Twisted Game (An Amy Rush Suspense Thriller—Book 2)

By Ava Strong

When a series of mysterious drownings plague remote lakes in Fish & Wildlife Agent Amy Rush’s territory, she must race to navigate treacherous waters to decode the pattern, catch a serial killer, and save the next victim in time…

“The plot has many twists and turns, but it is the ending, which I did not see coming at all, that totally defines this book as one of the most riveting that I have read in years.”
—Reader review for Not Like Us
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TWISTED GAME is book #2 in a long-anticipated new series by #1 bestseller Ava Strong, whose bestseller NOT LIKE US (a free download) has received over 1,000 five star ratings and reviews. The series begins with TWISTED TRUTH (book #1).

An intense and gripping crime thriller, Amy Rush is a complex psychological series that will captivate readers with its compelling and brilliant female protagonist. Filled with constant action, suspense, surprises, and a rapid pace, this mystery series guarantees to keep you up all night as you eagerly turn each page. Fans of Mary Burton, Lee Child, and Kendra Elliot are sure to fall in love.

“This is a chilling, suspenseful page turner that just might leave you scared at night!”
—Reader review for Not Like Us
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“Very intriguing, kept me turning page after page… Lots of twists and turns and a very unexpected ending. Cannot wait for the next in this series!”
—Reader review for Not Like Us
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“A roller coaster ride of events… Can’t put down until you finish it!”
—Reader review for Not Like Us
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“Excellent read with very realistic characters that you become emotionally invested in… Couldn't put it down!”
—Reader review for The Death Code
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“An excellent read, lots of twists and turns, with a surprising ending, leaving you wanting to read the next book in the series! Well done!”
—Reader review for The Death Code
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“Well worth the read. Cannot wait to see what happens in the next book!”
—Reader review for The Death Code
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“Quickly became a story I couldn’t put down! I highly recommend this book!”
—Reader review for His Other Wife
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“I really enjoyed the fast-paced action, plot design and characterization... I didn't want to put the book down and the ending was a total surprise.”
—Reader review for His Other Wife
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“The characters are extremely well developed… There are twists and turns in the plot that kept me guessing. An extremely well written story.”
—Reader review for His Other Wife
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“One of the best books I have ever read… The ending was perfect and surprising. Ava Strong is an amazing writer.”
—Reader review for His Other Wife
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“Holy cow, what a rollercoaster… Many times I absolutely KNEW who the killer was—only to be proven wrong each time. I was completely surprised by the ending. I have to say, I am thrilled that this is the first in a series. My only complaint is that the next one isn't out yet. I need it!”
—Reader review for His Other Wife
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“An incredible, intense, spellbinding, enjoyable story. It will keep you captivated until the end.”
—Reader review for His Other Wife
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• Language: English
• Publisher: Ava Strong
• Release date: Apr 10, 2024
• ISBN: 9781094384085

Book preview

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T W I S T E D

G A M E

(an amy rush suspense thriller —book 2)

a v a   s t r o n g

Ava Strong

Ava Strong is author of the REMI LAURENT mystery series, comprising six books (and counting); of the ILSE BECK mystery series, comprising seven books (and counting); of the STELLA FALL psychological suspense thriller series, comprising six books (and counting); of the DAKOTA STEELE FBI suspense thriller series, comprising six books (and counting); of the LILY DAWN suspense thriller series, comprising five books (and counting); the MEGAN YORK FBI suspense thriller series, comprising five books (and counting); the SOFIA BLAKE FBI suspense thriller series, comprising five books (and counting); the AMY RUSH FBI suspense thriller series, comprising five books (and counting); and the ELLE KEEN FBI suspense thriller series, comprising five books (and counting).

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

Copyright © 2024 by Ava Strong. 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.

BOOKS BY AVA STRONG

ELLE KEEN FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER

IN THE DARK (Book #1)

IN THE WAY (Book #2)

IN THE EYES (Book #3)

IN THE NIGHT (Book #4)

IN THE SILENCE (Book #5)

AMY RUSH FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER

TWISTED TRUTH (Book #1)

TWISTED GAME (Book #2)

TWISTED SECRET (Book #3)

TWISTED FATE (Book #4)

TWISTED VOW (Book #5)

SOFIA BLAKE FBI SUSPSENSE THRILLER

NO ONE THERE (Book #1)

NO ONE LEFT (Book #2)

NO ONE HOME (Book #3)

NO ONE TO HELP (Book #4)

NO ONE LIKE THIS (Book #5)

MEGAN YORK FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER

YOU’LL BE SORRY (Book #1)

YOU’LL BE NEXT (Book #2)

YOU’LL BE MINE (Book #3)

YOU’LL BE FIRST (Book #4)

YOU’LL BE GONE (Book #5)

LILY DAWN FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER

STILL ALIVE (Book #1)

STILL HOPE (Book #2)

STILL AWAKE (Book #3)

STILL HERE (Book #4)

STILL MAD (Book #5)

REMI LAURENT FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER

THE DEATH CODE (Book #1)

THE MURDER CODE (Book #2)

THE MALICE CODE (Book #3)

THE VENGEANCE CODE (Book #4)

THE DECEPTION CODE (Book #5)

THE SEDUCTION CODE (Book #6)

ILSE BECK FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER

NOT LIKE US (Book #1)

NOT LIKE HE SEEMED (Book #2)

NOT LIKE YESTERDAY (Book #3)

NOT LIKE THIS (Book #4)

NOT LIKE SHE THOUGHT (Book #5)

NOT LIKE BEFORE (Book #6)

NOT LIKE NORMAL (Book #7)

STELLA FALL PSYCHOLOGICAL SUSPENSE THRILLER

HIS OTHER WIFE (Book #1)

HIS OTHER LIE (Book #2)

HIS OTHER SECRET (Book #3)

HIS OTHER MISTRESS (Book #4)

HIS OTHER LIFE (Book #5)

HIS OTHER TRUTH (Book #6)

DAKOTA STEELE FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER

WITHOUT MERCY (Book #1)

WITHOUT REMORSE (Book #2)

WITHOUT A PAST (Book #3)

WITHOUT PITY (Book #4)

WITHOUT HOPE (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

EPILOGUE

PROLOGUE

The hook sailed through the air, yards of invisible line whizzing cheerfully out of Roger Thornwood’s reel. His lucky gold-plated minnow lure flashed through the early morning sunlight and struck the still, tranquil surface of Lauder Lake with a satisfying plunk.

The patio boat sat still and quiet, bobbing gently in the middle of the lake, roughly three-quarters of a mile from the shore on any side. A golden eagle rustled itself from a pine treetop nest across the water; screamed across the breaking dawn over the heads of three fishermen.

At the prow of the little patio boat, Roger prepared to cast again. On the deck behind him, Craig and Howie sat staring glumly at their motionless bobbers on the surface of the water.

Lauder Lake was supposed to be famous for its excellent fishing. They had been out since before daybreak, and the bait he was using was supposed to be irresistible to mountain trout. Still, after an hour and a half of casting his line into the picturesque waters of the lake, his net and club remained unwetted, and the ice chest he’d set aside for fresh catches remained empty.

With a sigh, he flicked the rod back and shot the lure out, out, out over the water.

Whizzzzzzzz.

Plunk.

The hook, weights, and golden lure all vanished from sight into the chilly depths. Roger gave the line a moment to sink down into the dysphotic layers of the lake, then began to reel his lure home.

Roger’s reel suddenly stuck fast. The rod bent like a gift from heaven. The resistance against his line spread an instant grin across his face. He tugged on his fishing rod.

It didn’t yield.

His heart jumped in his chest. This was the moment he’d been waiting for. There would be an epic battle, man versus fish, and man would emerge victorious. It was exactly what his friends needed at this moment, too. A victory over the fish of the lake would bolster their spirits, and a breakfast of fresh trout certainly wouldn’t harm the mood any. 

There were bubbles rising to the surface of the lake under Roger’s line. Whatever he’d hooked, it was putting up a serious fight.

Roger was pulling on the fishing pole with all his strength. He felt the weight of his catch fighting against him, but he felt it giving ground as well. He grimaced with proud determination.

Hey, I think I could use some help over here, Roger said, frowning as his pole bent yet further, refusing to yield as he pulled and played on the line. I think I’ve got ahold of a real whopper.

Woah, Craig said, rising to his feet as he noticed the arch of Roger’s pole, Looks like you’ve hooked something serious. You know, I’ve been looking for a new boot.

It ain’t a boot, smartass, Roger puffed, reeling hard on his line, It would have come free by now.

Or broken the line, Howard added, joining the other two by the railing of the patio boat and peering overboard.

It’s not going to snap the line, either, Roger grunted, hauling with all his strength on the flexing rod, I got this sonofabitch wound up with two-hundred-pound microfilament.

Two-hundred-pound line? Howard’s jaw dropped, Jesus, Rog, what do you think you’re going to catch in here?

Whatever the hell this is, Roger grunted with a grin, hauling back on the line once again. Ever heard the saying ‘rather be looking at it than looking for it’?

The line, taut as a bowstring, tightened for a moment, bowing the tip of the fishing pole over the railing of the boat. The whole vessel pitched for a moment, then righted itself with an audible splash.

The bubbles under Roger’s line intensified. The water around the area suddenly muddied, swimming with murky silt. Roger stumbled back as his line went suddenly slack. He hit the deck back-first with a loud whack.

Oh! both Craig and Howard winced in unison, then rushed to their friend’s aid. Roger sat up, the pole still in his hands. He looked at it, then at his two friends with a dazed expression.

What happened? Roger asked, Did the line break?

Everybody looked at the fishing pole.

The line was still intact.

Slowly, all three men rose to their feet and walked up to the nose of the patio boat. They peered out into the water, which was murky and stirred up where Roger’s line met the lake.

There was something at the end of the line. It was a large, pale, sponge-looking thing. All three men screwed up their eyes.

What is that? Craig asked.

I don’t know, Roger said, but it isn’t moving.

Try reeling in your line, Howard suggested. Maybe your hook got lodged on a rotting log or something.

Roger reeled in his line as hard as he could, pulling back on the rod as if hauling in a sturgeon. Slowly, the shape in the water off the prow of the boat started to move.

First, they saw a bloated chest. The breasts in the water were pale and waterlogged. The soggy torso was wrapped in rusty, decaying chains.

Three bubbles rose to the surface, popped, blip, blip, blip.

Then her face emerged.

Bleach-white, bloated and decaying, the woman surfacing in the lake screamed in silent eternity.

The unified yell of all three terrified men echoed into the empty forest around them.

CHAPTER ONE

The loud crack of a rifle shot rang out through the mountainous forest. The clay pigeon shattered in a brilliant explosion of ceramic material.

Special Agent Amayah Rush released her breath and lowered her rifle. All five of her targets now lay in fragments on the ground around the rotting log upon which they had been set up.

The fifth shell sprang from the chamber of her rifle as Amy shot back the bolt. It landed, sizzling, in the dewy grass beside four other identical shells.

Amy’s breath escaped her lips, creating a cold white fog of the chilly air around her. With her booted toe, she rolled the shells around in the wet grass, ensuring that they were cool before she leaned down to scoop them up and shove them into her coat pocket.

After clearing the chamber and setting the safety, Amy returned her rifle to its carrying case, which fit comfortably over the shoulder strap of her jogger’s pack. Within the pack rested her radio, compass, first aid and weather kits, her badge and her service pistol. Carrying the heavy pack was not only part of her training regimen as she ran through the mountainous terrain – it was also a survival strategy.

She huffed and puffed steadily as she jogged back down the Lesser Twin Ridge trail back towards the ranger station.

Her mind flashed with horrific memory of the psychopath – Curtis Jager – who had haunted those very hills only weeks before. The terrifying images of the corpses that she’d seen under the trees of this very forest would not leave her alone.

Amy gritted her teeth and increased the pace of her jog.

Your pack is not heavy enough to justify this much slacking, she told herself savagely as she ran. She would have to train harder if she wanted to shake off the demons she trailed behind her.

As her feet pounded down the dirt trail of the path, Amy half expected a wild-haired vagrant to appear out of the mist. Every shadow in her peripheral vision caused a flicker in her cardiovascular rhythm.

Kkkksssshhh – Ranger Station W-33 calling Special Agent 4021. Do you copy 4021? Over – ksshh.

From within her jogger’s pack, Amy heard the static crackle of her walkie-talkie. She slowed to a walk, swinging the bag off her shoulder and unzipping the pouch. She reached inside and pulled out the chunky Sat-phone.

This is Special Agent Amayah Rush, callsign 4021, she said into the radio, I read you loud and clear, Ranger Station. Over.

Amy’s breath fogged gently in the early morning chill as she panted, still winded from the run, waiting for the response to come over the radio. She squinted into the forested wilderness that seemed to stretch off into eternity all around her. Everything was still and peaceful, unperturbed.

What’s your 20, Rush? Over, the voice over the walkie-talkie crackled, asking for her location in radio code. Amy glanced around.

I’m a little past mile marker 186, coming back down the southern side of Lesser Twin Ridge. Over.

Report back to Headquarters on the double, the voice commanded, You’re being summoned by Chief Wildlife Warden Turner. Over.

Copy that, Ranger Station, Amy replied, Tell the Chief Warden that I am on my way. Over and out.

She clicked off the radio and stowed the cumbersome device back in the pocket of her jogging bag. Her jeep was parked at the trailhead, still a few miles down the hard-trodden dirt footpath. Amy returned to her run at a faster clip, her mind churning with curiosity. What did the Chief Warden want to see her about?

Of course, she had a vague idea of what might await her when she arrived back at headquarters. After her last case, the Chief Wildlife Warden – Amy’s boss – had taken her aside to offer her a job. It was a position as Lead Investigator heading a new task force: the Wilderness Homicide Investigation Team, or W.H.I.T for short.

Amy had not accepted the job right away. She was given a week of R&R to recover from her case, and she spent that time mulling over the decision. When she finally returned to work and informed the Chief Warden of her choice to take the position, Turner told her that she wouldn’t start right away. There were still a few logistical kinks that needed to be worked out – although from the sound of things, Amy thought that perhaps everything had been straightened out at last.

As she reached her Jeep at the trailhead, Amy shot a glance over her shoulder at the Twin Ridges and miles of dense evergreen woods that surrounded them. If she held still and listened carefully, she could almost hear the mad shrieks of terror that haunted her nightmares echoing out of the cold fog.

Amy shuddered, then boosted herself into the driver’s seat and hurried to get her key in the ignition. The Jeep’s engine growled to life and she put the vehicle in gear, her thick tire treads spitting up loose gravel as she pulled out and gunned it onto the main road heading back towards Ranger Station 03.

***

The Jeep rumbled to a stop in front of the Ranger Station, which had a Lincoln Log exterior façade and a solitary flagpole flying the California grizzly bear under the stars and stripes. A light drizzle had started in while Amy was driving, and it had turned into a downpour as she stepped out of the vehicle. Her wavy black hair, tied back in an athletic ponytail, was pestered by the growing gusts of wind that whipped through trees. The wet gravel of the small parking lot crunched under her feet as she crossed to the front door of the ranger station, her shoulders hunched as she held up the collar of her official Dept. of Fish and Wildlife windbreaker.

The interior of the station was warm and welcoming. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air. She eyed the breakroom, yearning for a hot cup, but she knew that Chief Warden Turner was waiting for her, and that meant no detours. Turner would be watching.

As predicted, Amy noticed the Chief Warden standing in her open doorway with her hands clasped behind her back, staring at Amy shook down as the agent stamped the droplets of water off her boots on the doormat.

My office, Special Agent Rush, the Chief Warden commanded abruptly from across the room, then turned and shut the door behind her with a neat click. Amy hurried across the small, cozy bullpen of desk, most of which were still vacant and dark at this hour. She was accustomed to her boss’s