Some secrets refuse to stay buried...In this explosive new Baker & Tate mystery, Texas Ranger Ruth Baker faces her darkest case yet—one that strikes at the heart of her own family.When twenty-three children vanish from a school bus in Caldwell, Texas, the case becomes personal for Ruth Baker—her daughter Ava should have been on that bus. Partnered with fellow Ranger Aaron Tate, Ruth uncovers a haunting connection to the infamous "Red Barn Killings" from twenty years ago. But as they dig deeper, they discover that Caldwell's most powerful figures may have been protecting a terrible secret all along.With the FBI closing in and dangerous revelations about her late husband's death coming to light, Ruth must decide how far she'll go to expose the truth—even if it means destroying everything she thought she knew about her hometown.A pulse-pounding thriller perfect for fans of Elle Gray and Mary Stone. By the bestselling author of The Ambassador's Daughter.Continue reading for an excerpt from RED BARN: A Baker & Tate Mystery ThrillerThe silence that followed lasted only a heartbeat before it was shattered by more gunfire. Ruth felt the heat of a bullet as it whizzed past her ear, so close she could swear she heard the whisper of its passage. The sound of the shots reverberated off the barn's high ceiling, creating a cacophony that made it difficult to pinpoint their origin.Ruth dropped into a crouch, using the miniature Ferris wheel for cover. Her heart pounded in her chest, but her hands remained steady on her weapon. She forced herself to breathe slowly, evenly, as she had been trained.Another shot rang out, and Ruth's eyes locked onto the brief, brilliant flash of the muzzle flare. It was like a star blinking into existence for a fraction of a second before being swallowed by the darkness. High up, near the hayloft. The shooter had the high ground.Ruth didn't hesitate. She aimed and fired in the direction of the flash, squeezing off three rapid shots. The muzzle of her own weapon lit up the barn in staccato bursts, revealing fleeting glimpses of the whimsical wonderland turned battlefield. Shadows danced across the faces of smiling clowns and cartoon characters, their frozen grins taking on a sinister quality in the flashes of light.The air filled with the acrid smell of gunpowder, mingling with the lingering scents of popcorn and cotton candy. The contrast was jarring, a brutal reminder of the violence unfolding in this place built for childhood joy.
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