Killing Time (2005) by Linda Howard (Ballantine)

We start out with young Knox Davis and his father watching a time capsule beying buried in the square by the small towns mayor. Knox is a bit obsessive about things and knew the local paper had said they were to bury 12 items, not mentioning what they were. He had counted them as they went in and 13 things were buried. He is set on finding what that 13th thing is when tragedy strikes the town, and Knox forgets all about it. We then fast forward to the present, 2o years forward. He is now a chief county investigator for that same town, and still a bit obsessive about things. A deputy mentions a hole someone dug in the town square and wonders who would do something like that. Knox takes a look and finds that same time capsule missing. He starts investigating things and finds a curious element he cannot explain. He is called in to look into another event right outside of town and that same element is mentioned as having been seen. While there a call comes in concerning a murder and Knox takes off. During his investigation he finds a young woman outside the victims house. As he confronts her a bullet smashes into the house right next to her head. Nikita Stover, his mysterious lurker, says she is with the FBI and is investigating a possible serial murderer. Knox is not convinced and takes her down to the station. Nikita is not quite what she at first portrayed herself to be. Close but not really. Nikita and Knox work together to solve this murder, and who is trying to kill Nikita. Knox ends up believing a lot more than he ever imagined and things get very complicated for Nikita.

I really liked this book. Of course, Linda Howard is almost always a winner and I have to say I was thrown about certain parts that started happening. I was not expecting them in this book. When you read the explanation it leaves out a bit and you get to be a bit taken aback if you don't know anything about the book from another source. I am not going to ruin things here by mentioning to much, you will just have to read the book and fnd out for yourself. 

***************************************************************************************

Use the talents you have, for the woods would by silent if no birds sang except the best. (from a flip inspiration book-'Thoughts for my daughter')