Hunted, A Romantic Suspence Novel by Suzanne Ferrell

also saw the steeliness in her posture. She might be scared out of her mind, but she would do what was necessary, despite her fear.
    “Katie, don’t you think you should tell me who’s trying to kill you?”
    “The Devil.”
    All of Strict’s followers called him The Prophet. Katie called him the Devil.
    Why after nearly ten years had Strict suddenly come after his stepdaughter? How had Katie managed to hide from Strict’s followers for so long? And how had they found her?
    Knowing who she was and who was after her had given him as many questions as they’d answered.
    Had Katie been in the witness protection program? That would explain how she’d been able to change her identity. The feds must’ve helped her stay off Strict’s radar all these years.
    The question was, why now that she was in trouble, hadn’t she insisted he take her to the FBI or the United States Marshals for protection? Why was she running from the very authorities who’d helped her for so long?
    A vision of her haunting violet eyes filled with tears just before she closed them filled his mind. He wanted to erase all the fear, mistrust and despair he’d seen in them since they’d met. He wondered what they’d look like if she ever truly smiled at him.
    Deciding he needed to let someone know Katie was safe, he searched until he found a web site to contact the Marshals by e-mail. He typed in a message asking who he should contact regarding information on Sarah Strict, letting them know he was a highway patrolman and left his e-mail for them to contact him.
    Matt clicked on some articles to read more about Strict and his obsessed followers. He wanted to know more about the man he’d be fighting in order to protect Katie.
    * * * * *
    The Prophet shuffled into the interview room in his orange jumpsuit, shackles on both his hands and feet. Sitting on the wooden chair, he looked through the pane of safety glass that separated him from his lawyer. For a long moment he stared at the balding man’s heavy jowls, then at the blue pinstriped Italian silk suit he wore.
    Jacob Strict glanced at the guard standing just inside the room. This last week he’d been under twenty-four hour observation. The government was afraid he’d cheat them of their glorious execution by taking his own life.
    Little did they know him. He wouldn’t breathe his last breath until the little bitch paid for her treason.
    With a subtle nod, he signaled the other man to pick up the phone, then he lifted his own handset.
    “Is it done?”
    “There was a complication.”
    He narrowed his eyes. “What kind?”
    “The fireworks were planned for midnight, as she left the hospital.”
    “And?” His lips pressed into a thin line.
    “A car thief set them off.”
    Strict held the phone away from his head. Slowly, he tilted his head to one side, then the other. The joints’ cracking reverberated off the room’s cement walls.
    “So, she’s gone to ground?”
    The lawyer nodded.
    “And my retribution?” He tapped a finger on the counter.
    The other man pulled at the silk shirt collar. “He’s searching for her as we speak. His contact at the Marshals has been most helpful so far. There’s little doubt his prey will stay hidden long.”
    Strict nodded. “Remind him she must not be allowed to escape punishment for betraying the Family.”
    “He’s never let you down before.”
    The Prophet stared at the other man until beads of sweat formed on the lawyer’s shiny head.
    “He has less than a week to fulfill my final prophecy.”

Chapter Four
     
    Sunlight filtered through the drawn Roman shades and filled the room with a delicate softness. For a moment Katie snuggled deeper into the covers. Then she felt the hard lump in the bed beside her. Her eyes popped open. Stretched out in front of her, a dog lay on its back with one leg pointed skyward.
    Swallowing a gasp, she scooted backward, only to encounter another long lump. Peeking over her shoulder, she saw another of the