Three years ago, a collision between a fast-moving freight train and a school bus full of kids led to devastation and grief on an unimaginable scale. But a fresh clue leads San Antonio police detective Amara Alvarez to the unlikely conclusion that one of the children may still be alive. If she’s correct, everything law enforcement believes about the accident is a lie.
With time running out, Amara must convince others–and herself–that despite all evidence to the contrary, the boy lives. And she will do everything in her power to bring him home.
A fresh voice in suspense, Tom Threadgill will have you questioning everything as you fly through the pages of this enthralling story.
“I have a new favorite author. Tom Threadgill kept me reading for hours. I didn’t want to put this book down . . . couldn’t put it down. I absolutely adore Amara Alvarez and her relationships with her coworkers, friends, and her iguana! Now I want one. She was a heroine who made me laugh and one I could really relate to. I can think of a few words to describe this book: amazing, incredible, intriguing, mesmerizing, unputdownable. . . I could go on, but I need to stop so I can go buy up the entire backlist of my new favorite author.”
CHAPTER ONE: COLLISION OF LIES
BY TOM THREADGILL
Thirty seconds.
If they were still arguing, she’d call the cops then. Let the professionals deal with them.
Amara Alvarez leaned her athletic frame outside the diner’s booth to get in the man’s line of sight. He glanced up and she shot her best death stare his way. Clenched jaw, narrowed eyes, the works.
No effect. The man and woman continued their argument or breakup or whatever was happening. He bounced between whispers and shouts. She alternated between screaming and sobbing.
The couple, both appearing to be Hispanic and around thirty years old, had been at it for nearly an hour. Of all the restaurants in San Antonio, did they have to come here? Today? Her initial empathy toward the pair had faded a long time ago. Most folks would’ve recognized the impact of their outbursts on others. Not these two.
As a result, Amara’s mood had risen to level-ten irritation. Her Saturday morning ritual of a quiet meal at the Breakfast Bodega was ruined, thanks to them. Was it so much to ask? That people keep their personal matters personal?
Ronnie, the heavyset weekend manager of the diner, had stopped by their table twice with little impact on the theatrics. Most of the other customers had shoveled their meals into Styrofoam containers and fled the scene. Not Amara. This wasn’t her first battle of wills.
The red second hand on the wall clock hit the 12. She grabbed her phone, sighed, and laid it back on the table. Five more minutes. If they were still going, she’d call the police then.
Her heart leaped as a metallic bang echoed throughout the area. Something in the kitchen, dropped or thrown, clattered a few more times, followed by muffled shouting, which may or may not have been sprinkled with a few choice expletives. The door from back there flung open and Ronnie made a beeline for her, his face steaming. An image of herself as a matador sprang to mind and she shook her head as he sat opposite her.
“Uh-uh,” she said. “Don’t come over here with that attitude.” He gestured over his shoulder at the contentious couple. “They’re killing our business. You going to sit there and do nothing?”
She raised her phone. “Getting ready to call the cops.”
“You are a cop.”
Continue reading Chapter One on the 2/13/2020 Lone Star Book Blog Tours Stop
–———————————–
SECOND PRIZE: Copy of Collision of Lies + Composition Notebook Pouch
THIRD PRIZE: Copy of Collision of Lies
February 6-16, 2020
VISIT THE OTHER GREAT BLOGS ON THE TOUR:
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2/6/20
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Notable Quotable
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2/6/20
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BONUS Post
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2/7/20
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Review
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2/8/20
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Guest Post
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2/9/20
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Author Interview
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2/10/20
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Review
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2/11/20
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Excerpt
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2/12/20
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Review
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2/13/20
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Excerpt
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2/14/20
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Review
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2/15/20
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Review
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