Paths That Lead Her

Laurel Dane has always been a force to be reckoned with, but adjusting to life as a new mom is pushing her to the limits. While juggling sleepless nights and the demands of motherhood, she can’t shake the feeling that the F.B.I. is dropping the ball on their pursuit of The Cradler, the elusive mastermind behind a string of child kidnappings—including her own decades earlier. Laurel suspects someone high up is pulling the strings, forcing the investigation into a frustrating standstill.

Determined to take matters into her own hands, Laurel considers a new path: opening a detective agency with her brother and their father. Just as they begin laying the groundwork, a sudden health scare with her baby puts everything on hold, sending Laurel into a spiral of fear and uncertainty.

As tensions mount, Brad’s friend, Romero Gonzales, arrives in Appleman’s Gap. With deep pockets from his successful startup ventures, Romero offers to bankroll their detective agency, but his generosity comes with strings attached. Laurel finds herself at a crossroads. Will partnering with Romero give her the freedom she craves to chase justice, or will the cost of owing him be too high?

In Paths That Lead Her, Laurel must navigate the complex demands of motherhood, career, and loyalty to the ones she loves, while a dark force continues to threaten everything she holds dear.

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