Because of You — Marie-Nicole Ryan

A P.I. with a lot to lose and a nurse with even more.

When a pregnant friend and fellow case manager goes missing, Allison Lackey turns to her family's P.I. agency for help. Just her luck, her brother assigns his old pal and new employee, Nick Vitelli, to the case. Wouldn't you know he's the same fellow she had the hots for as a teenager. When the old feelings emerge, being around him is pure torture. Besides, in Allison's opinion, his investigation is headed in the wrong direction.

Former Atlanta PD detective Nick Vitelli is newly divorced and halfway resents being palmed off on a "family" case. Initially, he doesn't believe in the case's urgency or that Allison knows what she's talking about. He figures she may know a lot about nursing, but trying to tell him how to run an investigation is out of line.

When the missing woman's car is found and the evidence points to homicide, Nick and Allison put aside their differences and work together. Allison's all grown up, and Nick finds working so closely with his boss's sister more and more difficult. Getting mixed up with Allie could mean a quick trip to the unemployment line. Losing this job is too great a risk because he has a young son to support.

Another nurse goes missing, and Allison creates an enemy or two when she doggedly pursues a physician as the culprit. Not only is she risking her job, but she's also painting a target on her back as victim number three.