I tried to smile but my heart was breaking.
“Dani,” he said, “you aren’t gonna like what I got to tell you. But you got to hear what’s happened.”
“What are you talking about?”
“A whitewash,” he said. “Longhorn’s behind it. He swooped in and took over. The car, the body parts, anything that could show that Agent Coyle was a murderer, it’s gone.”
“But Will was handcuffed to the steering wheel. You can’t ignore that.”
“You can when the explosion did a number on their bodies. I’ll spare you the details. Longhorn’s told everyone that the three of you were out drinking. Says Will was drunk at the wheel.”
“The bureau gets to keep its reputation clean,” I said. “No one will ever know the truth now?”
“Just you and me, girl,” O’Brien said. “Longhorn’s covered all his bases.”
“Then he won.”
“This round,” O’Brien said. “But what’s important is that you kept your resolution. You made sure Isabella Ricci’s killer got what he deserved.”
I knew that was supposed to make me feel better. But it didn’t. “I need you to do me a favor,” I said.
“Just name it.”
“Get word to Longhorn. Somehow. Tell that lying bastard that I’m not done with him. This is not the last time the two of us are going to dance. I promise you that.”
O’Brien gently took my hand. “I’ll do that, Dani. And I’ll tell him something else.”
“What’s that?”
“That Dani Fox always keeps a promise.”
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Books are rarely the result of just one person’s efforts. Such is the case with Clever Fox.
There are many to thank: David Vigliano, who came to me when I was district attorney of Westchester County and suggested I put pen to paper. David, thanks for your persistence.
Pete Earley, my collaborator, who is focused, logical, and organized. His capacity to take real experiences and turn them into page-turners is remarkable.
Ruth Pomerance from Hyperion, who came in just in time as my editor and did a yeoman’s job… both she and Lauren Taylor Shute were always willing to take time to address my editorial questions.
Again, I am so grateful to publisher Ellen Archer and editor in chief Elisabeth Dyssegaard for their support as well as their confidence in the Dani Fox series.
And to all of you who give me the inspiration to write about my experiences—thank you!
About the Author
Jeanine Pirro is a highly respected champion of women’s rights who has received national recognition for her work as a leading advocate for crime victims. As a young prosecutor, she started one of the nation’s first domestic violence units. As a trial prosecutor trying murder, rape, and violent felony cases, she had a 100-percent conviction rate. She was elected Westchester County judge and three times elected Westchester district attorney, the first woman to hold those positions. As district attorney, she continued her crusade for victims by spearheading one of the first Internet pedophile sting operations in the country, again with a 100-percent conviction rate. Pirro received an Emmy Award for her Warner Brothers syndicated show Judge Pirro and is currently the host of Justice with Judge Jeanine. She lives in Westchester, New York, with her two children and two dogs.
Copyright
Copyright © 2013 Judge Jeanine Pirro, Inc.
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 written permission of the publisher. For information address Hyperion, 1500 Broadway, New York, New York 10036.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data for the original print edition of this book has been applied for.
Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-4013-2458-2
eBook Edition ISBN: 978-1-4013-0502-4
Cover design by Laura Drew
Author photograph © Barry Morgenstein Photography
First eBook Edition
Original hardcover edition printed in the United States of America.
www.HyperionBooks.com
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