She is the only one who truly sees him.

Which makes her his greatest threat.

Undercover cop Tane Temauri has made it his life’s mission to stay out of sight. Given the dangers inherent in his job, the last thing he can afford is to step into the open and become a target. Again.

Then a letter from a mysterious stranger changes everything. Although the letter was not meant for him, somehow, on a greater, cosmic scale, it feels as though it is.

But answering it will make Tane vulnerable. How can he emerge from the shadows and risk everything for a woman he has never met? If he does, more than his heart could be on the line. So could his life.

And hers.

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Now for our interview with Tane.

CC: I’m so excited to introduce you to my readers, Tane. Would you mind telling them a little bit about yourself?

TT: I shouldn’t really be telling you this, but confidentially, I am a deep undercover agent for a black ops organization called DAG. This isolated underground life suits me, as living in the shadows, staying below the radar, is a skill I honed as a child after a traumatic experience left me deeply scarred – in more ways than one.

CC: Oh, that is very ominous, and it must be a hard, isolating job to be working deep undercover. Who are you closest to in life? 

TW: As much as I can be close to anyone, when I have intentionally built walls around myself to keep everyone out, I’d have to say Beck and Johnny. We met the first day of high school and became friends and eventually brothers. At least, they were my brothers. Now Johnny is gone, and I’ve betrayed Beck in such an egregious way I’m not sure our friendship will survive. I’ve even walked away from the younger brothers I basically raised, something I never would have believed I could do. So now I am really and truly alone in the world. Except for a letter I found from a complete stranger. A letter not meant for me but that, as crazy and dangerous as it would be, I am seriously considering answering …

CC: Answering a stranger sounds dangerous, intriguing, and possibly life-altering. Speaking of life-altering, what is your darkest secret?

TW: I can’t tell you that. I’ve kept my deepest, darkest secret from everyone, even Beck and Johnny. They know parts of my story, but I’ve never been able to bring myself to share all the details with them, the trauma of the night that left me scarred, body and soul. Although, this stranger I wrote remarkably wrote me back, and she wants to know more about me. Already, from the beautiful words she has written, I feel more drawn to her than anyone I have met. All I know is her first name – Lia – and that she is as alone in the world as I am. She suggested that us writing to each other could be like her turning a light on in her window and me turning a light on in mine. That way, when one or the other of us is out wandering in the cold and dark, we can see that light and know we are not alone. What I am feeling for her, for this picture she has created in my mind of a light in the darkness, is so powerful it terrifies me. I can’t let down my walls, even on words written on paper to a stranger. It’s far too dangerous. For both of us. I need to end this now. If I tell her my secret, share everything with her, I have no doubt that will be the end of it. We will both be free to let go of whatever this could have been between us and move on with our lives. Safe. And alone.

CC: Because sharing secrets with a stranger is always a good idea . . . even if you’re trying to push them away. Somehow, I don’t think this is going to go like you plan. Why are you able to open up in letters in a way you never have been able to to anyone face to face?

TW: From childhood, I have hidden in the shadows. Even before that night, the other kids were cruel. My brothers and I didn’t look like anyone else in our small town, which made us targets. And after what happened, well, that only got worse. A lot worse. I learned fast that it was safer to stay out of sight, to not allow anyone to see me. On paper, though, and to a stranger I will likely never meet in person, it’s easier. She can’t see me. Can’t see the color of my skin. Can’t see the scars on my face and body. Can’t look into my eyes. Which means that I can, finally, fully open up to someone. Spill my secrets, my pain, my fears across the page. It’s so much safer than revealing myself in person. Except, with every letter, every word she writes, she reveals that she can see me. That she is starting to know me. Really know me. Who I am at the very core. And I’m beginning to realize that what we’re doing is not safe at all. In fact, with her, I may be in greater danger than I have ever been. To protect her, to protect us both, I need to stop writing and let her go.

CC: With an answer like that, I think I know the answer to this next one but . . . What is your deepest fear?

TW: I always thought my deepest fear was being seen. Really seen. My face, my scars, who I am deep inside. Only now, since I have caught a glimpse of how it feels, what it means when another human being truly sees you, sees who you are, sees the very worst parts of you, and doesn’t walk away, my biggest fear has become not being seen. Not having this person in my life who knows everything about me and cares about me anyway, loves me, even. With Lia, I have seen what that light turned on in the darkness can do. If I lose her, if I let her go like I absolutely should, for both our sakes, I will be plunged into that darkness again. But what will happen if I don’t?

CC: Oh, that is a scary question. Discovering that we need people, need relationships, just as God designed us, is transforming, both in the best and the scariest of ways. How DO you feel about God?

TW: There’s no simple answer to this one. My mother took us to Sunday school as kids, and I was all in. I loved the stories and songs and I loved Jesus. After what happened, I clung to my faith for a while. I laid in that hospital bed and cried out to him night after night, asking him to help me, to let us move away to a place where no one knew us, where no one knew what had happened. When he didn’t answer my prayers, eventually I stopped clinging to that faith. I didn’t think I would ever be able to get it back. I didn’t even know if I wanted to.

Then, when Lia and I started writing, she talked about God. When I told her what I’d been through, how I believed God had abandoned me, she told me this: What can separate us from the love of God? Nothing. And what can tear us out of his hand? Nothing. Those are promises straight from the Word of God, and he cannot break his promises and still be God. Until you are able to believe those promises one day, I will believe them enough for both of us. And if, after everything I have revealed to her, Lia hasn’t abandoned me, then maybe, maybe I can believe that God hasn’t either.

CC: Sounds like a very wise woman that you shouldn’t let out of your life. I look forward to reading your story and finding out exactly what happens and if you to ever get that face-to-face meeting and what dangers lurk to keep you apart.

About Sara Davison:

Sara Davison has a passion for writing stories that keep readers on the edge of their seats—and maybe swooning a little. A finalist for more than a dozen national writing awards, including the Christy Award, Davison is a Cascade, Word, and two-time Carol Award winner for romantic suspense. She lives in Ontario with her husband, Michael. Like every good Canadian, she loves coffee, hockey, poutine, and apologizing for no particular reason. Get to know Sara better and subscribe to her short, monthly newsletter at www.saradavison.org.

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