Praise for Isabella Maldonado

  A Killer’s Code

  “As in the previous books, Maldonado leverages her law enforcement background to lend the proceedings weight and authenticity . . . This series continues to impress.”

  —Publishers Weekly

  “This riveting thriller keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. Along with a solid and thrilling plot, relatable characters, and excellent world-building, the twists, surprises, action, and suspense demanded my attention.”

  —Mystery and Suspense Magazine

  “Filled with intrigue, twists, and a never-ending sense of urgency, A Killer’s Code keeps you in suspense while you join the frantic pursuit to solve this mystery. The third installment in the Daniela Vega series is another action-packed adventure that will exercise your brain and accelerate your heart rate . . . a top notch, fast-paced novel that flies by in the blink of an eye. Once you pick it up, you’ll find it incredibly difficult to stop.”

  —Best Thriller Books

  A Forgotten Kill

  “Maldonado’s years of law enforcement experience continue to add grit and texture to the series, and she supplements those details with a barn burner of a climax. Readers will clamor for the sequel.”

  —Publishers Weekly

  “Maldonado’s expertise in the criminology field really shines through in her books . . . She covers her bases, does her research, and creates a realistic investigation and chase that is compelling and engaging!”

  —Shelf Reflection

  “Filled to the brim with suspense and danger, A Forgotten Kill is one of those great reads that crackles with nervous energy from start to finish. A book that urges you forward with a desperate desire to learn the outcome as quickly as possible.”

  —Best Thriller Books

  “Dani Vega is the kick-ass heroine we’ve all been waiting for! Former Army Ranger, current hardcore FBI agent, she can outthink, outfight, and just plain outclass any opponent around. Welcome to your next favorite series!”

  —Lisa Gardner, #1 New York Times bestselling author

  A Killer’s Game

  “Maldonado keeps the plot boiling and the bodies dropping to the end.”

  —Kirkus Reviews

  “Intense, gripping, and compulsively readable, A Killer’s Game goes from zero to ninety on page one and never slows down. FBI agent Dani Vega is a heroine to cheer for—tough, inventive, and highly capable. A winner.”

  —Meg Gardiner, #1 New York Times bestselling author

  The Falcon

  “Another great read from [Isabella Maldonado]! I’m a Nina Guerrera fan, and this book is the best of the series so far. Don’t miss it!”

  —Steve Netter, Best Thriller Books

  A Different Dawn

  “A horrifying crime, cat-and-mouse detection, aha moments, and extended suspense.”

  —Kirkus Reviews

  “Maldonado expertly ratchets up the tension as the pieces of the puzzle neatly fall into place. Suspense fans will be enthralled from the very first page.”

  —Publishers Weekly

  “A thrill ride from the very start. It starts off fast and never lets up. It’s one of the best thrillers of the summer.”

  —Red Carpet Crash

  “A Different Dawn is a heart-stopping journey on parallel tracks: police detection and personal . . . Isabella Maldonado has created an unforgettable hero in Nina Guerrera.”

  —Criminal Element

  “A killer of a novel. Fresh, fast, and utterly ingenious.”

  —Brad Thor, #1 New York Times bestselling author

  The Cipher

  “The survivor of a vicious crime confronts her fears in a hunt for a serial killer . . . forensic analysis, violent action, and a tough heroine who stands up to the last man on earth she wants to see again.”

  —Kirkus Reviews

  “[In] this riveting series launch from Maldonado . . . the frequent plot twists will keep readers guessing to the end, and Maldonado draws on her twenty-two years in law enforcement to add realism. Determined to overcome her painful past, the admirable Nina has enough depth to sustain a long-running series.”

  —Publishers Weekly

  “The Cipher by Isabella Maldonado is a nail-biting race against time.”

  —Popsugar

  “Maldonado does a superb job of depicting a woman who’s made a strength out of trauma and an even better job at showing how a monster could use the internet to prey on the vulnerable. Maldonado spent twenty-two years in law enforcement, and her experience shines through in The Cipher.”

  —Amazon Book Review

  “A heart-pounding novel from page one, The Cipher checks all the boxes for a top-notch thriller: sharp plotting, big stakes, and characters—good and bad and everywhere in between—that are so richly drawn you’ll swear you’ve met them. I read this in one sitting, and I guarantee you will too. Oh, another promise: You’ll absolutely love the Warrior Girl!”

  —Jeffery Deaver, New York Times bestselling author

  “Wow! A riveting tale in the hands of a superb storyteller.”

  —J. A. Jance, New York Times bestselling author

  “Intense, harrowing, and instantly addictive, The Cipher took my breath away. Isabella Maldonado has created an unforgettable heroine in Nina Guerrera, a dedicated FBI agent and trauma survivor with unique insight into the mind of a predator. This riveting story is everything a thriller should be.”

  —Hilary Davidson, Washington Post bestselling author

  Other Titles by Isabella Maldonado

  FBI Agent Dani Vega series

  A Killer’s Game

  A Forgotten Kill

  A Killer’s Code

  FBI Agent Nina Guerrera series

  The Cipher

  A Different Dawn

  The Falcon

  Sanchez & Heron series (coauthored with Jeffery Deaver)

  Fatal Intrusion

  The Grave Artist

  Detective Veranda Cruz series

  Blood’s Echo

  Phoenix Burning

  Death Blow

  Exit Wound

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, organizations, places, events, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Otherwise, any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

  Text copyright © 2018, 2026 by Isabella Maldonado

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.

  Published by Thomas & Mercer, Seattle

  www.apub.com

  Amazon, the Amazon logo, and Thomas & Mercer are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates.

  EU product safety contact:

  Amazon Media EU S. à r.l.

  38, avenue John F. Kennedy, L-1855 Luxembourg

  amazonpublishing-gpsr@amazon.com

  ISBN-13: 9781662536632 (paperback)

  ISBN-13: 9781662536625 (digital)

  Cover design by Shasti O’Leary Soudant

  Cover image: © Stephen Mulcahey / ArcAngel Images; © Kyle Benne / Getty

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  About the Author

  Chapter 1

  Detective Veranda Cruz sensed the trap but couldn’t see it. She adjusted her visor to block the midday glare and scanned the blighted South Phoenix street as she gave the Chevy Impala some gas. She tightened her seat belt, crushing her ballistic vest against her body, and glanced at the dash clock.

  Two minutes until meeting time.

  If Castillo kept his word. If he didn’t, nothing she could do would save him. She’d spent more than two years investigating the Villalobos crime family and had never gotten an opportunity like this. So why were her instincts blaring a warning?

  She turned to her partner. Sam Stark’s legendary skills were one of the reasons Veranda had been paired with him when she was transferred to the Phoenix Police Homicide Unit six weeks ago. She knew he would read the atmosphere too.

  “Do you feel it, too, Sam?”

  “My pucker factor’s at about a nine,” he said, sliding a glance her way. “So yeah, I’m feeling it.”

  Eyes constantly assessing, Veranda continued toward the location where they we
re supposed to meet Raymond Castillo. Each street bore witness to the unfulfilled promise of regentrification.

  “This part of the city took it hard when the recession hit,” she said, passing a row of abandoned storefronts.

  “We’re in the badlands.” Sam peered out from under his bushy brows. “Bars in the windows, bail bonds offices, and pawn shops.”

  “You think Castillo’s already there?”

  Sam grunted. “I would be. I’d watch us drive in to be sure we’re alone.”

  “I don’t think he’s that smart,” she said, rounding the corner onto Dalton Street.

  Castillo stood on a cracked sidewalk at the far end of the block, shoulder against a streetlight, tattooed arms folded over his chest. Clad in a white tank top and faded jeans, he looked more like a street punk than an aspiring crime boss.

  “Why is he out in the open like this in broad daylight?” Sam said.

  Veranda followed Sam’s gaze. “He’s a sitting—”

  Wham!

  A black Escalade with dark-tinted windows had barreled out from a side street and smashed into the Impala’s left front quarter panel. The seat belt caught Veranda’s upper body, holding her upright. She braced for the side airbag to deploy but the SUV had impacted the car near the front turn signal light without triggering the sensor.

  With a deafening metallic crunch, the Escalade plowed forward until it scraped free of the Chevy sedan’s front bumper and glided toward Castillo.

  Veranda yanked the steering wheel, struggling to regain control as the car spun in a full circle, coming to rest on the sidewalk facing Castillo. Their eyes met, and she made out his horrified expression through the cracked windshield.

  Aware this was no accident, she tore off her seat belt, snatched her Glock from its holster, and shoved at the bent driver’s door.

  Stuck.

  She pounded the window’s power button, but it stopped halfway down. She lifted her foot and kicked at her door, denting the inside handle. Cursing, switched the gun to her left hand, thrust her arm through the open top half of the car window, and took aim.

  Sam threw his door open, knelt on the sidewalk, and raised his gun over the Impala’s hood, bellowing commands at the Escalade’s driver.

  She called out to Castillo in desperation. “Run!”

  The black SUV slowed next to Castillo, who seemed paralyzed with fear. The passenger window buzzed down, and a rifle barrel poked out. Veranda’s pulse thudded in her ears. Time expanded, then contracted. She fired, aware it would do no good. Rounds pinged off the Escalade’s armor plating and bulletproof glass.

  Too late, the sound of gunfire spurred Castillo to action. He reached for his waistband as the staccato burst of four rapid-fire shots cracked the air.

  Castillo jerked as each rifle round drilled his chest. A spray of blood exploded across his white tank top as the high-powered ammunition tore straight through his torso. Arms flung wide, he crumpled to the ground.

  The Escalade peeled out, dark smoke billowing up from its shrieking tires.

  Sam stood and took a step toward Castillo’s inert form.

  She shoved her gun back in its holster. “Get in the car, Sam!”

  Sam swiveled and angled his head through the open car window. “What about Castillo?”

  “Four shots center mass from a rifle.” She shook her head. “I’m not letting those bastards get away when Castillo’s got zero chance. Advise rescue and let’s go.”

  Sam bristled. “We’ve got a victim over there who—”

  “That’s a Villalobos battle cruiser lined with steel plating,” she said, cutting him off.

  Sam was the Phoenix Police Department’s most senior Homicide detective, but he didn’t have her background in narcotics enforcement, or her knowledge of the enemy.

  “The windows and rear tire flaps are bulletproof,” she added. “It’s got enough firepower to destroy downtown Phoenix. And that’s where it’s heading.”

  Without further objection, Sam hooked a hand on the doorframe and swung into the passenger’s seat. He grabbed the mic from the radio mounted in front of the center console.

  She let Sam deliver instructions to the dispatcher and responding police personnel while she considered their options. The PPD had a BearCat equipped to stop an armored vehicle, but she had to keep the Escalade in sight in order to make that happen. She took her foot off the brake and pinned the accelerator to the floor.

  Sam clutched the dashboard as they lurched forward. “Rescue’s direct on Castillo,” he told her. “ETA four minutes.”

  “Mark us in pursuit,” she said. “Tell dispatch to make sure everyone knows the Escalade is armored.”

  The Impala was faster and more maneuverable than the top-heavy SUV, allowing her to whip around corners as Sam gave rapid-fire updates over the radio.

  They headed out of the low-end district with its abandoned stores and into the busy downtown area. Lunchtime on a Thursday, the streets would be crowded with pedestrians and cars. Apprehension knotted her stomach as she imagined progressively worse potential outcomes.

  The Escalade screeched to a stop after crossing the bridge into the business district. Close on their tail, Veranda stomped the brakes, forcing the car into a sideways skid that left her partially exposed. A figure leaned out of the front passenger window and glared at her.

  “Roberto Bernal,” she muttered.

  A low-level enforcer with the Villalobos organization, Roberto had obviously been sent to silence Castillo.

  She barely had time to register his identity before Roberto pointed a rifle directly at her. Automatic weapon fire strafed the Impala. She ducked under the dashboard, seeking cover behind the engine block. Crouched beneath the steering wheel, she threw the car into reverse and pushed the gas pedal with her knee. Steering blindly, she yanked the wheel in a circle to spin the Impala around, popped up into the driver’s seat, and fishtailed around a corner.

  Maneuvering through parallel streets, she swerved back in behind the SUV, this time at a safer distance. A marked patrol car, lights flashing and siren blaring, pulled up next to her.

  Another cruiser slid in from the opposite side, flanking the Impala. The cavalry had arrived, but she couldn’t break off her pursuit. She let the road dogs take the lead but stayed close. When this ended, she would be there to arrest and interrogate Roberto and whoever was driving him in the Escalade.

  As the bizarre cavalcade sped down Mariposa Avenue, two rifles jutted from the Cadillac SUV, spewing a barrage of gunfire in every direction. Motorists careened onto sidewalks, pedestrians dove for cover, and bullets ricocheted off building fronts.

  Veranda jerked the steering wheel, skidding around a corner onto Camelback Road. They had entered the business district, heading toward the Arcadia Fashion Center, an upscale shopping mall renowned for its lush palm trees and posh retail stores.

  Her pulse beat faster as they drew closer to the mall. “We can’t let them get to the shopping center. It’ll be packed in there.”

  A patrol supervisor came on their radio frequency, took command of the pursuit, and directed responding units to set up bull’s-eye perimeters. The police helicopter announced its arrival and began a hover pattern over the area.

  “The supervisor’s trying to box them in,” she said to Sam. “But Roberto will get to the mall before he can do it.”

  The black Escalade veered to the far-left lane, the driver lining up for a sharp turn into the shopping center’s multilevel parking deck.

  “That Caddy’s a tank with all the extra weight from the armor plating,” Sam said. “Can’t maneuver in tight spaces. What the hell is Roberto thinking?”

  She followed the Escalade and patrol cars into the shopping center parking lot. The SUV driver attempted a hard left into the garage next to one of the main entrances, lost control, and slammed head-on into a concrete pylon.

  Veranda jammed on the brakes and the hood of the Impala dipped down as the car skidded on the cement. Plumes of acrid smoke billowed from the tires of the patrol cars in front of her as they screeched to a halt, momentarily obscuring her view.

  The Escalade burst into flames.

  “What were they carrying?” Sam said, unbuckling his seat belt. “The thing’s going up like tinder.” He opened his door and slid out in a crouched position.