All Night Long Read online

  From the New York Times bestselling author of Falling Awake comes an electrifying novel of passion, murder, and small-town scandal…

  Investigative reporter Irene Stenson hasn’t been to her hometown of Dunsley, California, since the gruesome night she found both her parents dead on the kitchen floor. Now, seventeen years later, Irene has received a shocking new lead about their deaths—and is determined to discover the truth of what happened on that long-ago night.

  Staying at a local lodge, she finds herself confiding in handsome Luke Danner—an ex-Marine who’s as used to barking orders as Irene is to ignoring them. But Luke sees the terror beneath her confident exterior—and can’t help but want to protect her. He is also driven by passions of his own, and as they’re drawn together into the heart of danger, they will risk far more than either of them expected…

  “Among her best.”

  —The Oakland Press

  “A handful of authors are masters at the seemingly impossible task of blending romance, humor, and murder. Krentz is one of those authors.”

  —The State (Columbia, SC)

  “Politics, deadly secrets, and a foreboding atmosphere add a chilling touch to this well-written, compelling story…Lively [and] sensual.”

  —Library Journal

  “The mistress of sheet-wringing suspense scores with [this] sexy thriller…It’s good, creepy fun from a pro who can practically write in the dark.”

  —Kirkus Reviews

  “Chilling danger and simmering sexual tension.”

  —Booklist

  “A romantic thriller by one of the best in the genre.”

  —The Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY)

  Praise for the novels of New York Times bestselling author Jayne Ann Krentz…

  FALLING AWAKE

  “Will surely keep the sandman at bay…Terrific.”

  —The Roanoke Times

  “Romantic tension sizzles…Tightly plotted…fully developed characters and crafty plot twists.”

  —The Philadelphia Inquirer

  “Yet another winning tale of romantic suspense…As always, Krentz creates an intelligent, likable couple, wonderful secondary characters, and a fast-paced story that will keep readers turning the pages.”

  —Library Journal

  “Krentz fans won’t be disappointed.”

  —The Seattle Times

  “Krentz excels at crafting superior, sexy romantic suspense, and her latest has all the ingredients her readers love: a riveting plot, a nicely developed romance between a smart and independent heroine and a tough yet tender hero, and her unique, delightfully dry wit.”

  —Booklist

  “Riveting.”

  —The Courier-Mail (Queensland, Australia)

  “The Northwest’s most popular novelist crafts another of her signature cocktails of romance, suspense, and menace.”

  —Seattle Post-Intelligencer

  TRUTH OR DARE

  “Compelling.”

  —The Sunday Age (Melbourne, Australia)

  “There’s a reason Jayne Ann Krentz sells so many books…[She] continues to exhibit a fine knack for entertaining her readers.”

  —Fort Worth Star-Telegram

  “Ranks with some of Krentz’s most entertaining work.”

  —The Seattle Times

  LIGHT IN SHADOW

  “If Krentz’s newest thriller doesn’t send your pulse racing, dial your cardiologist’s number…Packed with twists and shockers till the explosive ending.”

  —Publishers Weekly

  “One of Krentz’s best.”

  —The Seattle Times

  SMOKE IN MIRRORS

  “Hearts will flutter. Spines will tingle.”

  —People

  “Passion smolders…Krentz is a master…The characters are the heart of the book and the reason why she has sold more than 23 million copies of her novels. This is vintage Krentz.”

  —The Seattle Times

  “Quick and witty and the romance sizzles. Smoke in Mirrors reads fast and will make you smile, wince, and sigh. What else could you want?”

  —The State (Columbia, SC)

  LOST & FOUND

  “Delightful.”

  —People

  “A compelling mystery laced with an equally compelling romance.”

  —The Newark Star-Ledger

  SOFT FOCUS

  “A healthy dose of suspense…Krentz has so much fun sending up the noir genre that you won’t mind going along for the ride.”

  —People

  “What could be more perfectly Krentz?…[Her] writing is clean and breezy, with many laugh-aloud chapter endings and a satisfyingly feel-good conclusion.”

  —Publishers Weekly

  OTHER TITLES BY JAYNE ANN KRENTZ

  White Lies

  All Night Long

  Falling Awake

  Truth or Dare

  Light in Shadow

  Summer in Eclipse Bay

  Smoke in Mirrors

  Dawn in Eclipse Bay

  Lost & Found

  Eclipse Bay

  Soft Focus

  Eye of the Beholder

  Flash

  Sharp Edges

  Deep Waters

  Absolutely, Positively

  Trust Me

  Grand Passion

  Hidden Talents

  Wildest Hearts

  Family Man

  Perfect Partners

  Sweet Fortune

  Silver Linings

  The Golden Chance

  BY JAYNE ANN KRENTZ WRITING AS AMANDA QUICK

  Second Sight

  Lie by Moonlight

  Wait Until Midnight

  The Paid Companion

  Late for the Wedding

  Don’t Look Back

  Slighty Shady

  Wicked Widow

  I Thee Wed

  With This Ring

  Affair

  Mischief

  Mystique

  Mistress

  Deception

  Desire

  Dangerous

  Reckless

  Ravished

  Rendezvous

  Scandal

  Surrender

  Seduction

  BY JAYNE ANN KRENTZ WRITING AS JAYNE CASTLE

  Ghost Hunter

  After Glow

  Harmony

  After Dark

  Amaryllis

  Zinnia

  Orchid

  All Night Long

  JAYNE ANN KRENTZ

  JOVE BOOKS, NEW YORK

  THE BERKLEY PUBLISHING GROUP

  Published by the Penguin Group

  Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

  375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014, USA

  Penguin Group (Canada), 90 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 700, Toronto, Ontario M4P 2Y3, Canada (a division of Pearson Penguin Canada Inc.)

  Penguin Books Ltd., 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England

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  Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any rese
mblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.

  ALL NIGHT LONG

  A Jove Book / published by arrangement with the author

  PRINTING HISTORY

  G. P. Putnam’s Sons hardcover edition / January 2006

  Jove mass-market edition / February 2007

  Copyright © 2006 by Jayne Ann Krentz.

  Excerpt from Second Sight by Amanda Quick copyright © 2006 by Jayne Ann Krentz.

  Cover design and digital illustration of scenery © 2006 by Rob Wood / Wood Ronsaville Harlin, Inc.

  Front cover photograph of man and woman © David Vance / Getty Images.

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

  For information, address: The Berkley Publishing Group,

  a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.,

  375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.

  ISBN: 978-1-101-21499-2

  JOVE®

  Jove Books are published by The Berkley Publishing Group,

  a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.,

  375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.

  JOVE is a registered trademark of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

  The “J” design is a trademark belonging to Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

  PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

  10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

  If you purchased this book without a cover, you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as “unsold and destroyed” to the publisher, and neither the author nor the publisher has received any payment for this “stripped book.”

  For Alberta G. Castle, with love: I learned all the really important stuff from you, Mom. I will carry your spirit in my heart all the days of my life.

  Table of Contents

  Prologue

  One

  Two

  Three

  Four

  Five

  Six

  Seven

  Eight

  Nine

  Ten

  Eleven

  Twelve

  Thirteen

  Fourteen

  Fifteen

  Sixteen

  Seventeen

  Eighteen

  Nineteen

  Twenty

  Twenty-one

  Twenty-two

  Twenty-three

  Twenty-four

  Twenty-five

  Twenty-six

  Twenty-seven

  Twenty-eight

  Twenty-nine

  Thirty

  Thirty-one

  Thirty-two

  Thirty-three

  Thirty-four

  Thirty-five

  Thirty-six

  Thirty-seven

  Thirty-eight

  Thirty-nine

  Forty

  Forty-one

  Forty-two

  Forty-three

  Forty-four

  Forty-five

  Forty-six

  Forty-seven

  Forty-eight

  Forty-nine

  Fifty

  Epilogue

  Second Sight

  Prologue

  Seventeen years earlier…

  The house at the end of the lane was filled with darkness and night.

  That wasn’t right, Irene thought. Her parents always left the lights on for her.

  “Don’t be mad, Irene.” Pamela stopped the car in the driveway. The convertible’s headlights blazed a short distance into the thick stand of fir trees that loomed beside the house. “It was just a joke, okay? Hey, look, the lights are off inside your place. Your folks are in bed. They’ll never know you got home after curfew.”

  Irene pushed open the car door and scrambled out of the convertible. “They’ll know. You’ve ruined everything.”

  “So tell them it was my fault,” Pamela said carelessly. “I lost track of the time.”

  “It was my fault. I made the mistake of believing that you really were my friend. I thought I could trust you. My folks only have two rules. No drugs and no driving to the other side of the lake.”

  “Give me a break. You only broke one rule tonight.” In the lights of the dash, Pamela’s smile was very bright. “I didn’t even have any drugs in the car.”

  “We weren’t supposed to go beyond the town limits, and you know it. You just got your license. Dad says you haven’t had enough experience behind the wheel yet.”

  “I got you home safe and sound, didn’t I?”

  “That’s not the point and you know it. I made a promise to my folks.”

  “You are such a good girl.” Disgust and exasperation were thick in Pamela’s words. “Don’t you get tired of always following the rules?”

  Irene took a step back. “Is that what this was all about tonight? You wanted to see if you could make me break the rules? Well, you succeeded, so I hope you’re satisfied. This is the last time you and I will do anything together. But that’s probably just what you wanted, isn’t it? Good night, Pamela.”

  She turned toward the darkened house, digging into her purse to find her key.

  “Irene, wait—”

  Irene ignored her. Key in hand she hurried toward the front door. Her parents were going to be furious. They would probably ground her for life or, at the very least, for the rest of the summer.

  “Okay, be that way,” Pamela called after her. “Go back to your perfect, boring, good girl life and your perfect, boring little family. Next time I pick a best friend I’ll choose one who knows how to have fun.”

  Pamela drove off very quickly. When the convertible’s headlights disappeared, Irene found herself alone in the night. She was very conscious of the chill in the air. That was wrong, too, she thought. It was summer. The moon was shining out on the lake. She and Pamela had put the top down on the flashy new sports car this evening. It shouldn’t have felt so cold.

  Maybe this was what it was like when you discovered that you could not trust someone you thought was a friend.

  Morosely she watched to see if a light came on in her parents’ bedroom at the side of the house. They must have heard Pamela’s car, she thought. Her father, especially, was a light sleeper.

  But the house remained dark. She felt a small flicker of relief. If her folks did not wake up tonight, she could put off the inevitable scene until morning. Breakfast would be soon enough to find out that she had been permanently grounded.

  She could just barely make out the front porch steps. Her dad had forgotten to turn on the light over the door. That was really weird. He always left that light and the one at the back of the house on all night. It was another one of his rules.

  She paused, key in hand. Her parents’ bedroom was directly to the right of the entrance. They would almost certainly hear her if she went in through the front door. But if they were still asleep, they might not notice the sound of the back door being opened. Going in through the kitchen would give her a shot at sneaking down the hall to her bedroom without arousing her folks.

  Turning away from the front porch steps, she hurried around the side of the house. It was so dark. Too bad she didn’t have a flashlight. In the silvery moonlight the small dock and the little boat that her father used for fishing were almost invisible.

  She was startled to discover that the light was off over the back porch, too. In the dense shadows, she tripped on the bottom step, stumbled and nearly fell. At the last instant she managed to grab the railing and right herself.

  What were the odds that her dad had forgotten to turn on both porch lights? Something was really strange here. Maybe the bulbs had burned out si
multaneously.

  She fumbled the key into the lock and turned the knob cautiously, trying to open the door without making any noise.

  The door resisted her efforts to push it inward. Something heavy seemed to be blocking it from the inside. She shoved harder.

  A terrible, stomach-churning smell wafted out through the opening. Had some animals gotten into the house? Her mother would have a fit in the morning.

  But a part of her already knew that things were horribly wrong. She started to shiver violently. It was all she could do to move one foot across the threshold and grope for the switch on the wall.

  The lights came on, dazzling her for a couple of seconds. Then she saw the blood on the kitchen floor.

  She heard someone screaming. In some remote corner of her mind she understood that she was the one who was uttering the high, desperate, frantic cries of grief, horror and denial. But the sound was distant and far away.

  She had traveled to some other place, a realm where nothing was the way it was supposed to be; where nothing was normal.

  When she returned from the journey, she discovered that her personal, private definition of normal had been altered forever.

  E-MAIL MESSAGE

  DATE: March 7

  FROM: PWebb

  TO: IStenson

  SUBJECT: The past

  Hi, Irene:

  I know this e-mail is coming as a huge surprise. Hope you didn’t dump it straight into your deleted file when you saw the name of the sender. But I hear you’re a reporter now, and reporters are supposed to be curious types so, with luck, you’ll read this.

  Hard to believe that it’s been seventeen years since we last saw each other, isn’t it? I realize that, given what happened, you would have been quite happy to go another seventeen years without hearing from me. But I have to talk to you, and I have to do it soon.

  This is about the past. What I need to tell you can’t be done in an e-mail or over the phone. Trust me, this is as important to you as it is to me.

  I’ve got a few things to take care of before we meet. Come up to the lake on Thursday afternoon. I should have everything ready by then. Give me a call as soon as you get into town.

  By the way, I never forgot how much you liked eating orange sherbet and vanilla ice cream together. Funny the things you remember, isn’t it?