Holiday on the run...
Can they prove her innocence?
DNA technician Dani Jones can’t believe she’s being framed. But there’s no other explanation for the illegal drugs in her trunk—or the deadly target on her back. Though former DEA agent Gideon Marshall has learned to stay guarded, he won’t let Dani go down without a fight. But can Gideon and his retired drug-sniffing dog make sure she survives long enough to clear her name?
JAYCEE BULLARD hails from Minnesota, where a thirty-degree day in January is reason to break out short-sleeved shirts. In the ten years since graduating with a degree in classical languages, Jaycee has worked as a paralegal, an office manager and a Montessori teacher. An earlier version of Framed for Christmas won the 2016 ACFW Genesis award for Romantic Suspense. Check in and say hi on Facebook at Facebook.com/jaycee.bullard.1.
Framed for Christmas
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Framed for Christmas
Jaycee Bullard
ISBN: 978-1-474-08629-5
FRAMED FOR CHRISTMAS
© 2018 Jean Bullard
Published in Great Britain 2018
by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF
All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.
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Version: 2020-03-02
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“I just found twenty kilos of cocaine in the back of your van.”
Dani blinked. Twice. And then asked him to repeat the statement.
“I found ten bags of cocaine in the trunk of your vehicle.” Gideon enunciated each word with careful precision. “Actually, Lou did. I’d estimate its street value to be close to a million dollars.”
She gave a gasp of surprise. “Your dog found cocaine in our van?” This had to be a joke. “Is he some sort of supersecret agent canine trained to sniff out drugs?”
The muscle flexing along Gideon’s jaw and the firm set of his mouth showed that this was no laughing matter.
“He is. And he’s got the medals to prove it. It took him less than five minutes to locate the stash of drugs hidden with the Bibles. Ironic, don’t you think?”
Her mind scrambled to make sense of this information. She supposed that, if true, it was rather ironic, but at the moment, that was the least of her concern. “Who put them there?”
“I was hoping you could tell me.”
It was 1985 when forensic scientists first tapped into the evidence encoded in our genes—DNA. Unique as fingerprints, samples of blood, hair, bone and tissue discovered at a crime scene could be analyzed, and a match to a likely suspect could be made. Over the past thirty years, DNA testing has become standard procedure in cases like the one involving Dani’s sister. It was this evidence that enabled police to find her murderer and bring closure to her grieving family. No wonder Dani dedicated her life to unlocking the mysteries of DNA.
Although I am not a scientist, I have always been fascinated by DNA. How incredible to consider these intricate details of God’s creation, which were once hidden and are now evident for all to see. We have only to look to Genesis 4:10 to find a hint about the information God has concealed in our genes. “And He said, ‘What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground.’”
Thank you for joining Gideon and Dani on their winter adventure. I’d be honored to hear from you. You can email me at [email protected], or friend me at Facebook.com/Jaycee.Bullard.1.
Warm regards,
Jaycee Bullard
To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
—Jude 1:25
Dedicated to my family. Mom and Dad, Nate, Clare, William and Nick. Paul, Jenny, Jen and Mallory. I couldn’t have done it without your love and support.
To my friends and colleagues at SPTS—Mark, Jim, Jeff, Courtney, Chris and Kathy—thank you for giving me those Thursday afternoons off to work on my writing. It meant more than you can know.
And to Dina Davis, my editor at Harlequin. I am deeply grateful for all your kindness and support.