Drawn Read online

  Drawn

  Synopsis

  Urban artist Riley Flynn spends her days wandering the streets of Dallas, sketching the city she loves. Then dead bodies start showing up in the exact locations she was sketching, and the police arrive on her doorstep. With every reason in the world to distrust the law, she’s reluctant to help the striking detective assigned to the case, especially after the cops start treating her like a suspect. As the stakes get deadlier, Riley’s instinct for self-protection wars with civic duty and unexpected attraction.

  Detective Claire Hanlon is all about the facts, all about the law, and all about climbing the Dallas PD ladder. Her career advancement hinges on capturing the killer terrorizing the city, and the only thing in her way is the incredibly stubborn, incredibly beautiful person of interest, Riley Flynn, who is also incredibly off limits. Because she might be guilty of murder.

  What Reviewers Say About Carsen Taite’s Work

  Leading the Witness

  “Every once in a while you need a good lawyer book, and when I say every once in a while I mean every time Carsen Taite writes a book. She is my go-to for a good crime/lawyer focused book. Every single time you get a fabulous read that will be hard to put down way past your bedtime.”—The Romantic Reader Blog

  “Carsen Taite is a sure bet.”—Jude in the Stars

  Practice Makes Perfect

  “Absolutely brilliant! …I was hooked reading this story. It was intense, thrilling in that way legal matters get to the nitty gritty and instil tension between parties, fast paced, and laced with angst… Very slow burn romance, which not only excites me but makes me get so lost in the story.”—LESBIreviewed

  “…a fun start to a promising new series, with characters I enjoyed getting to know.”—Lesbian Review

  Pursuit of Happiness

  “Taite has written a book that draws you in. It had us hooked from the first paragraph to the last. We thoroughly enjoyed this book and would unhesitatingly recommend it.”—Best Lesfic Reviews

  “…an entertaining read for anyone interested in American politics and its legal system.”—Lez Review Books

  Love’s Verdict

  “Well written, cleverly plotted, with a great balance between the slow change from dislike to attraction to love in the romance department while the high profile case works through its phases. The merging of the two plots is subtle and well-crafted seamlessly moving us forward on both fronts. The high profile murder is well played, as always with Ms Taite’s courtroom dramas, and I liked the way it became a real life thriller as well as a legal case. Overall an excellent read, one of my favourites from this author.”—Lesbian Reading Room

  Outside the Law

  “This is by far the best book of the series and Ms. Taite has saved the best for last. Each book features a romance and the main characters, Tanner Cohen and Sydney Braswell are well rounded, lovable and their chemistry is sizzling… The book found the perfect balance between romance and thriller with a surprising twist at the end. Very entertaining read. Overall, a very good end of this series. Recommended for both romance and thriller fans. 4.5 stars.”—Lez Review Books

  A More Perfect Union

  “Readers looking for a mix of intrigue and romance set against a political backdrop will want to pick up Taite’s latest novel.”—RT Book Reviews

  “…an excellent romantic suspense (which should be a surprise to no one, because that’s exactly what Taite does!)… This is a pitch-perfect Carsen Taite story. Everything worked for me!”—Lesbian Review

  Sidebar

  “Sidebar is a love story with a refreshing twist. It’s a mystery and a bit of a thriller, with an ethical dilemma and some subterfuge thrown in for good measure. The combination gives us a fast-paced read, which includes courtroom and personal drama, an appealing love story, and a more than satisfying ending.”—Lambda Literary Review

  “This book has it all, two fantastic lead characters, an interesting plot and that sizzling chemistry that great authors can make jump off the page. While all of Taite’s books are fantastic, this one is on the next level. No critiques, no criticism, you only need to know one thing…this is a damn good book.”—Romantic Reader Blog

  Letter of the Law

  “If you like romantic suspense novels, stories that involve the law, or anything to do with ranching, you’re not going to want to miss this one.”—Lesbian Review

  Without Justice

  “Another pretty awesome lesbian mystery thriller by Carsen Taite.”—Danielle Kimerer, Librarian, Nevins Memorial Library (MA)

  “All in all a fantastic novel… Unequivocally 5 Stars…”—Les Rêveur

  Above the Law

  “…readers who enjoyed the first installment will find this a worthy second act.”—Publishers Weekly

  Reasonable Doubt

  “The story was a great ride! Mixing both dramatic moments with fast-paced action, along with heartfelt and gentle occurrences… Carsen Taite brought all of her own history as a criminal defense lawyer to the forefront of this novel in order to help tell the story. …Bravo to the author! A wonderful story all around. I will be adding Carsen Taite to my list of authors to watch for when new novels are released.”—FarNerdy Book Blog

  “The two main characters are well written and I was into them from the first minute they appeared. It’s a modern thriller which takes place in the world right now.”—Lesfic Tumblr

  Lay Down the Law

  “Recognized for the pithy realism of her characters and settings drawn from a Texas legal milieu, Taite pays homage to the prime-time soap opera Dallas in pairing a cartel-busting U.S. attorney, Peyton Davis, with a charity-minded oil heiress, Lily Gantry.”—Publishers Weekly

  “In typical suspense fashion, twists and turns abound as the two women collide within each other’s spheres, eventually leading to the inevitable happy ending… This novel is recommended for general LGBT and mystery collections.”—GLBT Reviews: The ALA’s Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender Round Table

  Courtship

  “This is one really fine story. I felt as if I were right in the middle of a major political battle to get a relatively unknown woman appointed to the most important court position in the land. Levels upon levels plus twists and turns, including a passionate entanglement adding a spectacular underscore, as the lovers meld and re-meld multiple times. I would have to say this is a classic page-turner and I totally enjoyed the high-spirited elements that may always surround key political battles. Magnificent!”—Rainbow Book Reviews

  Switchblade

  “Dallas’s intrepid female bounty hunter, Luca Bennett, is back in another adventure. Fantastic! Between her many friends and lovers, her interesting family, her fly by the seat of her pants lifestyle, and a whole host of detractors there is rarely a dull moment.”—Rainbow Book Reviews

  Rush

  “A simply beautiful interplay of police procedural magic, murder, FBI presence, misguided protective cover-ups, and a superheated love affair…a Gold Star from me and major encouragement for all readers to dive right in and consume this story with gusto!”—Rainbow Book Reviews

  Battle Axe

  “Taite breathes life into her characters with elemental finesse… A great read, told in the vein of a good old detective-type novel filled with criminal elements, thugs, and mobsters that will entertain and amuse.”—Lambda Literary

  Slingshot

  “The mean streets of lesbian literature finally have the hard boiled bounty hunter they deserve. It’s a slingshot of a ride, bad guys and hot women rolled into one page turning package. I’m looking forward to Luca Bennett’s next adventure.”—J. M. Redmann, author of the Micky Knight mystery series

  Nothing but the Truth

  “As a criminal defense attorney in Dallas, Texas, Carsen
Taite knows her way around the court house. …Nothing But the Truth is an enjoyable mystery with some hot romance thrown in.”—Just About Write

  It Should be a Crime—Lammy Finalist

  “This [It Should be a Crime] is just Taite’s second novel…, but it’s as if she has bookshelves full of bestsellers under her belt. In fact, she manages to make the courtroom more exciting than Judge Judy bursting into flames while delivering a verdict. Like this book, that’s something we’d pay to see.”—Gay List Daily

  Drawn

  Brought to you by

  eBooks from Bold Strokes Books, Inc.

  http://www.boldstrokesbooks.com

  eBooks are not transferable. They cannot be sold, shared or given away as it is an infringement on the copyright of this work.

  Please respect the rights of the author and do not file share.

  Drawn

  © 2020 By Carsen Taite. All Rights Reserved.

  ISBN 13: 978-1-63555-645-2

  This Electronic Original Is Published By

  Bold Strokes Books, Inc.

  P.O. Box 249

  Valley Falls, NY 12185

  First Edition: June 2020

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission.

  Credits

  Editor: Cindy Cresap

  Production Design: Susan Ramundo

  Cover Design By Tammy Seidick

  eBook Design By Toni Whitaker

  By the Author

  Truelesbianlove.com

  It Should be a Crime

  Do Not Disturb

  Nothing but the Truth

  The Best Defense

  Beyond Innocence

  Rush

  Courtship

  Reasonable Doubt

  Without Justice

  Sidebar

  A More Perfect Union

  Love’s Verdict

  Pursuit of Happiness

  Leading the Witness

  Drawn

  The Luca Bennett Mystery Series:

  Slingshot

  Battle Axe

  Switchblade

  Bow and Arrow (novella in Girls with Guns)

  Lone Star Law Series:

  Lay Down the Law

  Above the Law

  Letter of the Law

  Outside the Law

  Legal Affairs Romances:

  Practice Makes Perfect

  Acknowledgments

  After setting my last couple of books in Austin, Texas, (a place I love), I decided to return to another place I love, the city I call home. Dallas aka Big D’s motto is Big Things Happen Here and it’s true. I’m lucky to reside in a city with a large and vibrant LGBTQ community where I can live openly and participate in lots of varied activities with my family of choice, including the Women with Pride book club now in its eleventh year. In addition to all the fun, queer stuff to do, Dallas is full of beautiful, fun, and sometimes funky landmarks. I was discussing these with my wife Lainey—the real artist in the family—when the idea for this book was born (she’s the brainchild who came up with Riley Flynn). Thanks, L, for the ideas and the encouragement to live my dreams.

  I also want to thank the usual suspects. Special shout outs to Rad and Sandy who run the most amazing publishing house on the planet—I’m proud to call Bold Strokes home. To my editor, Cindy Cresap, thanks for your tireless guidance to make me a better writer. Thanks to Tammy Seidick for another amazing cover. Ruth, you are the blurb muse and I’m forever grateful for your generous help. Sharon B., thanks for always being willing to talk about dead bodies. Your knowledge is invaluable, and any forensic errors are entirely my own.

  The act of writing may be solitary, but every writer needs a supportive crew of pals to get them through the process and I have some of the best. Georgia, Melissa, Elle, and Paula—I raise a glass to each of you! And Paula, special thanks for lending your keen eyes to the first draft of this story and sticking with me to the very last word.

  And most of all, thanks go to you, dear readers. Your support in the form of buying the book, writing reviews, and spreading the word is what makes it possible for me to earn a living doing the work I love. You’re the best!

  Dedication

  To Lainey.

  I’ve been drawn to you from the moment we met.

  Chapter One

  Riley stuck her brush in the small jar of water and stepped back to assess her creation. She’d spent the last half hour trying to perfect the background of the sunset against the mural on the side of Henry’s Thrift Shop, but she couldn’t seem to get the colors right and she couldn’t help but think the trouble on her canvas was a reflection of the rest of her life lately.

  “Still working?”

  Riley turned toward the voice to see Mrs. Henry, the elderly owner of the store, the lone holdout of original businesses on this gentrified block of Deep Ellum. “Just finishing up. The colors are eluding me today.”

  Mrs. Henry put a hand on her forehead and stared into the sinking sun. “It’s a gorgeous sight. Maybe too pretty for a canvas. Some things were meant to be experienced, not captured.”

  “You may be right.” Riley started packing up her brushes. “Today, I concede victory to mother nature.”

  Mrs. Henry waved a hand at the parking lot where Riley had set up her easel. “Where’s the rest of your group? I thought I saw at least one of them here with you.”

  Riley looked around, certain everyone else had left a while ago. “Happy hour.” She caught Mrs. Henry’s questioning look. Usually the members of the Eastside Sketchers stuck together on their regular outings. They’d spent the last few hours walking through Deep Ellum, sketching the murals that decorated the walls of bars and restaurants that had once been warehouses. Their meet-ups usually lasted a couple of hours, but despite the chill in the air, Riley hadn’t been ready to call it a day when the others were done. “They all bugged out to snag seats at the Ginger Man,” she said, referring to the popular pub where they often adjourned after one of their meet-ups. “I told them I’d be close behind, but I must’ve lost track of time.”

  “Well, go on, girl.” Mrs. Henry made a shooing motion. “Remember what I said about living your life instead of just drawing it.”

  Riley squinted into the sun one last time before conceding she’d lost too much light to get any more done today. She helped Mrs. Henry load a few boxes into her ancient pickup and waved good-bye, happy to have a few minutes of solitude as she packed up her supplies, carefully drying her brushes and rolling them up into a case that she tucked into the drawer of her portable easel. She didn’t always bust out paints for these casual meet-ups, but she’d been bristling against convention lately, and her artwork seemed a safe place to express her desire for change. In another hour, this block would be brimming with locals looking for a bite to eat before scoping out their favorite bands, but in this moment, there was a quiet peace against the gritty backdrop of old warehouses turned into a trendy Dallas destination, and she’d wanted to capture this calm before the storm in full color. So much about her life lately had been in the gray zone.

  On the way to her car, her phone chimed with the notice of an incoming text and she glanced at the screen. She’d only just started recognizing the number, but she’d refused to assign a name to it in her contacts. Like she’d done every time before, she hit ignore. He could leave another voice message and she’d get to it when she was damn well ready.

  The Ginger Man in Uptown was only a few miles’ drive, but Riley opted to take backstreets rather than the highway to avoid rush hour traffic. A few road construction signs sent her out of her way, but the longer drive was a welcome distraction. She’d considered skipping their usual after sketch happy hour, but it was Buster’s birth
day and she’d promised him she’d show. When she finally reached the pub, she noticed she was way later than she’d planned. Another text came in as she was exiting her car, but she ignored it this time. She was glad she’d decided not to go home since it was unlikely her phone would stop pinging anytime soon. A drink and some down time with the rest of the group in a noisy bar was exactly what she needed right now.

  The Ginger Man was in a converted two-story house and it was a favorite venue for locals who wanted to enjoy good beer in a casual setting. Buster Creel, the president of the Eastside Sketchers, lived nearby and had insisted they claim it as their designated post sketching spot.

  Riley walked into the bar and waved to the few folks from her group she spotted as they called out her name. There was a time when she wouldn’t have been able to imagine being part of any kind of group at all, let alone enjoying the camaraderie as much as she did, but these people, although most were amateurs, cared enough about art to not get distracted by delving into each other’s personal lives. Buster, like her, was a professional artist, but older and more experienced. He’d been the one to encourage her to join the group when she met him at a showing of his work in a gallery on the south side of town.