Nearly Free (A Grace Ford FBI Thriller—Book Three)

By Molly Black

With a string of unsolved murders up and down the Mississippi River, the FBI assembles a task force, assigning their best Minnesota field agent, Grace Ford, to partner with an agent from their Louisiana office. Despite their culture clash, the two must work together to traverse the country, crack the hardest cases—and to stop the next killer before it’s too late.

Another body is found floating on a barge downriver, and Grace realizes right away it’s the mark of a new killer, stalking the Mississippi—and that she must navigate interstate authority conflicts if she has any chance of saving the next victim in time.

“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
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NEARLY FREE is book #3 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.

A page-turning and harrowing crime thriller featuring a brilliant and tortured FBI agent, the Grace Ford 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
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“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
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“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
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“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
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“Wow, I cannot wait for the next in this series. Starts with a bang and just keeps going.”
—Reader review for Girl One: Murder
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“Well written book with a great plot, one that will keep you up at night. A page turner!”
—Reader review for Girl One: Murder
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“A great suspense that keeps you reading… can't wait for the next in this series!”
—Reader review for Found You
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“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
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• Language: English
• Publisher: Molly Black
• Release date: Aug 18, 2023
• ISBN: 9781094378732

Book preview

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N E A R L Y   F R E E

(A Grace Ford FBI Suspense Thriller—Book 3)

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); of the REESE LINK mystery series, comprising five books (and counting); of the CLAIRE KING FBI suspense thriller series, comprising five books (and counting); and of the GRACE FORD FBI suspense thriller 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 elegeyda used under license from Shutterstock.com.

BOOKS BY MOLLY BLACK

GRACE FORD MYSTERY SERIES

NEARLY MINE (Book #1)

NEARLY SAFE (Book #2)

NEARLY FREE (Book #3)

NEARLY GONE (Book #4)

NEARLY HIS (Book #5)

CLAIRE KING MYSTERY SERIES

ONCE HE SEES (Book #1)

ONCE HE LONGS (Book #2)

ONCE HE TAKES (Book #3)

ONCE HE FEELS (Book #4)

ONCE HE KNOWS (Book #5)

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

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE

CHAPTER THIRTY

CHAPTER THIRTY ONE

CHAPTER THIRTY TWO

EPILOGUE

PROLOGUE

The thrumming of the engine filled the air and shook the deck below Carl Newbury’s booted feet. He was out in the open air, late at night, on this transport barge. With a container cargo of chemicals being transported up north, smoking on deck was forbidden. But it was impossible in the tiny break room, with the rest of the crew being non-smokers. What kind of bad luck was that? It was made more difficult because they were the old team who’d all worked together in the past, and he was the new boy, and he didn’t think they liked him much.

That was why he had snuck out in the dark, to inhale an illicit cigarette. It wasn’t like the whole boat was going to explode if he had one smoke? Right at the back, near the rear staircase and hiding out behind one of the containers. Because some rules, those that were plain ridiculous, were made to be broken.

He drew deeply, enjoying the flavor, taking the smoke all the way into his lungs. After all, he had to make the most of it. From here, it would be back down to his cramped living quarters, where he’d be able to curl up in his bunk and send some messages to friends and warm up again as best he could in the chilly living space. He pulled his woolen cap down. Its protection was meager. And his hair was very short—he’d buzz cut it, which in retrospect was a bad decision. His head felt like it was bleeding heat away.

It was very dark up here. And icy cold—getting colder as the boat chugged north. It was a moonless winter night. The evening view, before the weak winter sun had set an hour earlier, had been of gray, bleak fields, stretching out to the horizon. Just fields. The emptiness was unsettling. There was a sense of threat about it, which was compounded by the crew’s surly attitude. Although that could be because they were a man short for a while. One crew member had left in a hurry a few hours ago. Carl didn’t know why, but he’d looked stressed as he had rushed off to disembark.

The last stopping point, a couple of hours ago just before it had gotten dark, felt like a very long time ago. He looked for lights on the horizon, but there were none to be seen, and the big, dark bulk of the containers blocked the view ahead.

It felt creepy up here. He wished he wasn’t a nicotine addict, because the need to have this cigarette was taking him all the way out of his comfort zone. And now, there was another sound, a strange rolling, crackling noise that sounded as if the cargo was shifting or moving. Was something loose up here?

If it was, how was he going to report it without admitting he’d come up on deck? If he said he’d been here at this hour, they’d all know why. He’d be in trouble because of his smoking habit.

And then, suddenly, he picked up another sound, precise and unmistakable. Firm, authoritative footsteps were treading on the steel stairs that led up to the deck.

Someone else was coming up, and with panic now blooming, Carl knew that this must be the captain, doing an evening check. He’d not yet learned his exact schedule, and had hoped he’d already done the check. Carl didn’t want to get into trouble, but he would if he was found here, out in the freezing cold.

He couldn’t let the captain see him, especially not at this hour.

Panic swirled inside him. He needed to get rid of the evidence, because that could create a storm of trouble. As the footsteps got louder, Carl quickly flung his half-smoked cigarette overboard. Only, to his horror, it didn’t go that way. A rogue gust of wind caught the glowing butt and whirled it in the other direction, so that it skittered across the metal deck and between two containers.

Horrors, horrors, he really could start a fire this way, or even an explosion, and he needed to put the damned thing out now before the captain saw him. Otherwise he was going to be out of a job, as of now.

Carl lunged toward the rogue cigarette. His boots clanged against the metal deck. He couldn’t let it get any closer to those containers, not with the chemicals they were transporting, which apparently could leak fumes. Maybe that shifting noise meant a lid was loose and there were already fumes. The barge could become a fireball at any moment. He had to get to it. Now.

But just as he was about to snatch the butt off the ground, he stumbled, tripping over something solid and falling hard onto the steel deck. Pain shot through his elbow and he let out a curse as he grabbed the cigarette, still glowing and smoking, and shoved it into his pocket.

With a hiss, scorching into the palm of his hand, the offending object was finally snuffed out. Carl’s eyes watered in agony.

And the captain was going the other way, his footsteps heading down the starboard side of the barge. He’d chosen to take the other route around, so Carl had hurt his arm and given himself a second-degree burn all for nothing. His elbow was aching. His whole hand was throbbing. He grimaced, feeling angry with himself, knowing he was the cause of all of this. Nobody else to blame.

But what had he stumbled over? Whatever it had been, it was a safety hazard that would need to be fixed, and really, he should tell the captain. Cigarette or no cigarette, trouble or no trouble, the cargo came first.

He took his phone out of the inside pocket of his jacket, flinching at the pain in his hand, and activated the flashlight.

He shone it down, easing to his feet carefully.

And the light illuminated a sheet-white face, staring up. Open, lifeless eyes. A dark substance under the man that must be blood—blood, sticky and congealed, that was now also on his elbows and his clothing, in dark, stinking smears.

Carl opened his mouth in horror.

The scream that unleashed itself, primal and terrified, seemed not to belong to him at all.

CHAPTER ONE

Reopening this cold case file felt like a leap of faith. It was more emotionally traumatic than FBI agent Grace Ford had expected. Was she ready for it? Staring at the computer screen, she twisted a strand of long brown hair around her finger and tugged at it. It was an anxious habit she’d picked up in her mid-teens.

Coincidentally—or not—that had started after the shocking news that her mother had died—murdered, while on her annual trip down south to visit relatives in Tennessee.

Grace had decided she was going to relook at the cold case. She’d made the decision to do it two weeks ago, but since then, life had gotten in the way.

For a start, there had been the move out of the apartment she’d shared with her boyfriend Tyler. She’d thought that breaking this news to him would cause a huge fight—exceeding the scale of the fights they’d already been having—but to her surprise, he’d agreed to a trial separation in a surprisingly mature way. His reaction had impressed her.

You know, Grace, you’re right, he’d said. We’ve been fighting a lot. I haven’t done what I promised to do. I said I’d see a therapist about my issues with commitment, my fear of it. And this will give me the chance to do it.

You’ll do that? she asked in surprise.

Yes. I will. I need to, Grace. I’ve messed up badly here, and I want to get myself right. Maybe, if I focus on that, we can get what we have back on an even keel.

His words rang in her mind as she stared around the small apartment where she was now. She’d moved a few miles out of town, to an outlying suburb, and perhaps it was not a coincidence that she’d chosen an apartment with a view of the Mississippi River. After all, she was now part of the specialized FBI task force that handled serious crimes involving this very river. It had been formed because of the difficulties with mobility and the jurisdictional issues that the river presented.

Now, Grace looked out the second-floor window, at the icy February landscape that was frosted and wintry. The river itself was a broad, darker strip breaking the gleam of the bright white snow surrounding it.

The apartment was a cozy little place, semi-furnished, because a lot of their shared possessions were in the apartment where Tyler was still staying. Grace felt that since she was the one who’d suggested the time apart, she should be the one who moved out, but she hadn’t wanted to buy more furniture. What if she ended up back in the apartment with Tyler once they’d both had some time to think things over? Semi-furnished had been a good compromise. She was enjoying the time on her own more than she’d expected to. Although the evenings were lonely.

The day before yesterday, she’d called Tyler up and invited him out on an impromptu dinner date at a fancy restaurant. Her treat. She’d enjoyed it. The meal had been delicious, and the time together had been fun and relaxed. They’d talked and laughed for hours, and then each gone their separate ways back home.

She turned away from the window, back to the case file on her computer screen. This was the case that had haunted her childhood and set her on the career path to becoming an FBI agent. Her mother’s murder case.

Here it was. The archived copy that she’d requested, and which the local police had sent her a week ago. She could thank her FBI status for making that request possible. Now, she had to take it forward.

Grace took a deep breath and started reading the case notes. The same notes that she knew had been compiled by police in Tennessee, working hard to solve this case and who’d been determined to look at every detail to catch her mother’s killer. But this time, she was equally determined to find something new. Something that everyone else had missed. She scrolled through the documents, her mind racing with different scenarios and possibilities.

It felt strange, and disturbing, to be reading through a case file on the murder of her own mother. Emotions surged inside her as she scanned the terse, objective notes. As a naturally empathetic person, she always visualized a scenario, and what had played out, when she read descriptions of serious crimes—but for her mother’s murder, she found it impossible to do that. This time, she walled the horror off in her mind, glad of the coldly factual wording that gave her some distance.

After reading intensively through the contents, she let out a breath and leaned back in her chair, rubbing her temples. The ugliness of the murder was bringing back long buried memories and she knew that sleep tonight would be