Those who work for FBI special agent Taylor Jones believe him to be cold and unfeeling, including Desiree "Dez" Lincoln. That is until the night she is shot in the line of duty.

Taylor has no business feeling the way he does about Dez, so much so that after her recovery he tries to put her on extended sick leave believing out of sight will help him ignore his feelings.

Every one in Taylor's group has special talents and Dez is no exception. Her talent is to communicate with the dead and help them move on to the beyond. This sometimes calls for rescuing the living from violence. There is no way she could take leave without helping them. Their incessant cries would drive her insane. Dez's latest ghost leads her to a small town where evil is prevalent. She calls on Taylor for reinforcements when she is unable to rescue a living person in desperate need of help. Imagine her surprise when he shows up in person.

Taylor had returned to his hometown on the anniversary of his little sister's disappearance. What were the odds that Taylor and Dez would wind up in the same place at the same time and that her investigation would place them both in danger in more ways than one? What Dez discovers about her ghost and what's been happening in town could possibly give Taylor the answers he needs to move on with his life.

Once again this author delivers an outstanding story fraught with sexual tension and a spine tingling mystery. THE DEPARTED will keep readers turning pages faster than they think trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together. Ms. Walker's paranormal romantic suspense tale is chilling in its portrayal of the lengths people will go to for thrills or to protect a loved one. The romance is emotionally captivating as these two strong willed people find a way to overcome their emotional battle for a chance at the love of a lifetime.