First a dead stranger. Now a missing police chief. Did Chief Cade run off to elope? Or has he met with foul play? No one knows who the victim was, where he came from, or why he staggered out in front of Chief Cade’s car. Guilt overwhelms him that he killed the mysterious stranger, until Cade learns that the man had been shot at close-range before he was struck. Determining his identity and finding the shooter becomes Cade’s top priority. But then Cade vanishes off of the island of Cape Refuge. Rumors spread like wildfire that Cade was involved with the dead man’s wife and that the death was not accidental. Did Cade run to escape murder charges, or has something sinister happened to him? Blair Owens knows Cade wouldn’t have done the things they’re saying … and he wouldn’t have left without saying goodbye. She’s determined to find him herself, but her search takes her to some dangerous places. Finding Cade will take faith in a God whom Blair has always doubted. Will He listen to her prayers when she’s given Him nothing but grief? Cade’s life might hang in the balance . . . and time is running out. From New York Times bestselling suspense author Terri Blackstock, Southern Storm is the second book in her riveting Cape Refuge series. Sequel to the #1 best-selling Cape Refuge First a dead stranger. Now a missing Police Chief. Did Chief Cade run off to elope . . . or has he met with foul play? The body in the morgue had no ID. No one knew who he was or where he came from when he walked out in front of Cade's car. And when Cade learns he had a gunshot wound before he was struck, finding his identity becomes even more urgent. Then Cade vanishes. Authorities discover the victim's name, and the woman Cade was last seen with turns out to have been the dead man's wife. Speculation abounds about Cade's relationship to the woman and his part in the victim's death. His disappearance makes him look even more suspicious. But Blair Owens doesn't believe the rumors. Something has happened to Cade, and she's determined to find him. Saving Cade's life will take faith in a God whom Blair has always doubted---but he may be her only hope. Terri Blackstock has sold over seven million books worldwide and is a New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author. She is the award-winning author of Intervention , Vicious Cycle , and Downfall , as well as such series as Cape Refuge, Newpointe 911, the SunCoast Chronicles, and the Restoration Series. Visit her website at www.terriblackstock.com; Facebook: tblackstock; Twitter: @terriblackstock. Southern Storm By Terri Blackstock ZONDERVAN Copyright © 2003 Terri Blackstock All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-0-310-34280-9 CHAPTER 1 The Georgia Weather Bureau's prophecy of fifty-mile-per-hour winds had been fulfilled and surpassed, much to Matthew Cade's chagrin. As chief of the small Cape Refuge police force, Cade could do little about the ravages of the storm as it beat across the island toward Savannah. But the safety of the residents was always his concern. Though it was two in the afternoon, the sky looked as dark as nightfall. Lightning bolted overhead in a panoramic display of white-hot fingers, grounding on the island and splaying across the angry Atlantic. The thunder cracked in rapid crashes, and rain slatted down at an angle that made umbrellas useless and flooded some of the streets. Cade strained to see through the windshield of his squad car. The rain pounding on his roof and his wipers slashing across his windshield made it difficult for him to hear the radio crackling on his dashboard. He turned it up. Fender benders had been reported at three locations on Cape Refuge, and a power line was down near the condos lining the north beach. If everyone would just stay inside, maybe they could avoid any more problems. But that never happened. On days like this, residents insisted on driving through the storm at the same speeds they used on dry, sunny days. Tornado watchers stood out on their front porches, watching the sky for funnel clouds. And the most reckless among the residents would brave the lightning and drag their surfboards out to the waves, hoping to catch a thrill in the tempest. Cade and his police force were left to clean up the messes and head off new disasters. The dispatcher's voice crackled across the radio, and he picked up the mike. "Go ahead, Sal." "Chief, there's another power line down on a road over at the dock. Somebody's going to get hurt unless you detour that traffic." Cade sighed. "All right, I'm on my way." He set the mike back in its holder and turned on his blue lights. Making a U-turn, he headed back around the southern tip of the island, then northbound toward the dock. He couldn't have residents driving over live power lines. He hoped the power company would hurry up and get its trucks out here. The wipers swiped across his windshield, but the rain pounded too hard to give him much visibility. He strained to see. Most cars pulle