John Doe on Her Doorstep. Debra Webb
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The man appeared capable of most any feat
The ledge protruded a mere four feet. The fact that they’d landed on it in the dark was a miracle and then Dani decided it wasn’t a miracle at all. John had heard the approach of danger before the men even entered the house. He’d led her through the woods last night at breakneck speed without hitting the first obstacle. The light from the moon and the scarce stars had been meager at best.
His auditory and visual senses were clearly far above normal. His ability to heal… Just then Dani’s gaze settled on his mouth. The lip that had been split last evening in the fight had mended to the point of hardly being visible at all. The jaw that should have been bruised and swollen showed no hint of having been damaged. Incredible was the first word that came to mind.
“Nothing will hurt you,” John stated with a kind of knowing that unsettled her. “No one will get past me.”
There was no doubt that she was in grave danger, but somehow she was safe with this mysterious stranger….
John Doe on Her Doorstep
Debra Webb
I think we all go through a time in our lives when we don’t really know who we are or what we want to do.
Well, lucky for me, I met someone who made an incredible difference in my life at a truly crucial juncture. She read my first completed manuscript and proudly proclaimed it “Romance!” That day was the beginning of a very exciting journey for me. This book is dedicated to Patty Godfrey, a dear friend and lovely Christian. Thank you, Patty, for pointing me in the right direction.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Debra Webb was born in Scottsboro, Alabama, to parents who taught her that anything is possible if you want it badly enough. When her husband joined the military, they moved to Berlin, Germany, and Debra became a secretary in the commanding general’s office. By 1985 they were back in the States, and with the support of her husband and two beautiful daughters, Debra took up writing full-time and in 1998 her dream of writing for Harlequin came true. You can write to Debra with your comments at P.O. Box 64, Huntland, Tennessee 37345 or visit her Web site at www.debrawebb.com to find out exciting news about her next book.
CAST OF CHARACTERS
Adam (John Doe)—An Enforcer whose mission it is to eliminate the three known targets who betrayed the creator of the “super” gene, Dr. Daniel Archer, and to recover the file containing the key to the “super” gene formula.
Dani Archer—Could she really be responsible for her own father’s murder?
Dr. Daniel Archer—The scientist who held the key to the “super” gene code.
Doc—A close family friend. The only real family Dani has left.
Rand and Cal—Two young men who help Dani out on the ranch and who may be responsible for bringing trouble to her door.
Sheriff Lane Nichols—One man Dani tries hard to stay clear of.
Director Richard O’Riley—Center director. He has the power to end lives. Has he made a mistake setting this mission into motion?
Congressman Terrence Winslow—The head of the Collective leaves the day-to-day operations to O’Riley. No one can connect him to trouble at Center.
Joseph Marsh—A project manager at Center. Is he friend or foe?
UN Secretary Donald Thurlo—He overstepped his bounds…got greedy.
Investigator Scott Davidson—Did Dani make a mistake going to him?
Cain—The most deadly Enforcer at Center. Most call him heartless. Director O’Riley calls him the best.
Contents
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Epilogue
Prologue
Alexandria, Virginia
Weekend home of UN Secretary-General
Donald Thurlo
“Dammit.”
Donald Thurlo shuffled through the mound of papers on his desk again. A pool of golden light from the brass lamp spilled over the mass of now insignificant correspondence scattered on the mahogany surface. Where the hell was that letter? He needed the damned letter. It was his only protection.
He’d taken it from his wall safe only a few minutes ago. His brow furrowed in concentration. What had he done after that? He’d rushed upstairs to throw a few things into a bag. He glanced at the Louis Vuitton case waiting at his feet. His pulse quickened. He had to get the hell out of here.
But first he had to have that damned letter.
“Looking for this?”
Ice-cold fear surged anew through Thurlo’s veins. Slowly, he looked up from his desk.
Oh, God.
Too late.
With a pistol in his right hand, the stranger reached into the pocket of his leather jacket with his left and produced a folded piece of paper.
The letter.
Dammit.
Thurlo straightened and stared into the startling blue eyes of the assassin who’d been sent to silence him. “Why does it have to be this way?” he asked, his words trembling, fear coursing through him. “I could—”
“There’s nothing you can do now,” the man said in a deep, steady voice that proved more unnerving than if he’d screamed his response. “Goodbye, Mr. Secretary.”
Thurlo started to cry for mercy, but the bullet’s impact stunned him into silence….
Chapter One
Eastern Virginia
The early morning weather was perfect. The sun was shining now, spilling its glow over the evergreen landscape, the air clean and brisk from the October morning’s frost. Not a cloud in the sky.
A perfect day for vengeance.
The first phase of his mission had been completed.
Adam slowed and took the next exit off I-95 South. His destination was centrally located between Alexandria and Richmond. Ten miles west of a small town called Hickory Grove, in Virginia’s Caroline County.
Estimated time of arrival, he glanced at his watch, 1200 hours. Interrogation wouldn’t take more than thirty minutes, termination about two seconds.
Then it would be finished.
His lips compressed into a grim line. Part of him would just as soon someone else from Center had been selected for this particular assignment. He was trained to put all emotion aside when it came to his work. Emotion had no place in this business.