Out of the Shadows

By Jamie Lynn Miller

For K-9 Officer Shane Walker, transferring from the Tulsa police department to the elite L.A.P.D. was a dream come true. He nearly forgets he's in Hollywood until he responds to a 911 call that brings him to the home of actor Tyler Donovan.

It appears that Tyler has it all - a career that's on fire and a loving, long-term relationship with his partner, Alex. But then Shane uncovers the truth that Tyler had been trying to hide, and the illusion comes crashing down.

Can Shane help Tyler break free of a life he's convinced he deserves before it's too late, and in the process help them both find love?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jamie Lynn Miller
• Release date: Jul 14, 2010
• ISBN: 9781393896586

Jamie Lynn Miller

Jamie Lynn Miller has been writing fiction since childhood and finally decided to take the plunge and go pro, finding to her amazement that people truly enjoyed her love stories. She’s a romantic at heart, and her tales reflect the desire we all have to find “the one,” persevering through trials and heartache for that happy ending. Jamie has a degree in fine arts and has spent the last twenty+ years working as a graphic designer, though she’d much rather be writing. She was born in Chicago and still lives there today with her husband and their furry, four-footed children, er… cats. If she’s not brainstorming story ideas, you can find Jamie at a sci-fi convention, in front of a furnace doing glass blowing, or on a mat twisted into a yoga pose.

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SUMMARY

For K-9 Officer Shane Walker, transferring from the Tulsa police department to the elite L.A.P.D. was a dream come true. He nearly forgets he's in Hollywood until he responds to a 911 call that brings him to the home of actor Tyler Donovan.

It appears that Tyler has it all - a career that's on fire and a loving, long-term relationship with his partner, Alex. But then Shane uncovers the truth that Tyler had been trying to hide, and the illusion comes crashing down.

Can Shane help Tyler break free of a life he's convinced he deserves before it's too late, and in the process help them both find love?

COPYRIGHT

This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © July 2010 by Jamie Lynn Miller

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law.

In other words, I’d love you to post bits and quotes anywhere you like. (Just not the whole book.) For information, email me at [e-mail]

Out of the Shadows—First Edition

Cover Design by Jamie Lynn Miller

OUT OF THE SHADOWS

CHAPTER ONE

A small smile played across the face of twenty-eight year-old police officer Shane Walker as he gazed out the open passenger side window of his squad car. Life is good, he thought as he breathed in the warm California air, the bright lights of Hollywood illuminating the night sky all around him. Shane let the small smile turn into a full-fledged grin. Tonight marked the accomplishment of a goal it had taken him months to achieve – his last day of field training. Come Monday morning he’d be on his own as a K-9 patrol officer, this time for the Los Angeles Police Department.

It’d been a long road to get here, a long way from the Tulsa Police Department K-9 division where Shane had gotten his start in law enforcement three years ago. Shane was proud to wear the police uniform of his hometown, but it had always been his goal to work for the elite L.A.P.D.  So when he heard about the opening in their canine unit, he had immediately put in for a transfer.

That was six months ago. During that time Shane had gone through a rigorous interview process and psychological screening before being accepted, along with his partner Chase, into the L.A.P.D. After that it was packing up and leaving home, leaving his family, and entering into the academy for 18 more weeks of training. Even though Shane was already a cop, he needed to learn the way the L.A.P.D. wanted things done. It was hard work, more like boot camp than anything, but Shane excelled, graduating at the top of his class.

But he wasn’t ready to hit the streets quite yet.  For the next month him and Chase worked with the L.A.P.D. K-9 instructor, proving that the German Shepherd was just as good an officer as his handler.

Then it was finally time for him and Chase to be assigned their squad car, their call sign and their beat, and begin their month of field training with Sergeant Nick Hansen. Nick was an excellent FTO officer, committed to the job and drilling into the rookies valuable knowledge that could save their lives. Nick was tough, but underneath that gruff exterior was a warm, funny guy, and he and Shane hit it off pretty much right from the start.

Shane raked his fingers through his wind-blown brown hair, and turned to look at Nick in the driver’s seat. Shane smiled. Shift’s almost over, Sarge. Gonna give me an A+ on my final eval?

Nick glanced over at Shane. Oh, there’s still plenty of time for you to screw up, Walker, he grinned.

Shane chuckled and looked over his shoulder through the mesh grating at Chase lying in the back seat. It just pains him to admit I’ve been his best rookie ever, right, boy? he said, and the big dog gave a small wuff as a response.

Before Nick could reply, the radio crackled to life with a series of beeps, drawing both men’s attention, Chase’s ears perking up at the familiar sound.

Over the speaker came the voice of Stephanie, one of the dispatchers. Six-Adam-Twelve.

Nick snagged the mic and depressed the button. Six-Adam-Twelve, go.

Six-Adam-Twelve…Code 242 at 441 Highland Avenue. Please respond.

Shane saw Nick’s jaw tighten. Six-Adam-Twelve, responding, the sergeant answered Stephanie, shaking his head and muttering, Great, as he replaced the mic back in its cradle.

Shane’s cop sense immediately started tingling. Something tells me you’ve been out there before, he said, needing to know if there was a repeat offender in his beat. Battery call then, too?

Nick sighed and nodded. This is the third domestic call out there in four months.

Now it was Shane’s jaw that tightened. What’s the story?

House belongs to Tyler Donovan, who’s regularly getting beaten up by his partner, Alex Campbell, whenever Alex gets high. Donovan is never the one that calls, it’s usually the neighbor, and Donovan never presses charges. So we do it for him.

Shane’s jaw dropped open and he sagged back against the seat, trying to process what Nick had just said. Tyler Donovan…the actor that Shane just happened to be a fan of, and had admired for years now. And if truth be told, had a bit of a crush on as well.

Like Shane, Tyler was an Oklahoma boy, from Broken Arrow. Tyler had started on the soaps when he was just a teenager, winning several Daytime Emmy awards before making the leap to dramas in his early twenties. He was on several hit shows in a row for the next six years, then decided to jump to the big screen and a movie career while his star was on the rise. It was a smart move. His first movie was a hit and his popularity jumped. He was on the verge of becoming a huge star, and his next movie, due out in about six months, should do it for him, if the early buzz was anything to go by. At age thirty-three, Tyler seemed to have it all – a skyrocketing career and a long-term, loving relationship with Alex Campbell.

Or obviously not so loving, as Shane was finding out, despite all the photos and red carpet appearances that showed them as a happy couple, holding hands and smiling

Tyler Donovan? I just…I can’t believe it, Shane said, shaking his head.

Pick up your jaw, kid, Nick told him as he flipped on the lights and sirens and Chase started barking. You’re in Hollywood now.

~*~*~*~

There was already one other squad car at the Donovan residence when Nick and Shane arrived. Shane recognized the squad number as belonging to Officer Brooks and Officer Moore. Leaving Chase in the car, much to the dog’s dismay, Shane exited the vehicle and automatically smoothed his hands down his chest, straightening his dark blue uniform over his Kevlar vest, then adjusted his heavy gun belt.

He took in the scene quickly as he approached the house – Officer Hailey Brooks was out front, standing near the steps leading up to the front porch, talking to Tyler Donovan, who was seated on the steps, a towel pressed to his left cheek. The front door was open, and Shane could hear the voices of two men inside - Officer Sean Moore and Alex Campbell. And standing on the edge of Tyler’s yard was another man, watching intently at everything going on, his arms crossed over his chest, a frown on his face. He had to be the neighbor that called 911.

Officer Brooks turned as Nick and Shane walked up, her short blonde ponytail bobbing with the movement. Sarge, she greeted them, nodding at Nick.

Nick nodded back. Brooks. You mind letting Walker take over?

Officer Brooks shook her head and flipped her small notebook closed, tucking her pen back in her shirt pocket. Not at all, Sarge, she replied, Maybe he’ll have better luck getting something out of him. She cocked her head toward Tyler, then went to step past Shane, knocking her fist on his arm. You got this, rookie. She grinned in encouragement, then went inside the house to join her partner.

For a moment Shane froze, staring down at the man he’d seen so many times on his television and in the movie theaters, not really believing he was actually standing in front of him.  Tyler was dressed casually in a gray t-shirt, well-worn blue jeans and gym shoes. His short blonde hair looked soft to the touch, free of the gel that usually made it stand up in short spikes. His eyes flitted up to Shane’s, then away as he lowered the towel from his face.

One look at the angry cut on Tyler’s cheek and Shane was immediately all cop, pushing aside his awe at being two feet from his favorite actor.

Mr. Donovan, I’m Officer Walker and this is Sergeant Hansen, Shane said, taking out his own notebook and pen. Can you tell me what happened tonight?

Tyler again wouldn’t meet Shane’s gaze, looking off to his left instead. Nothing, he said flatly.

Nothing? Shane cocked his head, pointing at Tyler’s face. How did you get that cut on your face, then? he asked, his voice soft and even.

A brief look at Shane, then away. I tripped and fell down the steps, okay? Tyler answered defensively.

Bullshit!

Shane’s head whipped to the right, to the man at the edge of Tyler’s yard who had just uttered the curse. The man stepped forward as Shane took a step toward him. He was much shorter than Shane’s six-foot-four frame, with a stocky, muscular build and long black hair. And he was pissed.

Bullshit! the man swore again, pointing. I saw him hit you, Tyler! I saw him kick you after he knocked you down!

Out of the corner of his eye he saw Tyler jump up and Nick put a hand on his chest to prevent Tyler from going any further.

Shane put his hand up in front of the other man. Sir, I need you to calm down and tell me who you are.

The shorter man took a deep breath and looked away from Tyler. I’m Logan Miller. I live next door.

Shane wrote Miller’s name in his notebook. And what exactly did you see tonight?

Logan’s voice was controlled anger. I was just coming home, walking up to the house when I saw Tyler and that asshole Alex come out. Tyler was going toward his car and Alex was screaming at him about God knows what. Tyler was ignoring him, so Alex grabbed him by the shoulder, spun him around and hauled off and punched him in the face. Tyler went down; then that bastard kicked him in the stomach.

Shane nodded, jaw tight as he wrote down the information in his notebook. And was it you that called 911?

You bet your ass I did, Logan answered forcefully.

Goddamn it, Logan! Tyler yelled, still held back by Nick, blue eyes flashing in anger. Mind your own damn business!

I won’t! Logan yelled back. Not when I see it happen right in front of me! Then he swallowed and his voice dropped several octaves. You’re my friend, Ty. I can’t stand to see you treated like that.

Tyler’s anger deflated at Logan’s sincere words, and he opened his mouth to reply, but at that moment Officers Brooks and Moore came out of the house with a handcuffed Alex Campbell between them. He tried to lunge at Tyler, but Moore and Brooks held him back, while Nick stepped between him and Tyler.

Screw you, Tyler! Alex spat, struggling against the officer’s grips. How could you do this!? Have me arrested?

Tyler shook his head. I’m sor- he began but Nick cut him off.

No. Don’t say it, Nick told him, voice hard, then turned toward the dark-haired man in handcuffs, whose brown eyes were dilated into blackness. You know very well the L.A.P.D. can press charges even if the victim doesn’t, if there’s clear evidence of domestic violence, Campbell. This isn’t your first rodeo. Nick nodded at Brooks and Moore. Get him out of here, he told them, then turned back to Tyler as the two officers put a still struggling Alex Campbell into the back of their squad car.

What’s he on? Nick asked Tyler wearily. Is it coke again?

Tyler looked down and away, nodding, stuffing his hands in his pockets.

Nick sighed. You’ve got to get away from him, Tyler, he told the injured man, then walked over to Shane and Logan.

I’ll take Logan’s statement, Nick said to Shane. You go finish up with Tyler.

Sure, Sarge, Shane replied, then beckoned Tyler to follow him over to his squad.

Do you need medical to come out and look at that cut? Shane asked Tyler.

No! The other man sharply shook his head, then lowered his voice. No, I’m fine, really. I don’t…I don’t need anyone else out here, he finished, glancing up and down his block.

Shane nodded. Okay, but be sure to clean it and put some ice on it to keep the swelling down.

Tyler was quiet for a moment, looking at Shane oddly, a question in his eyes. Thanks, he finally replied. I will.

It was the first time that Tyler had actually looked at Shane for more than a split second and Shane found himself holding the actor’s gaze, feeling a sudden, sharp connection to the other man, while staring into blue eyes that were filled with shame and embarrassment.

Sergeant Hansen was right, Shane said quietly. You need to get away from Campbell. Don’t go down to the jail and bail him out tonight. He popped open the trunk on the squad and opened the briefcase that was inside. He shuffled through a stack of papers before pulling out several and closing the trunk.

He held out a few of the sheets to Tyler. "This is how to go about getting a restraining order. Since it’s Friday night, Campbell won’t be able to go before a judge until Monday morning at the earliest for sentencing. If you fill this out and get the paperwork