Page 1 of Phoenix Rising

Prologue

Anticipation surged throughPaige Stockton’sveins as the thrill of the hunt set in. She was an adrenalin junkie, and she was onto something big. She just knew it. This would be the exposé that would land her the coveted Pulitzer Prize in Investigative Reporting.

Paige had come close to winning it once before on the piece that brought down several top Federal Bureau of Investigation personnel. She’d revealed their corruption and, in the process, put herself in the crosshairs of the most dangerous law organization in the country simply for doing her job. She waspersona non grataanywhere near Quantico, Virginia, which was fine. It was the price she paid for uncovering the criminals who had pretended to be the good guys. But the story that had won the award over her had been about a significant manufacturer’s illegal dumping of toxic waste into a main riverway, which threatened the health of millions of people.

Paige tapped the flashlight app on her burner phone to illuminate her path. It was the wee hours of the morning, and there were no windows to allow moonlight to filter in. She’d worn lightweight canvas shoes to dampen noise and absorb impact. Dressed in all black, she looked like a cat burglar, which she supposed she was in a way.

Unsure of exactly where she was going, she sought the door marked private . . . and there it was. A glance around told her she was alone. She’d stuffed a lock-picking kit into her fanny pack in case she needed it, but her heart sank when she noticed a keypad. She had no idea what combination to attempt. Paige tried the handle, and the door creaked open. It was unlocked.

Score, she thought, the first hurdle cleared. She peeked down the hallway to find it empty.

It hadn’t been easy gleaning information from the staff. She’d posed questions to several personnel, careful not to reveal her intent, but they’d gotten her nowhere. The bug she’d planted was what had told her all she’d needed to know.

As Paige carefully made her way down the corridor, she searched for hidden recording devices. The facility was equipped with high-end security, but in this part of the building, she had a feeling her subject didn’t want any cameras monitoring activity. They could be hacked, after all, and it wouldn’t be worth the risk to someone trying to stay off the radar. At least, that’s what she would do. Not that she pretended to know what went on in the mind of a killer.

Paige had become an expert on covert operations during her journalism career. She took precautions and tried to avoid unnecessary risks. Maybe she thrived on it because the epinephrine pumping through her system was a high as stimulating as fantastic sex—not that she remembered what that was like. It had been too long, and she’d been laser-focused on her career.

The walls curved, and she came to a closed door. This had to be it. With a deep breath, she turned the knob. It opened, and the third obstacle was obliterated.

Heart pounding like a construction worker’s jackhammer, Paige stepped inside. While the rest of the facility was decorated in vibrant colors, funky prints, and comfortable furniture, this space was pure opulence. An oriental rug covered hardwood floors, an ornate crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, and clerestory windows surrounded the round roof.

A massive desk made of walnut took center stage. Paige headed for it. There had to be something that would confirm her hunch.

The bottom right drawer was locked, indicating something to hide. Paige withdrew her pick and jammed it into the keyhole when a light snapped on, blinding her.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

Shoot.She’d been led to believe he wouldn’t be around tonight, that he was a ladies’ man and would be trolling for some action. Paige had thought she was in the clear.

She couldn’t pretend to be sleepwalking, so she settled for the truth.

“I know who you are.”

The door closed behind him with an ominous click, and he stalked toward her. “You’re the one who planted the bugs.”

Paige winced. She worried she might’ve been discovered when she returned for them and one had been missing.

“You’re trespassing on private property. You know that, though, don’t you?”

“Go ahead, notify the police. Do you think they will care about me when I tell them who you are?” She pulled out her cell. “In fact, I’ll call them for you.”

Before she realized what was happening, he’d wrenched it from her fingers.

“Whatever you think you know, you’re wrong.”

“Then you have nothing to hide. Give me my phone.”

He opened his hand, and it dropped to the floor. With a feral grin, he stomped on it, crushing it into a thousand tiny pieces. It was a good thing Paige had taken precautions with her research before setting off on what was turning out to be a disastrous undertaking.

She narrowed her eyes and studied his face. It told her what she needed to know: her hunch was right. Bolstered by confidence, Paige squared her shoulders. “Fine.”

A hand clamped onto her biceps hard enough to leave bruises. “Where do you think you’re going?”

“I’m leaving.”

“Sorry, sweetheart. You aren’t going anywhere.”

A trickle of fear streaked down her spine. Paige might’ve misjudged her opponent. She knew he was dangerous, even deadly. Thankfully, she’d taken self-defense classes and was proficient in protecting herself.

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