EPILOGUE
Brendan stood on the hotel balcony overlooking Grand Cayman Island as the sun came up. Far below, the waves broke the coral reef and slid over the rippled white sands up to the beach.
It was nice to watch the sun spread light over the ocean. It was good to inhale the salty air. But he didn’t care much about the hotel luxury.
His parents, before they split up, had often dragged him into uncomfortable situations as a boy. Parties and functions his father enjoyed, affluence that his mother didn’t like. She relied on the wine to get her through, while Brendan would find places to hide. His father would invariably find him and scoop him up to meet someone. His father, laughing, showing all those teeth, hair swept back, while his mother would sit at the dining table. Brendan had inherited her dark hair. Also the dark introspection, the aversion to crowds, the tendency to chase it all away with alcohol.
He had loved both his parents.
He turned from the sunrise and looked into the room. White linen billowed in the breeze. Cozy furniture sat with bright cushions, a hutch with Aztec molding, a kitchen with blond-oak cabinetry and marble counters. The place smelled of oiled leather and sea air. On the stone table was the black, portable storage drive, caught in the light of the rising sun. Daybreak illuminated the device containing information on more black markets, human trafficking, malfeasance, corruption. There was much more to be done, but that could wait for another time.
He lit up a cigarette.
***
The Westin Grand was ridiculously opulent. She knew Brendan was indulging her for a few days before they left for the Maldives, to simple stilt-houses over turquoise lagoons. That would suit her just fine, too.
Jennifer walked through the door adjoining their suites, made her way through his room, and came up behind him. She handed him a cup of coffee, which he took, wordlessly. The two of them drank and admired the view. She couldn’t believe that less than forty-eight hours ago she had been sitting in her townhouse in Washington. Under constant watch. It worried her — she couldn’t lie; it worried her to disappear the way she had — but she couldn’t deny that it felt good. Free. It didn’t feel like running away, it felt like moving towards something. She just wasn’t quite sure what, exactly.
She stood beside him. He reached over and put a hand on her lower back. Still looking out into the morning, he asked her, “How are you feeling?”
“I’m great. Head is clear.” She watched a boat coming into the small port. “My room-phone rang last night.”
He turned his head slightly, looking at her out of the corner of his eye. “Yeah?”
“Yeah. Someone looking for Hanna Becket? Asking what I wanted for my in-flight meal tomorrow.”
“Huh,” he said. “What did you decide? Chicken or fish?”
She raised her eyebrows at him, trying not to smile. “Hanna?”
Brendan stepped away from the railing and spread his arms. “The names get chosen at random. But, hey – Hanna’s got a ring to it.”
He took a sip of his coffee, watching her over the rim of the mug. Not Brendan, she thought, William Chase. And she was now Hanna Becket. He had set her up with a new identity. Yet, looking into his eyes, she thought that the more things changed, the more they stayed the same. Names didn’t matter. She knew who she was, she knew who he was, too. Or, she was learning.
They’d been here for two days now, and she hadn’t so much as kissed him. She would fix that tonight, she thought.
“Yeah the name’s not bad,” she said.
She glanced into the room at the storage drive on the table. She had a feeling there was more in store for her in the Maldives than volcanic islands and overwater bungalows. She turned back to him, and he winked.
They both moved up against the railing to take in the full view.
He slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her closer.
THE END
TJB
6/23/14 - 6/25/15
Elizabethown, NY
Acknowledgements
This book would not have been possible without the help of some incredible people.
My main man, Geoff Pierce, helped me through the darkest doubts and pointed out the shapes in the inkblots. Jasper Joffe personally edited this entire trilogy with ruthless precision and indefatigable patience. Dava Clement-Brearton listened, allowed, waited, responded, supported, and knew intuitively how to deal with my chaos each step of the way.
Thanks to early readers Bob Sirrine and J.V. Manning. To everyone at Joffe Books, including the other writers who have inspired and cheered me on. And to you, for taking this trip with me.
Thank you.
CHARACTER LIST
Warning: contains some spoilers if you haven’t read HABIT and SURVIVORS (books one and two of the trilogy).
Brendan Healy – trained as a neuroscientist, spent three years as a cop in Hawthorne, NY, and a few months as a detective for the Oneida County Sheriff’s Department where he had one case – the murder of Rebecca Heilshorn. Brendan lost his wife and daughter in a car accident, and is a recovering addict
Olivia Jane – Mental health therapist, works as a grief counselor on the Rebecca Heilshorn case for Rebecca’s brother, Kevin
Rebecca Heilshorn – A young woman from an affluent background who wound up working for a high-end escort service known as XList where she sometimes used the alias “Danice”
Kevin Heilshorn – Rebecca’s brother
Alexander Heilshorn – Rebecca and Kevin’s father, a wealthy obstetrician from New York City and a partner in a global private equity firm
Greta Heilshorn – Alexander Heilshorn’s wife
Leah Heilshorn – Rebecca’s illegitimate child, who lives with Alexander and Greta
Seamus Argon – Brendan Healy’s police partner when working in Hawthorne for the Mount Pleasant Police; Argon has saved Brendan from self-destruction more than once
Lawrence Taber – Sheriff of Oneida County and long-time friend to Seamus Argon
Reginald Forrester – Former college professor of Rebecca’s
Ambrose Delaney – Lead detective on the Rebecca Heilshorn murder
Deputy Mark Bostrom – first on-scene at the site of the RH murder
Russell Gide – a friend of Seamus Argon’s from AA
Santos – another friend of Seamus Argon’s from AA
Officer Leonard Dutko – Argon’s fellow police officer at Mount Pleasant PD
Jennifer Aiken – a lawyer, special prosecutor for the Department of Justice, Jennifer gets involved when her Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit (HTPU) takes an interest in the Rebecca Heilshorn murder
John Rascher – a man Jennifer dated in law school and also a special prosecutor with the DOJ
Sloane Dewan – a young woman Brendan meets at an AA meeting, with a unique past and relationship to Seamus Argon
Jerry Brown – a lowbrow sort who does certain work for Alexander Heilshorn
Gerard Healy – Brendan’s late father, a former thoracic surgeon in NYC who sat on several boards with Alexander Heilshorn, including The Foundation, an advisory committee on medical and technological considerations for the government
Kim Edward Stemp – a lover of Rebecca’s who was also her driver and bodyguard, later becoming a born-again Christian when Rebecca left him
Donald Kettering – another lover of Rebecca’s who owns a hardware store in Boonville, NY
Jeremy Staryles – Former black operative, possible hired gun for Alexander Heilshorn
Philip Largo – A state politician who has been disgraced by a sex scandal
Louis Tremont – Cellmate to Brendan at Rikers Island, former bank robber
Philomena Argon – Seamus Argon’s older sister, a woman with deep secrets
Howard Grimm – Deputy Warden of Rikers Island
Detective Kendall – Lead NYPD detective on the murder of Alexander Heilshorn
Harlan Doherty – FBI Agent, fond of handlebar moustaches
> Tony Laruso – Inmate at Rikers
Didier Lazard – Former head of the IMF, has a brief stay at Rikers
Gentian – A critical member of Nonsystem, a libertarian hacker group
General Wick – Deputy Chief of the NSA and the CSS
Persephone, Hermes, Zeus – Agents
Thank you for reading this book. If you enjoyed it please leave feedback on Amazon, and if there is anything we missed or you have a question about then please get in touch. The author and publishing team appreciate your feedback and time reading this book.
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Other books by T.J. Brearton:
THE TITAN TRILOGY
HABIT a #1 best-selling thriller that you won’t be able to put down, BOOK 1
A young woman, Rebecca Heilshorn, lies stabbed to death in her bed in a remote farmhouse. Rookie detective Brendan Healy is called in to investigate. All hell breaks loose when her brother bursts onto the scene. Rebecca turns out to have many secrets and connections to a sordid network mixing power, wealth, and sex. Detective Brendan Healy, trying to put a tragic past behind him, pursues a dangerous investigation that will risk both his life and his sanity. Habit is a compelling thriller which will appeal to all fans of crime fiction. T.J. Brearton amps up the tension at every step, until the shocking and gripping conclusion.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/HABIT-detective-mysteries-thrillers-BREARTON-ebook/dp/B00HRIJVFS/
http://www.amazon.com/HABIT-detective-mysteries-thrillers-BREARTON-ebook/dp/B00HRIJVFS/
SURVIVORS BOOK 2 of the Titan Trilogy
"T.J. Brearton has created interesting characters, including good villains, a convoluted plot and a thoughtful foundation. This is a fun read ... The conspiracy Brearton has created is reminiscent of some David Baldacci thrillers ... bad people are everywhere and in control, and that only a few - but enough to provide some hope - are fighting to save the little nobility and truth that hasn't been bought yet ... Some of the back story was provided in the first book of the trilogy, but Brearton is adept at bringing the reader up to speed on the connections among the various characters." - Jerry McGovern, The Adirondack Daily Enterprise
http://www.amazon.co.uk/SURVIVORS-crime-thriller-books-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B00LF4U578/
http://www.amazon.com/SURVIVORS-crime-thriller-books-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B00LF4U578/
And follow @BreartonTJ for news of more books, coming 2015
http://www.amazon.co.uk/DARK-WEB-gripping-mystery-thriller-ebook/dp/B00UAVKQZI/r
http://www.amazon.com/DARK-WEB-gripping-mystery-thriller-ebook/dp/B00UAVKQZI/r
A compelling murder mystery which you won’t be able to put down
On a freezing winter night, the body of a teenager is found in the snow.
Mike and Callie Simpkins moved north to restart their lives and get their finances back on track. Their son Braxton immerses himself in an online game-world of crime and gangs. When he decides to meet some of the players in the real world, tragedy strikes.
Detective John Swift must untangle a web of virtual and real crimes in order to solve this complex mystery. And as the family copes with unimaginable grief, even Braxton’s stepfather Mike comes under suspicion.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/HIGHWATER-suspense-thriller-wont-able-ebook/dp/B00O22XA54/
http://www.amazon.com/HIGHWATER-suspense-thriller-wont-able-ebook/dp/B00O22XA54/
A riveting supernatural suspense thriller.
Time is running out to save a little boy and stop the waters rising
Detective Tom Milliner is racing against time to save the life of a unique little boy. He needs a blood transfusion and only one person matches. But first Milliner must solve the mystery at the Kingston house, where Liz Goldfine may have committed a heinous crime, and the dark depths of the lake harbor teenage secrets.
Groups of strange young men are gathering on the roads, the old house holds many mysteries, and the waters are rising fast. What lurks deep in the lake and can anyone stop it?
A selection of our other titles you might enjoy:
PRETTY GIRLS MAKE GRAVES by John Yorvik
http://www.amazon.com/PRETTY-GIRLS-GRAVES-suspense-thriller-ebook/dp/B00H2SK86E/
http://www.amazon.co.uk/PRETTY-GIRLS-GRAVES-suspense-thriller-ebook/dp/B00H2SK86E/
http://www.amazon.co.uk/EYESHOT-suspense-thriller-TAYLOR-ADAMS-ebook/dp/B00MRAZIIA/
http://www.amazon.com/EYESHOT-suspense-thriller-TAYLOR-ADAMS-ebook/dp/B00MRAZIIA/
EYESHOT: A suspenseful thriller that you won’t be able to put down
James and Elle Eversman are a young couple travelling through the Mojave desert on their way to a new life. When their car mysteriously breaks down they are stranded in the middle of nowhere without much water and no cell-phone reception.
A mile away a deadly sniper has them in his cross-hairs. They are pinned down behind their broken-down car, surrounded by open ground in all directions. There’s nowhere to run and no one to help them. How can they possibly survive? And if they do, can they save their marriage too?
THE INFINITY TATTOO
http://www.amazon.co.uk/INFINITY-TATTOO-gripping-suspense-thriller-ebook/dp/B00QHBL3FM/
http://www.amazon.com/INFINITY-TATTOO-gripping-suspense-thriller-ebook/dp/B00QHBL3FM/
THE INFINITY TATTOO: a suspense thriller with romance and mystery
A suspense thriller you won’t want to put down
Meg Goodwin’s best friend Alex disappeared when they were reporting the unrest in Honduras. But Meg thinks her dangerous life as a journalist is behind her when she settles back in Arizona. Then a mysterious bleeding man turns up in her barn, and her life will never be the same again.
In this absorbing thriller, Meg must face not only drug cartels and corrupt politicians, but also an international cover-up. And if she survives, and solves the mystery of her lost friend, can she also find love?
Table of Contents
TITAN TRILOGY: THE STORY SO FAR
PROLOGUE / SIX MONTHS AGO
CHAPTER ONE / TUESDAY, 8:58 AM
CHAPTER TWO / FIVE MONTHS AGO
CHAPTER THREE / WEDNESDAY, 11:12 AM
CHAPTER FOUR / WEDNESDAY 1:03 PM
CHAPTER FIVE / WEDNESDAY, 2:41 PM
CHAPTER SIX / WEDNESDAY, 3:13 PM
CHAPTER SEVEN / WEDNESDAY, 3:21 PM
CHAPTER EIGHT / WEDNESDAY, 3:21 PM
CHAPTER NINE / WEDNESDAY, 3:50 PM
CHAPTER TEN / WEDNESDAY, 4:09 PM
CHAPTER ELEVEN / THURSDAY, 9:41 AM
CHAPTER TWELVE / THURSDAY, 10:23 AM
CHAPTER THIRTEEN / THURSDAY, 11:11 AM
CHAPTER FOURTEEN / THREE MONTHS AGO
CHAPTER FIFTEEN / THREE MONTHS AGO
CHAPTER SIXTEEN / THURSDAY 2:20 PM
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN / THURSDAY 2:48 PM
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN / THURSDAY, 3:07 PM
CHAPTER NINETEEN / THURSDAY, 3:19 PM
CHAPTER TWENTY / THURSDAY, 3:22 PM
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE / THURSDAY, 3:22 PM
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO / THURSDAY, 3:27 PM
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE / THURSDAY 3:27 PM
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR / THURSDAY, 3:48 PM
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE / THURSDAY, 6:07 PM
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX / THURSDAY, 4:12 PM
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN / THURSDAY, 6:09 PM
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT / THURSDAY, 6:31 PM
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE / THURSDAY, 8:14 PM
CHAPTER THIRTY / THURSDAY 8:14 PM
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE / THURSDAY, 11:49 PM
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO / THURSDAY, 10:33 PM
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE / FRIDAY 4:13 AM
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR / FRIDAY 1:13 AM
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE / FRIDAY 4:29 AM
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX / FRIDAY, 7:34 AM
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN / FRIDAY, 7:44 AM
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT / FRIDAY, 7:52 AM
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE / FRIDAY, 8:40 AM
CHAPTER FORTY / FRIDAY, 8:40 AM
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE / FRIDAY, 9:17 AM
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO / FRIDAY, 9:21 AM
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE / FRIDAY, 9:19 AM
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR / FRIDAY, 11:54 PM
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE / FRIDAY, 11:55 AM
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX / FRIDAY, 4:14 PM
CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN / SATURDAY 7:28 PM
CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT / SATURDAY 6:08 AM
CHAPTER FORTY-NINE / SATURDAY, 6:13 AM
CHAPTER FIFTY / SATURDAY, 6:25 AM
CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE / SATURDAY, 6:27 AM
CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO/ SATURDAY, 6:33 AM
CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE / SATURDAY, 6:38 AM
CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR / SATURDAY, 7:14 AM
CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE / SATURDAY, 7:14 AM
CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX / SATURDAY, 7:33 AM
CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN / SUNDAY, 10:42 AM
CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT / MONDAY, 9:12 AM
CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE / MONDAY, 5:22 PM
DAYBREAK: a gripping thriller full of suspense (Titan Trilogy Book 3) Page 31
