Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **AUTHOR SPECIAL** with DANA WAYNE!

Welcome to my Friday bonus feature called Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **Author Special**!! Today, in lieu of one of my own recipes, I’m going to introduce you to a new author who will share one of her favorite recipes. Not only will you and I occasionally learn how to make something new and delicious, but we’ll get a chance to check out some wonderful authors. Introducing author, DANA WAYNE, and her favorite recipes for ROASTED PECANS and DANA WAYNE’S CHEESEBURGER PIE!

THE DETAIL
Romantic Suspense
BY DANA WAYNE

Blurb

How far will a killer go for revenge

Some assignments can be deadly

Detective Jessica Foster is exhausted. She’s spent months hunting a crazed killer while juggling a case load that never ends, her unpredictable family and forbidden feelings for her partner, Seth Hamilton. When the suspect she sought is finally captured near Denver, she and Seth must bring him back to Texas for trial.  She dreads the long drive because it means close proximity to the man who haunts her dreams and makes her long for things she can never have.

Seth has known for some time that Jess is the one for him. Instinct tells him the feelings are mutual, but she never lets her guard down. Undeterred, he vows to use the prolonged road trip to get beyond those barriers and uncover the truth.

Until a disastrous turn of events changes everything.

Now a ruthless killer bent on revenge targets Jess, and his thirst for vengeance will only be satisfied by her death.

THE DETAIL
Romantic Suspense
BY DANA WAYNE

She started to get up and see if she could at least see what he was driving, but Seth beat her to it. “Order for me, Babe, while I powder my nose.”

He winked and made his way past the counter and down the hall toward the restrooms.

“Your husband is hot.”

The not-so-subtle comment from the waitress jerked her back to the present. “Yes. And he’s mine.” The words were out before she could stop them. Flustered, she placed their order and sat there fuming until Seth returned.

“He made a call outside and left in a dark Jeep Wrangler. Hood’s in red primer.” He sipped his lukewarm coffee. “Texas plates.”

“Babe? Texas plates?”

His lopsided grin was charming. “Didn’t want Flo to think I was available.” He picked up his cup. “Majority the cars out there have out of state tags. And most are Texas.” He shrugged and sipped his coffee. “Mountains are a big draw though not much to hunt this time of year. Except for maybe snow bunnies.”

She ignored the last comment. “Walls has me imagining things.”

“Never doubt your instinct, Tex. It doesn’t lie.”

She met his steady gaze and damned if her stomach didn’t flip like on a roller coaster ride. Thankfully, the waitress arrived with their food and saved her from having to speak.

Seth looked down at his plate and grinned. “Over easy, crisp hash browns and sausage. You detect, too, I see.”

“Hush and eat before it gets cold.”

By the time they reached the local police department an hour later, thoughts of the man in the diner had faded, replaced by trepidation at seeing Jack Walls again. For months he was an elusive shadow who haunted her dreams and remained just out of reach. The carnage he left behind, though, was all too real and terrifying in its brutality.

Game face on; she walked into the holding room.

Walls waited behind a barred metal door, hands and feet shackled to the chain around his waist. Disheveled salt and pepper hair stuck out at odd angles as he stood with head bowed and shoulders stooped. The faded orange jumpsuit was a size too large, the legs pooling around his ankles.

Jess knew that behind that innocuous harmless-man-mask existed a violent, ruthless killer with a history of violence against women. Prostitutes were his usual victims because they seldom pressed charges. But Annie Potter did. Twice. And paid for it with her life. The evidence, iffy at best, was not enough for the DA to prosecute, and he walked.

Another woman ended up in the hospital before he hooked up with Lottie Moore. Even after two domestic disturbance calls to their place, she refused to press charges, saying he loved her and would never really hurt her. She was dead wrong.

Seemingly one step ahead of them, he skipped town before they could arrest him.

Four months of beating herself up for not moving fast enough came to an end two days ago, thanks to a broken taillight.

The door’s lock clicked, and she resisted the sudden urge to take a step back when Walls entered the room and stopped six feet away.

His posture didn’t change as he slowly lifted his head and looked directly at her.

Gone was the precisely orchestrated façade he showed the world. In its place stood evil personified.

Eyes black as volcanic rock telegraphed anger and hatred like a physical blow. His nostrils flared when he drew in a breath. The muscles in his cheek worked as he clamped his jaw tight, then released it before lowering his head.

Heart racing, she glanced at Seth. His attention was on the jailer and the paperwork. If he saw Walls’ display, he gave no indication.

“No way in hell would I want to be in your shoes right now.” The man behind the desk spoke to Seth as he reached for the paperwork transferring the prisoner to their custody. “He’s bat shit crazy.”

Seth passed the signed paperwork to him. “Thanks for taking care of this so quickly.”

“No problem. Glad to have him out of here.” The man hesitated, and his eyes flicked from Seth to Walls. “Weather’s tricky this time of year. More snow headed our way. Weatherman says another six to eight inches possible. Up this high, though, it’s likely to be more. Hope you have snow chains.” Brows furrowed, he glanced from Jess to the prisoner.

Jess’s hair prickled on the nape of her neck. She didn’t relish the idea of a delay of any kind with Walls in the car. Before she voiced her concern, Seth spoke up.

“A couple of your men are working on the chains. With any luck, we can be through the worst of the weather in a couple of hours.”

“Maybe. Like I said, more’s on the way.” He scratched his chin and looked at the prisoner again. “Where’s your first stop?”

“Colorado City.”

He shook his head. “I-25’s congested on a good day. You can plan on at least three to four hours in this weather.”

Seth glanced at Jess then back to the jailer. “We’ve got a Plan B.”

Jess kept her expression neutral. If they had a Plan B, he was the only one who knew about it.

The jailer and two officers escorted them from the small processing room to the sally port where their vehicle waited.

“Snow chains are good to go,” said one of the men installing them. “You know how to take ‘em off?”

“Yeah,” said Seth. “Been a while, but I know how.”

A few minutes later, Walls was safely ensconced in the back, and Seth got behind the wheel.

The killer’s anger was an almost tangible thing. “It’s a long way to Walker,” he said at last. “A lot can happen.”

Jess’s skin crawled, and her fingers trembled as she buckled her seat belt. His words, though softly spoken, carried the threat of danger loud and clear.

About Author Dana Wayne…

Links to Dana’s website, blog, books, #ad, etc.:

Amazon Kindle: https://amzn.to/3GvRxzx

Amazon Print: https://amzn.to/410mc06

Audiobook:  https://amzn.to/3LrI7Zg

Contact: https://www.danawayne.com

              danawayne423@gmail.com

Dana Wayne Facebook

Instagram: www.instagram.com/danawayne423

Twitter: www.twitter.com/danawayne423

I hope you enjoy the recipes Dana is sharing today on Karen’s Killer Fixin’s. Happy Eating!

Karen

P.S. We’re at 635 recipes and counting with this posting. Hope you find some recipes you like. If this is your first visit, please check out past blogs for more Killer Fixin’s. In the right-hand column menu,  you can even look up past recipes by type. i.e. Desserts, Breads, Beef, Chicken, Soups, Author Specials, etc.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE: If an author’s favorite recipe isn’t their own creation and came from an online site, you will now find the entire recipe through the link to that site as a personal recommendation. Thank you.

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