by Blake Pierce
t h e p e r f e c t d e c e i t
(a jessie hunt psychological suspense—book 14)
b l a k e p i e r c e
Blake Pierce
Blake Pierce is the USA Today bestselling author of the RILEY PAGE mystery series, which includes seventeen books. Blake Pierce is also the author of the MACKENZIE WHITE mystery series, comprising fourteen books; of the AVERY BLACK mystery series, comprising six books; of the KERI LOCKE mystery series, comprising five books; of the MAKING OF RILEY PAIGE mystery series, comprising six books; of the KATE WISE mystery series, comprising seven books; of the CHLOE FINE psychological suspense mystery, comprising six books; of the JESSE HUNT psychological suspense thriller series, comprising nineteen books; of the AU PAIR psychological suspense thriller series, comprising three books; of the ZOE PRIME mystery series, comprising six books; of the ADELE SHARP mystery series, comprising thirteen books, of the EUROPEAN VOYAGE cozy mystery series, comprising six books (and counting); of the new LAURA FROST FBI suspense thriller, comprising three books (and counting); of the new ELLA DARK FBI suspense thriller, comprising six books (and counting); of the A YEAR IN EUROPE cozy mystery series, comprising nine books, of the AVA GOLD mystery series, comprising three books (and counting); and of the RACHEL GIFT mystery series, comprising three books (and counting).
ONCE GONE (a Riley Paige Mystery--Book #1), BEFORE HE KILLS (A Mackenzie White Mystery—Book 1), CAUSE TO KILL (An Avery Black Mystery—Book 1), A TRACE OF DEATH (A Keri Locke Mystery—Book 1), WATCHING (The Making of Riley Paige—Book 1), NEXT DOOR (A Chloe Fine Psychological Suspense Mystery—Book 1), THE PERFECT WIFE (A Jessie Hunt Psychological Suspense Thriller—Book One), IF SHE KNEW (A Kate Wise Mystery—Book 1), and MURDER (AND BAKLAVA) (A European Voyage Cozy Mystery—Book 1) are each available as a free download on Amazon!
An avid reader and lifelong fan of the mystery and thriller genres, Blake loves to hear from you, so please feel free to visit www.blakepierceauthor.com to learn more and stay in touch.
Copyright © 2021 by Blake Pierce. All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior permission of the author. This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictionally. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Jacket image Copyright L Julia, used under license from Shutterstock.com.
BOOKS BY BLAKE PIERCE
RACHEL GIFT MYSTERY SERIES
HER LAST WISH (Book #1)
HER LAST CHANCE (Book #2)
HER LAST HOPE (Book #3)
AVA GOLD MYSTERY SERIES
CITY OF PREY (Book #1)
CITY OF FEAR (Book #2)
CITY OF BONES (Book #3)
A YEAR IN EUROPE
A MURDER IN PARIS (Book #1)
DEATH IN FLORENCE (Book #2)
VENGEANCE IN VIENNA (Book #3)
A FATALITY IN SPAIN (Book #4)
SCANDAL IN LONDON (Book #5)
AN IMPOSTOR IN DUBLIN (Book #6)
SEDUCTION IN BORDEAUX (Book #7)
JEALOUSY IN SWITZERLAND (Book #8)
A DEBACLE IN PRAGUE (Book #9)
ELLA DARK FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER
GIRL, ALONE (Book #1)
GIRL, TAKEN (Book #2)
GIRL, HUNTED (Book #3)
GIRL, SILENCED (Book #4)
GIRL, VANISHED (Book 5)
GIRL ERASED (Book #6)
LAURA FROST FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER
ALREADY GONE (Book #1)
ALREADY SEEN (Book #2)
ALREADY TRAPPED (Book #3)
EUROPEAN VOYAGE COZY MYSTERY SERIES
MURDER (AND BAKLAVA) (Book #1)
DEATH (AND APPLE STRUDEL) (Book #2)
CRIME (AND LAGER) (Book #3)
MISFORTUNE (AND GOUDA) (Book #4)
CALAMITY (AND A DANISH) (Book #5)
MAYHEM (AND HERRING) (Book #6)
ADELE SHARP MYSTERY SERIES
LEFT TO DIE (Book #1)
LEFT TO RUN (Book #2)
LEFT TO HIDE (Book #3)
LEFT TO KILL (Book #4)
LEFT TO MURDER (Book #5)
LEFT TO ENVY (Book #6)
LEFT TO LAPSE (Book #7)
LEFT TO VANISH (Book #8)
LEFT TO HUNT (Book #9)
LEFT TO FEAR (Book #10)
LEFT TO PREY (Book #11)
LEFT TO LURE (Book #12)
LEFT TO CRAVE (Book #13)
THE AU PAIR SERIES
ALMOST GONE (Book#1)
ALMOST LOST (Book #2)
ALMOST DEAD (Book #3)
ZOE PRIME MYSTERY SERIES
FACE OF DEATH (Book#1)
FACE OF MURDER (Book #2)
FACE OF FEAR (Book #3)
FACE OF MADNESS (Book #4)
FACE OF FURY (Book #5)
FACE OF DARKNESS (Book #6)
A JESSIE HUNT PSYCHOLOGICAL SUSPENSE SERIES
THE PERFECT WIFE (Book #1)
THE PERFECT BLOCK (Book #2)
THE PERFECT HOUSE (Book #3)
THE PERFECT SMILE (Book #4)
THE PERFECT LIE (Book #5)
THE PERFECT LOOK (Book #6)
THE PERFECT AFFAIR (Book #7)
THE PERFECT ALIBI (Book #8)
THE PERFECT NEIGHBOR (Book #9)
THE PERFECT DISGUISE (Book #10)
THE PERFECT SECRET (Book #11)
THE PERFECT FAÇADE (Book #12)
THE PERFECT IMPRESSION (Book #13)
THE PERFECT DECEIT (Book #14)
THE PERFECT MISTRESS (Book #15)
THE PERFECT IMAGE (Book #16)
THE PERFECT VEIL (Book #17)
THE PERFECT INDISCRETION (Book #18)
THE PERFECT RUMOR (Book #19)
CHLOE FINE PSYCHOLOGICAL SUSPENSE SERIES
NEXT DOOR (Book #1)
A NEIGHBOR’S LIE (Book #2)
CUL DE SAC (Book #3)
SILENT NEIGHBOR (Book #4)
HOMECOMING (Book #5)
TINTED WINDOWS (Book #6)
KATE WISE MYSTERY SERIES
IF SHE KNEW (Book #1)
IF SHE SAW (Book #2)
IF SHE RAN (Book #3)
IF SHE HID (Book #4)
IF SHE FLED (Book #5)
IF SHE FEARED (Book #6)
IF SHE HEARD (Book #7)
THE MAKING OF RILEY PAIGE SERIES
WATCHING (Book #1)
WAITING (Book #2)
LURING (Book #3)
TAKING (Book #4)
STALKING (Book #5)
KILLING (Book #6)
RILEY PAIGE MYSTERY SERIES
ONCE GONE (Book #1)
ONCE TAKEN (Book #2)
ONCE CRAVED (Book #3)
ONCE LURED (Book #4)
ONCE HUNTED (Book #5)
ONCE PINED (Book #6)
ONCE FORSAKEN (Book #7)
ONCE COLD (Book #8)
ONCE STALKED (Book #9)
ONCE LOST (Book #10
)
ONCE BURIED (Book #11)
ONCE BOUND (Book #12)
ONCE TRAPPED (Book #13)
ONCE DORMANT (Book #14)
ONCE SHUNNED (Book #15)
ONCE MISSED (Book #16)
ONCE CHOSEN (Book #17)
MACKENZIE WHITE MYSTERY SERIES
BEFORE HE KILLS (Book #1)
BEFORE HE SEES (Book #2)
BEFORE HE COVETS (Book #3)
BEFORE HE TAKES (Book #4)
BEFORE HE NEEDS (Book #5)
BEFORE HE FEELS (Book #6)
BEFORE HE SINS (Book #7)
BEFORE HE HUNTS (Book #8)
BEFORE HE PREYS (Book #9)
BEFORE HE LONGS (Book #10)
BEFORE HE LAPSES (Book #11)
BEFORE HE ENVIES (Book #12)
BEFORE HE STALKS (Book #13)
BEFORE HE HARMS (Book #14)
AVERY BLACK MYSTERY SERIES
CAUSE TO KILL (Book #1)
CAUSE TO RUN (Book #2)
CAUSE TO HIDE (Book #3)
CAUSE TO FEAR (Book #4)
CAUSE TO SAVE (Book #5)
CAUSE TO DREAD (Book #6)
KERI LOCKE MYSTERY SERIES
A TRACE OF DEATH (Book #1)
A TRACE OF MUDER (Book #2)
A TRACE OF VICE (Book #3)
A TRACE OF CRIME (Book #4)
A TRACE OF HOPE (Book #5)
CONTENTS
PROLOGUE
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY THREE
CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR
CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE
CHAPTER TWENTY SIX
CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN
CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT
CHAPTER TWENTY NINE
CHAPTER THIRTY
CHAPTER THIRTY ONE
CHAPTER THIRTY TWO
CHAPTER THIRTY THREE
CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR
CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE
CHAPTER THIRTY SIX
EPILOGUE
PROLOGUE
Jax tried to act jaded but it was hard.
This was the culmination of her professional career so far and she was having real trouble pretending it was just another night out on the town. This had been her dream ever since she’d left tiny Vinton, Louisiana, seven years ago with little more than a bus ticket, a duffel bag filled with Goodwill clothes, her cell phone, and the $600 she’d saved working as a waitress at a bar where bare midriffs were required attire.
Now she was living in Los Angeles, engaged to a super-hot film production executive, wealthy beyond her wildest dreams, and more famous than most movie stars. And tonight, she was at the famed Pacific Design Center, basking in the glow of being named among the top fashion influencers of the year.
She had walked the red carpet, posed for the paparazzi, and done the interviews. She had been invited onstage to collect a trophy and sat in on a panel with people she’d only imagined meeting a few years prior. Maintaining the bored, “earn my interest” expression that was so much a part of her appeal was especially challenging when surrounded by so much glitz and glamour.
Hell, the queen bee of social media fashion influencers, Monay Money, who had over 20 million followers, had even given her a kiss on the cheek. Jax had smiled warmly as she returned it. But inside, despite all the giddiness, she was thinking something else.
I have one tenth of your following today but give me another year and I’ll be nipping at your heels.
As she swigged her last bit of champagne, Jax stepped outside and looked for her limo. Suddenly, despite all the other people milling about waiting for their rides, she felt very alone. The solitude hit her unexpectedly, as did the painful recollection that her close friend, Claire, had died around this time just last night. She pushed the thought out of her head as quickly as it had entered.
If only she had someone to distract her. Titus, her fiancé, had joined her for the red-carpet portion of the evening. But he had to leave the event early to help wrap up negotiations with a director that the studio was hoping would take over the next installment in their biggest money-making action franchise. Talks were at a delicate point and his absence would be noted. Jax was bummed but understood. She’d had to miss some of his events too. Their lives were a Jenga tower of scheduling.
Her car pulled up and she hopped in. The champagne bottle from the drive that brought her here earlier that night was still resting on ice, but she had no desire for any more. After the long evening, she was ready for some sleep.
After all, it was a Sunday night and she had to be back at it tomorrow. This was no time to rest on her laurels. She’d be turning 26 next month, which meant she’d be in the back half of her twenties, just a stone’s throw from thirty. With a few exceptions like Monay Money, the big 3-0 was the kiss of death in this industry, so there was no time to waste.
With thoughts of kicking Monay off her pedestal and stepping into her place, Jax drifted off.
*
“Ms. Coopersmith, we’re here,” Paul, the chauffeur, said gently after opening the door and finding her slumped over to the side.
She didn’t respond. He debated how to proceed and finally decided a gentle nudge on the shoulder wasn’t out of line.
“Ms. Coopersmith, we’ve arrived at your house,” he said a little louder, leaning into the vehicle and tapping her delicately with his forefinger.
She immediately popped up and he had to dart back so their heads wouldn’t collide.
“We’re here?” she asked, slurring her words a bit. “It feels like we just left a few seconds ago.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said noncommittally, apparently not wanting to alienate or embarrass his client in his last moments with her.
“Thanks a lot,” she said, grabbing her shoes, plaque, and handbag and pulling out two one-hundred-dollar bills, which she pressed clumsily into his hand.
“Thank you very much, Ms. Coopersmith,” he said, taking her hand and helping her out of the limo. “Do you need an escort to the door?”
“No, I’m good,” she assured him. “You have a nice night.”
Paul nodded, got in the vehicle, and pulled out of the large circular driveway as Jax walked up the long path that led to the Los Feliz neighborhood home she shared with Titus. They were renting for now, until after the wedding when they planned to move slightly up the hill. They wanted a more modern house with an enclosed gate and had their eyes on a few places they heard might go on the market soon.
But for now, this would do. With its plantation-style architecture, it appealed to a yearning from her youth, when she and her single mother would drive by Lake Charles area homes like this, knowing they could never enter one unless wearing some kind of apron. Titus, for reasons he’d made clear on more than one occasion, felt deeply uncomfortable living in a home that seemed to enshrine the old South, and was ready to move the second they locked in a new place.
Jax opened the door and picked up the mail that had been dropped through the slot. Much of it was for Jacqueline Cooper, Jax’s name from a lifetime ago, and the one she still used for correspondence and legal documents. She dropped it on the foyer table, tossed her high heels in a corner and made her way to the kitchen.
She opened the fridge, looking for a light snack. She’d barely had anything at the gala and her stomach was growling fiercely. But with a photo shoot tomorrow for a new
line of bikinis, she couldn’t afford any unwanted bumps. So she sliced six thin discs of banana, put them on a cinnamon rice cake, and noshed on it as she made her way up the winding staircase to the bedroom.
She undressed as she passed through on the way to the bathroom, tossing the plaque, her purse, and her slinky gown on the bed for now. As she stared at herself in the bathroom mirror, looking back into the deep blue eyes that so many followers loved to praise, part of her wanted to just flop down next to the dress and be done with the day.
But she still had a whole regimen to go through if she wanted to look good for tomorrow. Her long black hair looked tired and stringy and her tanned, toned body appeared borderline gaunt under the bright bathroom lights. She couldn’t deal with all of that now, but she could get a head start.
Sighing, she went back out to the bedroom to grab the dress and hang it up in her closet. Again, her thoughts went to Claire, and again, she forced them down, despite the guilt at blocking her dead friend out of her mind. If she allowed herself to think about Claire, she knew she’d never fall asleep. There would be time to mourn properly tomorrow, after the shoot was over.
She smoothed the dress out and hung it next to the other outfits in the eveningwear section of the massive walk-in closet. Even bone-tired, she took a moment to appreciate that it wasn’t that long ago that “eveningwear” meant a sweatshirt and pajama pants. Now it meant a wall of sparkly, clingy outfits, not a single one of which she’d paid for. She smiled to herself.
You’ve come a long way, baby.
Jax flicked off the light and turned back toward the bedroom to finish the work of the evening. A sudden spray of liquid splashed her face,, and she was consumed by pain. Adrenaline shot through her body.
She knew her eyes were open but she couldn’t see. It felt like the skin on her face was melting and she thought she could hear it sizzle. She opened her mouth to scream but her lips were slick and loose.
Her heart thumped nearly out of her chest. Panic rose in her throat but only a moan came out as she dropped to her knees and reached her hands to her face. As she did, she felt a sharp cold prick in the side of her neck, followed by an unrelenting, burning sensation, as if she was being consumed from the inside out.
