Love Vs. Illusion
Page 1
Table of Contents
Cover Page
Praise
Dear Reader
Title Page
Dedication
Cast of Characters
About the Author
Books by MJ. Rodgers
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
Epilogue
Copyright
Praise for previous Justice Inc. books
Heart Vs. Humbug
Leave it to M.J. Rodgers to give readers the gift of incomparable storytelling, and add sparkling, witty dialogue to the mix.”
—Debbie Richardson
Romantic Times
Baby Vs. the Bar
“The talented M.J. Rodgers sparkles once again with a wonderful array of characters and thoroughly innovative storytelling.”
—Debbie Richardson
Romantic Times
Beauty Vs. the Beast
“One of romantic intrigue’s best, M.J. Rodgers pens another keeper.”
—Debbie Richardson
Romantic Times
Praise for other MJ. Rodgers books
Who Is Jane Williams?
“This absorbing romantic mystery will challenge readers who enjoy sorting red herrings from the bait and catch.”
—Sue Wright
Gothic Journal
On the Scent
“Ms. Rodgers’ imaginative trip through the provocative world of fragrance is spellbinding.”
—Barbara Kelly
Affaire de Coeur
Dear Reader,
Open the gilded doors and step into the world of M.J. Rodgers’s JUSTICE INC. A world where principle courts passion. In this Seattle law firm, legal eagles battle headline-stealing cases…and find heart-stealing romance in the bargain.
M.J. Rodgers has become synonymous with the best in romantic mystery. Having written her very first book for Intrigue seven years ago, she has gone on to become one of the bestselling and most popular Intrigue authors. Her books are perennial Reviewer’s Choice Award winners, and last year she received the Career Achievement Award for Romantic Mystery from Romantic Times.
So turn the page and enter the world of JUSTICE INC.
Regards,
Debra Matteucci
Senior Editor and Editorial Coordinator
Harlequin Books
300 East 42nd Street
New York, New York 10017
Love vs. Illusion
M.J. Rodgers
DEDICATION
For Doris, Annie, Irma and Irene and all our angels
SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGMENT
I wish to thank Randy Graue, M.S., Behavior Management
Associates, Joplin, Missouri, for recognizing the reality and
finding the love in the midst of all the illusion.
CAST OF CHARACTERS
A.J. (Ariana Justice)—To find the truth, she’ll have to live out another woman’s fantasies.
Zane Coltrane—He’s also on the case…and on A.J.’s list of unexpected challenges.
Lex Linbow—He’s the president of Fabulous Fantasies, a virtual reality theme park.
Dr. Clarise Ingram—She’s the “program customizer” at the virtual reality park.
Bruce Harper and Raymond Temark—They claim Linbow’s fantasy programs turned their wives against them.
Patsy Harper and Fran Temark—These two wives are very quiet about what went on during their Fabulous Fantasies stay.
Deann Wells—She’s a frequent attendee at the park, and she’s made it clear that she’d like nothing better than to include Zane in a few of her fantasies.
Ken Beyette—He followed Deann to the theme park. At least that’s what he says.
Emma and Ralph—They’re just a nice older couple at the park. Aren’t they?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Love vs. Illusion is the fourth book in the JUSTICE INC. courtroom series by bestselling author MJ. Rodgers. She will continue to bring you the stories of these dedicated attorneys, known as Seattle’s legal sleuths, with Adam Justice’s story, To Have vs. To Hold, an October Intrigue release.
M.J. is the winner of The Romantic Times Career Achievement Award for Romantic Mystery, twice winner of their Best Intrigue award, and is also winner of B. Dalton Bookseller’s top-selling Intrigue award. She lives with her family in Seabeck, Washington.
Books by M.J. Rodgers
HARLEQUIN INTRIGUE
102—FOR LOVE OR MONEY
128—A TASTE OF DEATH
140—BLOODSTONE
157—DEAD RINGER
176-BONES OF CONTENTION
185-RISKY BUSINESS
202—ALL THE EVIDENCE
214—TO DIE FOR
254—SANTA CLAUS IS COMING
271-ON THE SCENT
290—WHO IS JANE WILLIAMS?
335-BEAUTY VS. THE BEAST
342—BABY VS THE BAR*
350-HEART VS. HUMBUG*
HARLEQUIN
AMERICAN ROMANCE
492—FIRE MAGIC
520—THE ADVENTURESS
563—THE GIFT-WRAPPED GROOM
*Justice Inc.
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Chapter One
A.J. ran fast and hard, ducking around the thick branches, fighting the forest floor debris that dragged at her leg muscles as she lunged up the steady grade of the ravine. The cold winter moon yawned into a sliver against the black night sky, its narrow beam barely seeping through the tall trees to light the way.
A.J. tripped on a rotting stump, fell face first into the brush, the breath beat out of her.
She hugged the ground, sucking night mist into her wheezing lungs. Her sore and spent muscles raged with the need for relief. Her clothes stuck like gooey paste to her damp skin. She desperately wanted, needed to rest.
But she couldn’t rest. He was just ahead. And she hadn’t chased him for the last two miles at breakneck speed through this damn forest to let him get away now and vanish beyond retribution.
He could, too. Even she would be hard-pressed to give a clear description of him, despite the fact that less than thirty minutes before she had personally witnessed his killing a man.
And had failed to prevent it.
That tormenting reminder ate like acid through the lining of A.J.’s stomach. She scrambled to her feet, despite her protesting lungs, despite the blood beating against her ears, despite her leaden limbs, despite the stinging cuts on every inch of her exposed flesh. She forged up the forested ravine, picking up speed with every step.
Her final lunge took her to the top. Just as her head shot over the rim, the bullet winged past her ear, its high-pitched whine screaming like a wounded bird.
A.J.’s eyes caught the edge of the flash. She took aim, returned fire, then dropped to the ground, cradling her gun to her body as she rolled onto her belly behind the two-foot trunk of a lichen-laden Douglas fir.
Her ears rang with the reverberations of her recent firing. Her nostrils burned with the scent of spent gunpowder. Her eyes stung from the hot perspiration pouring into them.
But in a second she was on her feet, the grip on her forty-five cool, firm a
nd tight as she darted around the cover of the massive fir tree to try to catch a glimpse of rustling branches, a sure giveaway of what direction her quarry had taken in his headlong dash to escape.
But her quarry was no longer running.
Before she heard the retorts of the gun, before she had time to even blink, the first bullet tore into her side, the second through her gun arm, spinning her backward.
She fell hard against the ungiving ground, the blow knocking out what little breath remained in her lungs. She lay flat on her back, her body desperately sucking in air as an isolated part of her mind quietly disengaged itself and calmly contemplated the woman gasping and bleeding on the forest floor as though she was someone separate from herself.
Then the pain hit and that fleeting out-of-body impression ended as A.J. was once again fused with her body.
Her arm and side erupted simultaneously in a raging fire. The flames seared through her torso, down her limbs. She gasped anew for breath. With every ensuing second she fought against the waves of light-headedness, promising oblivion from the pain. She desperately wanted to end the agony and surrender to unconsciousness.
She did not surrender. She held on to the pain, despite the fact that every nerve ending she possessed shrieked for relief.
He was out there. He must know his last bullets connected. She was the only one who had caught even a glimpse of him. He would be coming to finish her off. She must not pass out. She must be ready.
She forced herself to an upright position, grabbed the gun out of her now useless right hand and grasped it firmly with her left. The agony of even those simple movements passed like blood before her eyes.
She closed her eyes just for a second, she told herself. Yet she knew the more she battled unconsciousness, the closer the cloying, dark cloak of it covered her thoughts, promising relief, promising release.
Dead leaves crackled like dry bones beneath his heavy boots. Her eyes flew open. It was too late. He stood over her—an enormous dark silhouette wavering against the tall trees.
The last thing she saw was the sliver of silver light bouncing off the large automatic in his hand. The last thing she heard was the thunderous roar of the gun. But had he fired? Or had she?
ADAM JUSTICE burst through the doors of the emergency waiting room, bumping into and nearly knocking down Piper Lane, his sister’s chief investigator. He grabbed Piper’s shoulders to steady them both and instantly noticed her face was chalk, her eyes filmy with fear.
Adam forced himself to ask. “Will A.J. pull through?”
Piper’s normally strong voice was barely audible. “The doctor said it doesn’t look good.”
Adam grasped Piper’s shoulders more tightly as the words clutched like icy fingers around his heart. No. Not his sister. Not after all she’d faced and survived!
“Adam, I’m…sorry.”
Adam realized Piper was shaking. He gently led her to a couple of nearby chairs. He eased her down on one of them and sat beside her.
He was glad Piper needed calming. Helping to calm her would help to keep him in control. And at this moment he needed that help. Badly. He fought to maintain an even, reasonable tone.
“All the hospital would say when they called was that she’d been shot and she was in serious condition. What happened?”
Piper responded to the forced composure in his face and voice. She took several deep breaths, obviously attempting to steady herself and reassert her own control.
“She took two bullets,” Piper said, her voice increasing in volume. “One to the side and one through the arm. She was in shock when they found her. She’s lost an enormous amount of blood.”
Piper’s voice faded once more on that last statement. Adam understood. They were both people in professions that demanded decisions and then action. They accepted their roles and were comfortable with them. But they were not comfortable when other minds made the decisions and other hands went into action while they were forced to sit on the sidelines and wait for the outcome. Like now.
Adam knew he had to divert their attention. That was the only way either of them would survive this waiting.
“How did this happen, Piper? Start from the beginning.”
“The beginning,” Piper repeated, exhaling a very deep breath. “The beginning is when he came to the office last Friday.”
“Who?” Adam asked.
“Mitchell Klamm.”
“And he is?”
“A local, well-to-do financial adviser. He said that over the previous few days he had received anonymous telephone calls from someone who threatened to kill him. He was unwilling to have the police put a trap on his line and record his calls.”
“Why was he unwilling to try the police trap?”
“As he explained it to A.J. and me, he received many confidential business calls on important deals, and he didn’t want anyone else listening. Not even the police.”
“So what did the police do?”
“They told Klamm they couldn’t do anything.”
“Did that strike you as reasonable? If the man’s life was threatened—”
“Actually, considering the circumstances, it did make sense. Since Klamm didn’t have a clue as to who was calling him, and since he refused to cooperate with the trap on his line, there wasn’t much the police could do. Anyway, Klamm said he had come to the decision that a twenty-four-hour bodyguard was his only option. He wanted us to fulfill that role.”
“And to find out who was after him.”
“He didn’t seem all that interested in who was after him. When A.J. asked him why, he shrugged his shoulders and said that men in certain positions of financial power just acquired enemies and that he was such a man. He said all he wanted was for us to ensure his safety against the ‘maniac who resented his success.’”
Adam removed his hands from Piper’s shoulders. She was calmer now. “Did that explanation satisfy you?”
“I thought it plausible. Powerful men do make enemies. But I could see something was making A.J. uneasy about this short, grim guy who kept looking at his Rolex and squirming in his three-thousand-dollar suit.”
“What did she say?”
“Nothing, but I know her expressions, and the one she was wearing last Friday as she sat in front of Klamm told me she was about to show the guy to the door. That’s why I intervened.”
“Why would you intervene?”
“Our caseload was light. Before Klamm walked in, I was faced with this huge stack of back-case paper records that needed to be entered into the computer. I hate paperwork. I wanted back in the field. So I knocked the stapler off the edge of her desk. It was our signal that I thought we should take the job.”
“How did A.J. respond?”
“She motioned me aside and said she wanted to check out his story first, which, of course, is standard procedure. But I pointed out that it was late Friday and most of our sources had gone. The guy had a threat against his life. He needed someone right then.”
“So she took him on as a client.”
Piper leaned back in her chair and exhaled with a heavy sigh. “She told Klamm that we would act as his bodyguards over the weekend. She also advised him that come Monday, if for some reason we were unable to continue in that role, she would find him another reputable firm of private investigators who would act as his bodyguards, if that was his wish.”
“How did he respond?”
“He actually smiled as he wrote out his check and handed it to A.J. When I glanced over her shoulder and saw that he had entered an amount that was triple the fee A.J. had quoted him, I was sure we’d made the right decision.”
“And then?”
“I signaled Eloy, he’s one of our investigators, to accompany me. Eloy and I followed Klamm right out of the office and stuck to him for the next twenty-four hours. Eloy rode shotgun in Klamm’s Mercedes while I followed in my Ford, keeping an eye out for trouble.”
“Was there any?”
“Not right aw
ay. We went to his home first, a nice place, nothing too showy, equipped with the latest security system. As soon as I saw it, I thought that we were going to have an easy time. But Klamm didn’t stay there long. The guy’s schedule was unbelievable. Every three to four hours we were accompanying him to another business meeting. When he finally got home after one in the morning, he was on the phone to the Orient. I don’t know where he got the energy. Klamm barely slept three hours that night. Eloy took that three with him. I didn’t sleep at all.”
“With a threat out on his life, why didn’t you talk the guy into curbing some of his activities?”
“Believe me, we tried. But he wouldn’t hear of it. Kept telling us we were there to keep him safe so he could get on with his business. When the next team came in to relieve us late Saturday, Eloy and I were beat.”
“What about tonight?”
“A.J. had to take over tonight’s shift by herself, because I got stuck in traffic. Klamm refused to stay still until I arrived, no matter how much A.J. tried to reason with him. He kept insisting he had arranged a meeting with a client for dinner and that he was not going to be late. A.J. relayed his decision, their destination and ETA to me by car phone. She followed Klamm’s Mercedes to the restaurant. I drove up just as Klamm’s car circled into the driveway and the killer opened fire. Two shots, rapid succession.”
“A.J.?” Adam asked, trying to keep the scene from taking too clear a shape in his mind.
“No, Klamm. Two in the head. Very professional. Highpowered rifle. A.J. must have seen the shooter. I only heard the shots. An old truck at the back of the lot burned rubber as it took off. A.J. sped off after it, yelling out the window for me to see to Klamm. I ran over to his car. He was dead.”