Somewhere Safe (A Piper Woods FBI Suspense Thriller—Book One)

By Molly Black

Former FBI Special Agent Piper Woods, expert tracker and survivalist, Alaskan native, left the force behind after a traumatizing case to live far off the grid. Determined not to stir up the past, she faces a dilemma when her former partner needs her help: a governor’s daughter has been taken by a killer deep into the wilderness—and only someone with Piper’s skills can find her and get her out.

“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

SOMEWHERE SAFE is book #1 in 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.

In this riveting cat and mouse thriller, Piper must tap into her skills to hunt down an equally matched, diabolical killer, while harsh weather moves in and a woman’s life is at stake. Even harder, she must face the demons of her past—and decide if she will return to the force…

A page-turning and harrowing crime thriller featuring a brilliant and tortured FBI agent, the Piper Woods 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: Jun 27, 2023
• ISBN: 9781094378893

Book preview

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S O M E W H E R E

S A F E

(A Piper Woods 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 six books (and counting); of the REESE LINK mystery series, comprising six books (and counting); of the CLAIRE KING FBI suspense thriller series, comprising five books (and counting); and of the PIPER WOODS 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 Ironika used under license from Shutterstock.com.

BOOKS BY MOLLY BLACK

PIPER WOODS FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER

SOMEWHERE SAFE (Book #1)

SOMEWHERE SANE (Book #2)

SOMEWHERE WHOLE (Book #3)

SOMEWHERE FAR (Book #4)

SOMEWHERE WRONG (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)

COME STOP ME (Book #6)

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)

BEYOND HOPE (Book #6)

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

EPILOGUE

PROLOGUE

They’re not following a word I’m saying, Vanessa Johnston thought, noticing the glazed expressions of the small group of students gathered in Bakerfield University’s gymnasium. They were only three or four years younger than her, and she felt a little ridiculous lecturing to them about the importance of recycling and sustainability as she gestured with the potted plant in her hand, which was thick with microgreens. To her left, one of the ecology professors, Elisha Donners, nodded at every point, smiling throughout as if by doing so she could convince the students—most of whom were taking this elective for the credits, rather than out of a genuine interest in the subject—that they weren’t bored out of their gourds.

Still, this was the task her father, Elmer Johnston, had given her: touring the winter-locked state of North Dakota and speaking at various campuses, simultaneously rallying support for the so-called Green Rights bill and putting the Johnston family square in the public eye, where her father wanted it—not that there was any way to escape the public eye, not so long as he remained governor.

It didn’t help that she had her own bodyguard either. Barry stood by the wall with his hands crossed in front of his groin, his black suit a dead giveaway that his only function there was to make sure nothing happened to Vanessa. She had tried to convince her dad that it was totally unnecessary—and, even worse, very uncool—to have a balding, middle-aged man follow her around, but he had insisted, reminding her that there was no harm in being careful.

He should be here doing this, not me, she thought as she pressed the clicker in her hand and turned to see a new slide projected onto the gymnasium wall, this one highlighting the massive disparity in the amount of food the earth could produce compared to how much it actually did produce.

You can see the culprits here, she said, putting on a brave face and pretending she didn’t notice how many of the students were looking anywhere but at the graph displayed on the wall. Waste, mismanagement, political feuding—all of these things contribute to the problem. But we have the power to change it. We can make a difference by taking small steps in our own lives, like recycling, reducing our use of single-use plastics, and supporting local farmers.

As she finished speaking, Vanessa couldn’t help but feel a sense of defeat. She knew that her father’s Green Rights bill was little more than a publicity stunt, and that the real change needed to come from individuals and communities taking responsibility for their actions.

Just then, a group of rowdy students burst into the gymnasium, interrupting Vanessa’s presentation. They were yelling and laughing, clearly not interested in listening to anything she had to say. Vanessa’s heart sank as she watched the chaos unfold before her.

But then something strange happened. One of the students, a tall and muscular young man with shaggy blond hair, stepped forward and held up his hand, signaling for the others to quiet down. He looked at Vanessa with a serious expression, and then spoke in a soft but commanding voice.

Ms. Johnston, I’m sorry for the interruption. We’re just a little frustrated with all this talk about sustainability and recycling. It feels like we’re not really making a difference, you know?

Vanessa hesitated, surprised to hear such an honest question—and even more surprised by the intense gaze of those cornflower-blue eyes. She recovered quickly, however, and found herself speaking.

Well, there are many ways to measure the impact of our actions, she began, glancing away from those unnerving eyes. We can track our carbon footprint, monitor our waste output, and even calculate how much energy we’re saving by recycling. And, of course, we can always look at the bigger picture and see how our individual actions contribute to a larger movement toward sustainability.

The guy nodded, but it was clear from his expression that this wasn’t an entirely satisfactory answer. Vanessa felt a sudden urge to convince him, to show him not just how much she knew about this subject but how much it actually mattered to her. It wasn’t that she wanted to impress him exactly, but something in his demeanor had struck a chord with her, and she felt a sudden desire to connect with him on a deeper level.

Look, she said, sighing and dropping the persona she generally adopted for these events, a smiling, know-it-all version of herself that was no more organic than the water bottle Professor Donners clutched in her bracelet-clad hand, screwing and unscrewing the cap without taking a sip.

I know that all of this can feel overwhelming, she began in a low, down-to-earth voice. It can feel like the problems we’re facing are too big for any one person to solve. But the truth is, every small action counts. Recycling just one plastic bottle might not feel like a big deal at the moment, but over time, those actions add up. And if we all start taking responsibility for our own impact on the environment, I promise you, we can create real change.

The young man looked at her for a long moment, and Vanessa felt the weight of his gaze like a physical thing. She could see the skepticism in his eyes, but there was something else there, too—something that made her heart race a little faster.

He took a breath to speak, but before he could get any words out, Professor Donners cleared her throat loudly. I’m afraid that’s all the time we have for now, she said. If you have any questions, there are brochures available in the back of the room. Thank you, Ms. Johnston, for your time and for sharing your knowledge with us.

Vanessa felt a pang of disappointment as the students began to file out of the gymnasium, their chatter filling the air as they made their way toward their next classes. She searched for the blue-eyed young man, hoping he would stick around, but she was distracted by the sound of Barry’s voice.

You did good, kid, he said in that monotone voice of his, his half-lidded eyes making him look perpetually drunk. He glanced at his watch. We’re supposed to be over in Heatherton by ten, so we should shake a leg.

Vanessa nodded, depressed at the idea of giving yet another talk, passing out yet another handful of pins, as if by doing so they could secure votes for her father in the next election. She was twenty-two, for goodness’ sake, a grown woman. So why didn’t she have her own life? She felt like an extension of her father, a puppet on a string, doing his bidding and living his dream rather than her own. It was about time she carved out her own identity, pursued her own passions.

One of the professors, a short redhead with curled bangs, moseyed over to Barry, giving him a coy glance.

So you work for the governor, huh? she asked, her words glowing with praise as if they were talking about winning a gold medal in the Olympics.

That’s right, Barry said, looking surprised by the sudden attention. He colored a little, and Vanessa turned away, rolling her eyes.

Even Barry has someone to talk to. But who do I have?

Just then she caught sight of the blue-eyed guy stepping into the hallway that ran along the gymnasium. As he did so, he paused to look back, his gaze both curious and…what was it…inviting?

—so exciting, the redhead was saying, a thrill in her voice. You must have so many stories to tell.

Barry played it off with an air of insincere modesty. Oh, it’s not that big of a deal. Just my way of serving my country.

I’ll be right back, Vanessa said, pushing past him and heading toward the door through which the young man had disappeared.

Hold up, Barry said, frowning as he turned toward her. Where are you going?

She spun around, spreading her arms wide. To the bathroom. Is that okay, or do you need to follow me in there, too?

Barry gave an embarrassed chuckle and glanced at the redhead. She’s a character, this one, he said, gesturing at Vanessa. Don’t be gone long, okay?

I’ll meet you at the car, she said. Then she hurried off before he could change his mind. Ordinarily he would have stuck to her like a flea to a dog, but he was clearly too distracted to take his duties as literally as he usually did, which was just fine with Vanessa.

Finally, some freedom, she thought as she moved through the doorway and continued down the hallway, her eyes quickly scanning the classroom doors for any sign of the blue-eyed guy. She wasn’t entirely sure what she intended to do—she hardly even knew a thing about him, after all—but she felt a desperate need for adventure, a sense that not everything in the world could be scheduled and broken down into a neat formula. She wanted excitement, the unknown, a sense of mystery and even perhaps danger.

Her life as a governor’s daughter was far too predictable, far too safe. It was time to set the script aside for once and see what happened.

Her heartbeat accelerated as she embraced this new perspective if only for a little while. As she continued down the hallway, however, a sense of unease crept up on her. She saw no sign of the guy, and she wasn’t about to poke her head into the classrooms and see if he was in there.

Where did he go? she thought, pausing and looking around. Did I misread him?

She turned around, half expecting to see Barry striding toward her, but to her surprise he was nowhere to be seen. For once, he hadn’t followed her, and she wasn’t sure whether she was pleased or distressed by this.

Then she heard a footstep behind her, and she spun around, surprised.

Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you, the young man said, pawing his hair away from his eyes. Up close, he was even better-looking than Vanessa had noticed before. She felt a thrill of excitement run through her.

Hey, she said, clearing her throat and trying to think what to say. I didn’t catch your name earlier.

He shrugged, his eyes flickering with amusement. I didn’t give it.

Vanessa smiled, feeling a sudden impulse to tease him. Well, that’s not very fair, is it? You know my name, after all.

He chuckled, stuffing his hands into his pockets. Alright, you got me there. My name’s Owen.

Nice to meet you, Owen, Vanessa said, holding out her hand. He took it, his grip firm and warm. Vanessa felt a jolt of electricity shoot through her at the contact, and she wondered why she felt so drawn to him. Was it the thrill of danger, the excitement of the unknown, or was there something more? She couldn’t quite put her finger on it.

What are you still doing here? Owen asked. I thought you’d be out of here like a cat with its tail on fire as soon as you were done. You looked miserable up there.

Vanessa’s face crumpled with disappointment. Was it that bad?

He gave another of his devil-may-care shrugs. It wasn’t bad, per se. It’s just that you seemed like you were doing it more for your father’s sake than your own. Seemed like your mind was somewhere else, but your mouth kept moving.

Vanessa sighed. To her surprise, she found herself confiding in this stranger. Maybe she felt safe with him because she’d probably never see him again, or because he didn’t seem to care one way or the other whether everything she said lined up with her father’s views.

I’m used to it, honestly, she said with a long sigh. "My father’s