High Noon

High Noon by Nora Roberts Police Lieutenant Phoebe
MacNamara found her calling at an early age when an
unstable man broke into her familys home trapping and
terrorizing them for hours. Now shes Savannahs top hostage
negotiator defusing powderkeg situations with a talent for
knowing when to give in-and when to jump in and take
action. Its satisfying work-and sometimes those skills
come in handy at home dealing with her agoraphobic mother
still traumatized by the break-in after all these years
and her precocious seven-year-old Carly. Its exactly that
heady combination of steely courage and sensitivity that
first attracts Duncan Swift to Phoebe. After observing her
coax one of his employees down from a roof ledge he is
committed to keeping this intriguing take-charge woman in
his life. Shes used to working solo but Phoebes
discovering that no amount of negotiation can keep Duncan
at arms length. And when shes grabbed by a man who throws
a hood over her head and brutally assaults her-in her own
precinct house-Phoebe cant help but be deeply shaken. Then
threatening messages show up on her doorstep and shes not
just alarmed but frustrated. How do you go face-to-face
with an opponent who refuses to look you in the eye? Now
with Duncan backing her up every step of the way she must
establish contact with the faceless tormentor who is
determined to make her a hostage to fear . . . before she
becomes the final showdown.