I can’t wait for you to read K-9 ON A MISSION, my May 2027 release from Harlequin Intrigue! It’s a story revolving on Crooked Pass Security’s K-9 Division solving the theft of artwork and gold from a museum. I loved writing a morally gray character, namely, Rafael “Rafe” Aguila, a retired professional thief who has no regrets about the life he’s led. Despite that, he’s become a kind of Robin Hood, helping the police solve crimes and volunteering and raising funds to improve the lives of children in the Miami community. But the heroine, K-9 handler Bailey Vega, finds it hard to reconcile Rafe’s past and his lack of guilt over his many thefts. It makes for great conflict between the two! Today I’m sharing a scene from K-9 ON A MISSION in which Rafe is breaking into the museum to attempt to figure out how it had been robbed. You can pre-order your copy today at https://amzn.to/4xHxPta
Excerpt
Shinnying to the center of the structure, he grabbed the thick gutter and lowered himself over the edge.
Luckily for him, the building had been constructed to show the wealth of its owner, which meant that the windows were topped by fancy carved limestone pediments. They provided a good handhold, and then a solid footing until he stood on the thick sill.
Balancing gingerly, he examined the window. It was painted shut. A quick look at the nearby windows confirmed they were all in the same condition. No one had come in through them.
Repeating his earlier actions, he reached the third floor and his primary goal: priceless paintings any collector would pay millions to have in their private collection.
Again, the windows were sealed shut by years of paint. Not a problem to open them, but they would delay his entry into the museum.
Satisfied he could return to achieve his goal if need be, he drifted down to the next floor.
He found purchase on the pediment with his booted feet and shifted his weight to move downward, but then the wet stone betrayed him.
His boot slid out. Gravity propelled him backward.
His heart pounded in his chest as he fell, arms flailing. He clawed out for any hold that would keep him from plummeting downward.
Breathless, he braced for impact, imagining the pointy spikes of the museum’s wrought iron fence impaling his body.