www.mirabooks.co.uk

      For my readers.

      Thank you.

      Acknowledgments

       I need to thank the following people for their offering of time, expertise and support during the writing of this novel. Without their generosity, Bone Cold would not have become the book it is.

       Lieutenant Marlon A. Defillo, Commander, Public Affairs Division, New Orleans Police Department.

       Evan Marshall, The Evan Marshall Literary Agency.

       Dianne Moggy and the entire amazing MIRA crew.

       And finally, a special acknowledgment to Rebekah Bevins, my youngest fan, whose (perfectly innocent) letters sparked the original idea for this story. Thanks, Bekah!

      Prologue

       June 1978 Southern California

      Terror held thirteen-year-old Harlow Anastasia Grail in a death grip. She huddled in the corner of the dimly lit, windowless room, Timmy cowering beside her, weeping.

      The matted carpet smelled faintly of urine, as did the mattress she and Timmy had awakened on hours before. Or had it been days? Harlow didn’t know. She had lost all sense of whether it was day or night and of the hours passing. Time had ceased to exist the moment Monica, her father’s trusted nurse, had coaxed her and Timmy into a car Harlow hadn’t recognized.

      He had been waiting inside it. The man Monica called Kurt.

      Harlow shuddered, remembering the cold way he had smiled at her. She had known instantly that he meant her and Timmy harm; she had screamed and lunged for the door handle. He had stopped her, holding her fast while Monica injected her with something that had turned her world black.

      “I want to go home,” Timmy whimpered. “I want my mom.”

      Harlow drew the boy closer to her side, protectiveness surging through her. It was her fault he was here. She had to take care of him; he was her responsibility. “It’s going to be all right. I won’t let them hurt you.”

      From the adjoining room came the sound of a TV news report in progress:

      “—yet in the kidnapping of little Harlow Grail and her friend, Timmy Price. Harlow Grail, daughter of actress Savannah North Grail and Hollywood plastic surgeon Cornelius Grail, was abducted from the stables on the family’s estate. The housekeeper’s six-year-old son had apparently followed Grail to the stables and was also abducted. Authorities do not believe he was part of the original plot and FBI officials—

      A crash rent the air, followed by the sound of splintering wood. “Son-of-a-bitch!” “Kurt, calm dow—”

      “I told them what would happen if they went to the cops! Stupid Hollywood assholes! I told them—” “Kurt, for God’s sake, don’t—” The door flew open with such force it crashed against the wall behind it. Kurt stood in the doorway, breathing hard, face white with rage. Monica and the other woman, the one called Sis, hovered behind him. They looked terrified.

      “Your parents didn’t listen,” he said softly, voice vibrating with hatred. “Too bad for you.”

      “Let us go!” Harlow cried, pulling Timmy closer. The boy clung to her, sobbing, hysterical.

      He laughed, the sound cruel. “Spoiled little bitch. If I let you go, how will I get what I want?”

      He crossed the room and grabbed Timmy, wrenching him from her.

      “Ha’low!” the boy screamed, terrified.

      “Leave him alone!” As she scrambled to her feet to help him, Monica and Sis sprang forward, stopping her. Harlow fought them, but they were too strong. Their hands circled her arms, their nails dug into her flesh, holding her fast.

      Kurt tossed Timmy onto the dirty cot and held the struggling six-year-old down. “Watch carefully, little princess,” he said to her. “See what your parents caused. They didn’t listen to me. I warned them not to go to the authorities. I told them what the consequences would be. They did this. Stupid Hollywood assholes.”

      Laughing, Kurt grabbed a pillow and pressed it over Timmy’s face.

      “No!” The word, her scream, flew out of her, reverberating off the walls and back. “No!”

      Timmy struggled. He clawed at Kurt’s hands, his legs flailed wildly at first, then with less force. Harlow watched in horror, a litany of pleas slipping from her lips, tears streaming down her face.

      Timmy went still. “No!” Harlow screamed. “Timmy!”