Beyond Reason (A Reese Link Mystery—Book One)

By Molly Black

In a small harbor town in Maine, police officer Reese Link’s first day on the force begins with a bang: the first homicide this town has seen in years. Reese hopes to step into her dead brother’s shoes, but with her newly assigned partner having just shot himself and a diabolical killer on the loose, Reese wonders: does she have what it takes to outwit him—and to save another life?

“Molly Black has written a taut thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat… I absolutely loved this book and can’t wait to read the next book in the series!”
—Reader review for Girl One: Murder

Beyond Reason is book #1 of a long anticipated new series by critically-acclaimed and #1 bestselling mystery and suspense author Molly Black, whose books have received over 2,000 five-star reviews and ratings.

Reese Link is determined to do right by her deceased older brother, to fill his shoes in the local police department, and to avenge his murder. She also wants to make her father, a local lobsterman, proud. But the local force is male, and close-knight, and Reese soon learns that being accepted won’t be so easy.

Small town life on a harbor in Maine can be rough. Winters can be cruel and stretch forever, while the working class who inhabit the harbor suffer no fools. Reese knows this town like the back of her hand—but when she teams up with a State police officer, she quickly realizes she’ll have to branch out to other areas, way out of her comfort zone. She will have to learn quickly about all regions of Maine, as she hunts deadly killers wherever they may take her.

All along, she must fight her own demons, shake off the heaviness of her childhood, the depression of this town, and ask herself: is she good enough?

A harrowing crime thriller featuring a brilliant and tortured small-town police officer, the Reese Link series is a riveting mystery, packed with non-stop action, suspense, twists and turns, revelations, and driven by a breakneck pace that will keep you flipping pages late into the night. Fans of Rachel Caine, Teresa Driscoll and Robert Dugoni are sure to fall in love.

Future books in the series are also available!

“I binge read this book. It hooked me in and didn't stop till the last few pages… I look forward to reading more!”
—Reader review for Found You

“I loved this book! Fast-paced plot, great characters and interesting insights into investigating cold cases. I can't wait to read the next book!”
—Reader review for Girl One: Murder

“Very good book… You will feel like you are right there looking for the kidnapper! I know I will be reading more in this series!”
—Reader review for Girl One: Murder

“This is a very well written book and holds your interest from page 1… Definitely looking forward to reading the next one in the series, and hopefully others as well!”
—Reader review for Girl One: Murder

“Wow, I cannot wait for the next in this series. Starts with a bang and just keeps going.”
—Reader review for Girl One: Murder

“Well written book with a great plot, one that will keep you up at night. A page turner!”
—Reader review for Girl One: Murder

“A great suspense that keeps you reading… can't wait for the next in this series!”
—Reader review for Found You

“Sooo soo good! There are a few unforeseen twists… I binge read this like I binge watch Netflix. It just sucks you in.”
—Reader review for Found You

• Language: English
• Publisher: Molly Black
• Release date: Feb 14, 2023
• ISBN: 9781094330426

Book preview

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B E Y O N D   R E A S O N

(A Reese Link Mystery—Book 1)

M o l l y   B l a c k

Molly Black

Bestselling author Molly Black is author of the MAYA GRAY FBI suspense thriller series, comprising nine books (and counting); of the RYLIE WOLF FBI suspense thriller series, comprising six books; of the TAYLOR SAGE FBI suspense thriller series, comprising eight books; of the KATIE WINTER FBI suspense thriller series, comprising eleven books (and counting); of the RUBY HUNTER FBI suspense thriller series, comprising five books (and counting); of the CAITLIN DARE FBI suspense thriller series, comprising five books (and counting); and of the REESE LINK mystery series, comprising five books (and counting).

An avid reader and lifelong fan of the mystery and thriller genres, Molly loves to hear from you, so please feel free to visit www.mollyblackauthor.com to learn more and stay in touch.

Copyright © 2023 by Molly Black. All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior permission of the author. This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictionally. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Jacket image Copyright ivantdimov used under license from Shutterstock.com.

BOOKS BY MOLLY BLACK

MAYA GRAY MYSTERY SERIES

GIRL ONE: MURDER (Book #1)

GIRL TWO: TAKEN (Book #2)

GIRL THREE: TRAPPED (Book #3)

GIRL FOUR: LURED (Book #4)

GIRL FIVE: BOUND (Book #5)

GIRL SIX: FORSAKEN (Book #6)

GIRL SEVEN: CRAVED (Book #7)

GIRL EIGHT: HUNTED (Book #8)

GIRL NINE: GONE (Book #9)

RYLIE WOLF FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER

FOUND YOU (Book #1)

CAUGHT YOU (Book #2)

SEE YOU (Book #3)

WANT YOU (Book #4)

TAKE YOU (Book #5)

DARE YOU (Book #6)

TAYLOR SAGE FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER

DON’T LOOK (Book #1)

DON’T BREATHE (Book #2)

DON’T RUN (Book #3)

DON’T FLINCH (Book #4)

DON’T REMEMBER (Book #5)

DON’T TELL (Book #6)

KATIE WINTER FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER

SAVE ME (Book #1)

REACH ME (Book #2)

HIDE ME (Book #3)

BELIEVE ME (Book #4)

HELP ME (Book #5)

FORGET ME (Book #6)

HOLD ME (Book #7)

PROTECT ME (Book #8)

REMEMBER ME (Book #9)

CATCH ME (Book #10)

WATCH ME (Book #11)

RUBY HUNTER FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER

IF I RUN (Book #1)

IF I TELL (Book #2)

IF I LIVE (Book #3)

IF I FORGET (Book #4)

IF I RETURN (Book #5)

CAITLIN DARE FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER

COME GET ME (Book #1)

COME FIND ME (Book #2)

COME TAKE ME (Book #3)

COME CATCH ME (Book #4)

COME SAVE ME (Book #5)

REESE LINK MYSTERY

BEYOND REASON (Book #1)

BEYOND REACH (Book #2)

BEYOND REPAIR (Book #3)

BEYOND DOUBT (Book #4)

BEYOND NORMAL (Book #5)

CONTENTS

PROLOGUE

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

EPILOGUE

PROLOGUE

Gravel crunched beneath Leland Parsons’s boots as he crossed the harbor yard in the early morning mist, eager to get a look at his boat. This was by far his favorite moment of the year, when the ice had thawed and he could inspect his precious sailboat for the first time since winter and prepare to launch her in the water.

He increased his pace, hands trembling with excitement, already imagining the smooth, rolling motion of the boat riding the water. The first sail of the season always felt like a maiden voyage, and there was nothing else like it on Earth.

For Leland, sailing was freedom, a way to escape the small Maine town in which he had spent his entire life, anchored there by his mother’s failing health and his own fear of abandoning the only life he had ever known. All through the long winter, as the snow piled high against the walls of his house, entombing him in its frigid stillness, he had anticipated getting back out on the water.

And now the day was finally here.

Leland rounded the corner, and his eyes lit up. There she was. The Sea Nymph. She may not have been his first love, but she had certainly been his most faithful. He had sailed her for eight years now, and he knew all her curves, all her sleek lines. On this boat, he felt free. She was his home away from home, the one place where he felt at peace.

The boat was shrink-wrapped, covered in a tight, protective cocoon as it awaited its new birth. He ran his hands over the film, murmuring to the boat that she would soon be free again, as would he.

He located the ladder and climbed up to the deck, eager to smell the interior of his boat, to get a good look at her for the first time in months. Unzipping the small door in the wrap, he descended the narrow staircase into the cabin.

It was dark, lit only by the faint glow of early daylight coming through the shrink-wrap above and behind him, but he did not worry about turning on a flashlight. Why would he need one? He knew this boat as well as he knew his own bed. Its darkness was comforting, like that of a womb.

Only…what was that smell? Something dank and oily, like the smell of a dead fish in the sand. Had something spoiled? He was sure he had emptied the meat cooler before leaving the boat—it was one of the first things he did as he prepared the boat for winter.

Maybe I didn’t clean it properly, he thought, trying to come up with some explanation for the unusual smell. Could have left a bit of spilled blood somewhere.

Yes, there was that smell, too: the mineral scent of blood. He must simply have failed to clean up properly after one of his meals. It was unusual, since he was generally so careful to keep his boat tidy, but everyone made mistakes now and then, didn’t they? He would simply have to clean up the blood and—

Suddenly he froze.

There was a shape hanging in front of him, a large shape that ought not to have been there.

Had something been left there by the harbor crew who had wrapped up the boat? If so, what could they have possibly left that was so…large?

He…hello? he said in a small, almost childish voice. He felt very much like a child just then, caught up in a world full of strange and terrible possibilities he had never imagined before.

His eyes shifted to the right, to the switch that controlled the overhead light. He did not need to see that switch to know exactly where it was.

His heart crawled into his throat as he lurched across the room, all sense of composure forgotten. His fingers scratched at the plastic for a few seconds before finding the knob of the switch and flicking it on.

To his relief, the light worked – the battery had not died over the course of the cold winter, which was a good sign – and the cabin glowed suddenly warm and yellow. There were the sink and stove, the stainless steel clean and cheery, the couches flanking the pull-down table, the prize marlin dominating the wall, a pleasant reminder of his sailing days with his father…

And something else that did not belong there: a broad, inky shadow coming from behind Leland.

He stood still for a few seconds, not wishing to turn around. Then a gust of wind struck the side of the boat, and the shadow began to tip minutely side to side, swinging like a pendulum.

Leland turned…

And a cold, fleshy hand brushed his elbow.

A scream that had been simmering deep inside Leland now boiled up and burst from his lips. He made a clumsy shove at the arm, and the body – for he could see now that it was a body, a man’s body hanging there from the rafters like some carnival scare – swung away from him.

He dashed for the stairs, sensing only that he needed to get out—out into the sunlight, out into the fresh air. As he stepped forward, however, the body came swinging back toward him. The chest thumped into him, causing him to stagger, and the two arms swung forward in a phantom embrace.

With a choked cry, Leland struggled past the swinging body that smelled of death and decay and bounded up the stairs, moving with such a spring in his step that he struck his head on the ceiling as he went. He didn’t even feel the pain.

He went on screaming as he pushed through the shrink-wrap and emerged like a man escaping his tomb after he had been buried alive.

But on that lonely Maine morning, no reply came except the cry of a seagull, as dim and distant as a star at break of day.

CHAPTER ONE

Reese Link climbed the stairs of the Bellmoor Police Station, the very same stairs she had climbed so many times before to visit her brother, and felt a growing sense of dread with every step. She knew she should be excited for her first day on the job, following in her brother’s footsteps.

But to her surprise, she felt nervous instead, and a dark, heavy cloud seemed to shadow her, threatening to open up at any moment. She’d sensed her brother’s presence even before she opened the front door, as if some part of him – some sprinkling of the essence that made him Sebastian Link – had soaked into the pores of the brick exterior of the building, making him forever a part of the place.

Breathe, she told herself, pausing at the glass door and closing her eyes. You have to let him go.

Letting go of the closest friend she’d ever had, however, was easier said than done. It had been six months since the shooting that had taken the life of Sebastian (Bass, as all his friends called him), a random act of violence as senseless as it had been devastating. At twenty-eight years old, he’d been five years older than Reese, just further enough along in life to scout the path ahead and warn her of any approaching dangers. Though Reese’s mind had moved on, adjusting to life without the brother who had always looked out for her since the day she was born, her heart had not. Maybe it never would.

Still, she knew he would have wanted her to put one foot in front of the other and live her own life, not hold onto his memory like an anchor forever keeping her fixed in time. Graduating from the academy and joining the force would be a big step—and, she hoped, the first of many.

Reese opened the door and stepped into the police station. The room, which moments before had been abuzz with conversations and activity, fell silent by degrees as all eyes turned toward her. She felt as if she had just stepped out on the stage and the audience was waiting for her to speak. The only problem was, she didn’t know her script.

It’s not me they’re seeing, she thought with a level of conviction that felt like certainty. It’s my brother.

Word spread quickly in any police department, and in a town as small as Bellmoor, the arrival of the sister of a slain police officer – a mere six months after the shooting, no less – was bound to create a stir. It might be the news story of the day, maybe even the week.

Lucky me.

Scanning the room and doing her best to avoid the staring eyes, Reese located the chief’s office and was about to cross the room toward it when a voice called her name.

She turned to see a young deputy moving toward her, his eyebrows pulled together in a thoughtful frown not unlike the kind a funeral director might wear.

My gosh, is this how they’re all going to look at me? Like I’m some victim, someone simply to be pitied?

The deputy cleared his throat and stood there for a moment, as if unsure how to begin. I’m terribly sorry about your brother, he finally said. We all loved him. We all agree he was one of the best among us.

Reese nodded, smiling gently to show her appreciation for his sensitivity, though in truth she was tired of the obligatory expressions of sympathy. Much as she had loved her brother, she was her own person, and she didn’t want to be treated any differently than anyone else just because of her brother’s death.

He spoke very highly of this place, she said. I actually used to visit him here now and then, bring him lunch.

That so?

She nodded again, grateful to hear the silence beginning to fill with voices again, as if she had passed some unspoken test. She found herself restless to get to work. She wanted to make a good impression on her first day, and her idea of a good impression wasn’t standing around chatting.

The young officer seemed to suddenly remember something. His hand shot out.

I'm Officer Doyle, by the way. Gilbert Doyle. But you can just call me Gill.

She smiled and shook his hand. Reese Link. But you already know that. Care to show me around, Officer Doyle?

The thought of calling him Gill seemed far too familiar, particularly since she had just met him.

Gill smiled and ducked his head, looking both sheepish and pleased at the same time. Be happy to. That’s just what the chief asked me to do, in fact. Here he lapsed into a dry, overly serious imitation of Chief Roger Moore, tucking his chin back against his throat and speaking from the right side of his mouth.

Show her around, Gill, help her get comfortable. She’s gonna be here for a while.

Reese smiled again, thinking she was going to like Gill. With a wry grin, he jerked his head to indicate she was to follow him. She did so.

Nobody paid them any mind as they cut across the room. Gill, for all his boyish diffidence, walked about with a confident swagger, not so much like he owned the place but rather like he belonged there and knew the role he was supposed to play.

As they passed the break room, Reese glimpsed a cluster of officers gathered together with coffee cups in their hands, four of them smiling in hushed anticipation as they waited for the fifth to reach the punchline of his joke. The joke came a few seconds later, and a loud bray of laughter chased Reese and Gill down the hallway.

Gill gave her a sidelong look, his eyebrows raised.

Seems like a tight-knit group, she said.

That’s right, he answered, nodding. Kind of a family, actually—literally as well as figuratively. If you're not related to someone, you probably went to school with them. He