Last Resort

Last Resort
Hannah Alexander

IT WAS A STORY TO PUT HIDEAWAY, MISSOURI, IN THE NATIONAL HEADLINES…A MISSING CHILD: Carissa Cooper, twelve, vanishes near her home–abducted, possibly by someone close to her.A WOMAN IN CRISIS : Noelle Cooper races back to her hometown to help in the search for her cousin and steps into a web of secrets that has haunted her family for generations.A MAN OF FAITH : Nathan Trask will do anything to protect Noelle from danger. Noelle's childhood friend, he might be much more…if she dares turn to him.

Last Resort

Hannah Alexander

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

In loving memory of Ray Overall,

February 2, 1913 to August 9, 2004,

stepdad extraordinaire, whose kindness

and gentle support gave hope and renewed life to

his wife and stepsons.

Contents

Acknowledgments

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

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Chapter Twenty-Nine

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

As with every book we write, we depend heavily upon others to help us reach our deadline with integrity. We very much appreciate our editor, Joan Marlow Golan, for enthusiastic support, patience and kindness. She and her excellent staff make our job so much easier.

Our agent, Karen Solem, guides us with expertise and wisdom when we stumble through the often confusing world of publishing.

Cheryl’s mom, Lorene Cook, keeps us going when deadlines loom and the world threatens to fly apart around us. What would we do without you, Mom?

Thanks to Vera Overall, Mel’s mom, who never stops spreading the word about the books she loves to read.

Thanks to Marty Frost, who has always believed in us, always served as a sounding board and inspiration.

Thanks to Barbara Warren, who rubs her hands in glee, red pen in hand, eager to attack and critique our latest work until it shines.

Thanks also to Jackie Bolton, for serving as an expert into the mysterious mind of the teenager.

Thanks to brainstorm buddies, Nancy Moser, Steph Whitson Higgins, Deborah Raney, Colleen and Dave Coble and Doris Elaine Fell, for helping us plot late into the night.