Page 1 of Shrouded Past

Prologue

Big Horn County, Wyoming—0300 Hours

Something’s wrong! Sheriff Bryce Malone couldn’t even see his hand in front of him through the dense fog rolling down into town from the mountains. Tension coiled through his frame, warning of trouble.

Bryce hit the radio mic on his jacket. “Eric, where are you?”

An unnerving silence met him as he entered the building. For months, Bryce and his deputy had battled without success to stem the influx of drugs pouring into Big Horn County. Until two weeks earlier when a woman had walked into the station and told him she knew the man in charge of flooding the county with heroin.

Tonight was the night their informant arranged a meeting with “The Man,” as she called the drug smuggler in charge of the operation. She’d insisted only Bryce and Eric could be there for the takedown. Otherwise, he’d get spooked and realize she’d set him up. Tess was terrified the drug czar would kill her. She insisted no amount of police protection could prevent what he’d do to her.

And now Bryce’s deputy, his only backup at the deserted building in downtown Basin, wasn’t answering his comm.

“Eric, come in.” Anxiety laced Bryce’s voice when more silence became his answer.

A knot formed in Bryce’s stomach as his phone began to vibrate in his pocket. He pulled it out and glanced at the screen. Jenna, his wife. Apprehension grew with every passing second he stared at the number. Jenna knew all about tonight’s mission. She wouldn't be calling unless . . .

He placed the phone against his ear.

“Bryce . . . help me!” Fear accentuated every syllable in his wife’s voice.

Oh, God. “Babe, what’s wrong?” But he knew. Her voice echoed off the walls around him. She was here. Inside the building.

This was a setup.

An unknown male voice spoke. “If you want to see your wife alive, don’t call for backup.”

Bryce’s blood ran cold. The smuggler had figured out the setup and had taken Jenna hostage. “I’m here. I’m alone. Don’t hurt her.”

A scream ripped through the building. Jenna! Shots resounded.

“God, no, just please, no.” He drew his weapon. His frantic breathing picked up. Bryce eased further into the building. Where was Eric? Not only his deputy and a good friend, but Eric was also Jenna’s younger brother.

As Bryce’s eyes grew accustomed to the darkness, he realized he wasn’t alone. Tess, his informant, lay on the floor near where he stood. Blood pooled around her motionless body. Her sightless eyes stared into space.

Bryce quickly felt for a pulse. There wasn’t one. Her throat had been slashed.

A sob tore through the darkness. “No, please.” Jenna.

Bryce forced himself to move carefully toward the sound of whimpering. The fog had permeated the building’s interior through broken windows. Sounds became distorted because of it.

“That’s far enough.”

That same voice from the phone ordered him to stop.

Bryce froze when he made out another body lying near the man.No, please, no.

“Bryce!”

Jenna. It wasn’t her. He jerked his gaze away from the person on the floor to his wife.

“It’s okay, babe.” Bryce tried his best to calm his terrified wife.

The man laughed and wrenched Jenna closer. He held a gun to her head. “You should have left things alone. Stayed out of what you know nothing about. Leftmyenterprise alone. You’ve got enough crime in this godforsaken county of yours to keep you busy elsewhere.”

The words seemed to indicate the smuggler knew things about the county, confirming he’d been around the area for a while working in the shadows—until the recent explosion of heroin overdoses and crimes exposed his operation.

“Let her go.” Bryce’s gaze locked with Jenna’s. “I’m going to get you out of this.”

---