty film on the clouded windows along the top of the exterior warehouse wall.
Deep, harsh voices echoed in the near empty building even as they kept their volume to mere whispers. Read more…
Filtered sunlight sneaked through the dusty film on the clouded windows along the top of the exterior warehouse wall.
Deep, harsh voices echoed in the near empty building even as they kept their volume to mere whispers. Read more…
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
The red light on the dash flashed, rotating around continuously. Grant tapped his fingers rapidly on the steering wheel, watching the traffic light he was approaching. It wasn’t changing to green, and they were quickly closing the gap between them and the intersection. Evidently the tech guys were being slow in getting the lights to change for them. Read more…
The red light on the dash flashed, rotating around continuously. Grant tapped his fingers rapidly on the steering wheel, watching the traffic light he was approaching. It wasn’t changing to green, and they were quickly closing the gap between them and the intersection. Evidently the tech guys were being slow in getting the lights to change for them. Read more…
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
“You don’t understand.” Connor scraped the words from his raw throat.
“Well,” Elaine said, “then maybe you can enlighten me.” She studied him, her eyebrows raised, prodding him to continue.
The sensation of pins and needles were slowly crawling up his arm the longer his hands were bound. His legs weren’t much better. Read more…
“You don’t understand.” Connor scraped the words from his raw throat.
“Well,” Elaine said, “then maybe you can enlighten me.” She studied him, her eyebrows raised, prodding him to continue.
The sensation of pins and needles were slowly crawling up his arm the longer his hands were bound. His legs weren’t much better. Read more…
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
Connor hobbled over to the table where the syringe lay. Grabbing it, he slipped it into his pocket to save as evidence.
Jake informed them, “Becker is in one of the offices talking to someone, so we can’t go far into the lobby without risking being seen.”
Connor nodded in acknowledgment. “SWAT should be here any minute.” Read more…
Connor hobbled over to the table where the syringe lay. Grabbing it, he slipped it into his pocket to save as evidence.
Jake informed them, “Becker is in one of the offices talking to someone, so we can’t go far into the lobby without risking being seen.”
Connor nodded in acknowledgment. “SWAT should be here any minute.” Read more…
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
Grant stood pressed against one side of a brick wall that surrounded the north and east sides of the building. It wasn’t very tall, but it gave enough cover for the agents and SWAT to come from behind the neighboring building and approach the side of IMS without being detected. A man was already stationed near the front of the building, near a car for cover, to keep an eye on that door. Read more…
Grant stood pressed against one side of a brick wall that surrounded the north and east sides of the building. It wasn’t very tall, but it gave enough cover for the agents and SWAT to come from behind the neighboring building and approach the side of IMS without being detected. A man was already stationed near the front of the building, near a car for cover, to keep an eye on that door. Read more…
CHAPTER FORTY
Anne patted her wet hair with a towel as she entered her room. The shower was refreshing, and it helped reset her mentally. Funny how showers could do that.
Greg called her as he neared her room, “Honey?”
She stopped and turned around to see what he wanted. “Yes, Sweet-” She cut off her own sentence when she saw him. His expression was one of shock mixed with confusion. “Greg, what’s wrong?” Read more…
Anne patted her wet hair with a towel as she entered her room. The shower was refreshing, and it helped reset her mentally. Funny how showers could do that.
Greg called her as he neared her room, “Honey?”
She stopped and turned around to see what he wanted. “Yes, Sweet-” She cut off her own sentence when she saw him. His expression was one of shock mixed with confusion. “Greg, what’s wrong?” Read more…
EPILOGUE
Anne gripped the railing as she leaned across it to the outside of the gazebo. A smile gently pulled on her lips as she felt her husband’s hand slip around her waist. She twisted her head to see Greg smiling down on her, a twinkle in his eye.
“Hi, Beautiful,” he greeted softly. Read more…
Anne gripped the railing as she leaned across it to the outside of the gazebo. A smile gently pulled on her lips as she felt her husband’s hand slip around her waist. She twisted her head to see Greg smiling down on her, a twinkle in his eye.
“Hi, Beautiful,” he greeted softly. Read more…
