The hostage, though frazzled and rough around the edges, was alive. That was all that mattered at the moment.
Once Vail knocked aside Alvin’s weapon, she took a moment to get a closer look at his face. At this angle he didn’t look so much like Alvin. Could’ve been because he had the blank deer-in-headlights death mask on, or because of the oozing bullet hole on the side of his head. Hard to say.
Vail suddenly became aware of the commotion amongst the tellers and security guards, who had emerged from their hiding places. The hostage was now shrieking and blabbering something unintelligible. A man in a gray suit was by her side, attempting to console her.
“Don’t just stand there,” Vail yelled to the closest guard. “Call 911 and tell them an officer needs assistance.”
It wasn’t entirely true, but it wasn’t exactly a lie, either. Still, she thought the cops would come faster if they thought it was one of their own who needed help instead of an FBI agent. Sometimes they don’t like fibbies much, the locals. But with banks, the police had to share jurisdiction with the Bureau, so she didn’t anticipate much of a tiff over it.
As she stepped away from Alvin’s body, her BlackBerry’s vibrating jolt made her jump. She yanked it from her belt and glanced at the display. Her intestines tightened. Her heart, still racing from adrenaline, precipitously slowed. The brief text message sucked the air from her breath.
She had hoped she’d never see another day like this. She had hoped it was over.
But the Dead Eyes killer had claimed another victim.
...three
In six years as an FBI profiler, Karen Vail had not experienced anything quite like this. She had seen photos of decomposed corpses, eviscerated bodies, bodies without heads or limbs. Seven years as a cop and homicide detective in New York City had shown her the savages of gang killings and drive-by shootings, children left parentless, and a system that often seemed more interested in politics than in the welfare of its people.
But the brutal details of this crime scene were telling. A thirty year-old woman lost her life in this bedroom, a woman who seemed to be on the verge of a promising career as an accountant. A box of new business cards from the firm of McGinty & Pollock was sitting on her kitchen counter, the toxic odor of printing press ink burning Vail’s nose.
She curled a wisp of red hair behind her right ear and knelt down to examine a bloody smear outside the bedroom doorway. “Whoever did this is one sick fuck.” Vail said it under her breath, but Fairfax County homicide detective Paul Bledsoe, who had suddenly materialized at her side, grunted. The baritone of his voice nearly startled her. Nearly startled her, because there weren’t many things that did surprise her these days.
“Aren’t they all,” Bledsoe said. He was a stocky man, only about five-eight, but plenty wide in the shoulders to make anyone think twice about screwing with him. Deep-set dark eyes and short, side parted black hair over an olive complexion gave him the look of Italian stock. But he was a mutt, some Greek and some Spanish, a distant Irish relative thrown in for good luck.
• • •
Read the rest of The 7th Victim...available wherever eBooks are sold. For more information on Alan Jacobson’s Karen Vail series, visit KarenVail.com.
AUTHOR’S NOTE
The Hunted debuted in hardcover in 2001. In the intervening years, many things have changed, from technology to statistics that—at the time of initial publication—were accurate. I chose to leave most everything intact, opting instead to do only a very light edit to remove obvious anachronisms. In the process, I realized that I still love this novel. And it gave birth to some memorable characters—Hector DeSantos and Douglas Knox, in particular, who have since appeared in my newer books. I hope you enjoyed reading The Hunted as much as I enjoyed writing it.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS for The Hunted
It’s important for me to recognize those people who help me tell my stories. I would like to thank:
Supervisory Special Agent Mark Safarik, profiler at the FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit, who assisted me with FBI policy and procedures, threat analysis and forensics, and who took me behind the scenes at the Academy. Every writer needs good contacts to make sure his information is technically accurate. Years ago, Mark started out as a good contact—and became a good friend. I thank him for the many hours upon hours of time he’s given me over the years. I could not have written The Hunted with the accuracy and richness regarding the FBI without Mark’s assistance.
Special Agent Jeff Mullin of the FBI Academy’s Firearms Training Unit, for his assistance and personal instruction at the Academy’s indoor shooting range. Nester Michnyak, at the FBI’s headquarters in Washington, and Special Agent Laura Bosley, at the Los Angeles Field Office, for their extensive time and effort on my behalf.
Jeannine Willie at the California Department of Justice Unidentified/Missing Persons Unit, for her candor and time in educating me about the state’s missing persons program. I hope that I have accurately conveyed the difficulties and issues that this courageous group of people face daily.
The scenes contained anthe Hunted involving the El Dorado Sheriff’s Department were, of course, fictional and were intended to provide drama, character development, and conflict. They were not intended to reflect on the fine people of the real sheriff’s department. At the real Sheriff’s Department, I would like to thank Shannon Murphy, community service officer, provided valuable information on the department’s rules and procedures for handling missing persons. Jim Applegate, community service officer, who spent a great deal of time with me discussing the department and its history, and who took me through the paces a person filing a missing persons report experiences. These are very accommodating people who handle the interviews of bereaved people with much greater care and compassion than the characters depicted in the book.
Fred Ilfeld, Jr., M.D., psychiatrist, and David Seminer, M.D., neurologist, for their information and thoughtful discussions on the effects of head trauma and posttraumatic amnesia. Dr. Ilfeld also provided important information on agoraphobia and MPD.
A. David Lerner, M.D., who took me on a private tour of our local hospital, including... the morgue. David and I are best kept apart, as we have a propensity for getting into trouble when we’re together...
Paul Seave, the U.S. Attorney of the Eastern District of California, for his assistance on matters pertaining to federal law involving the character Anthony Scarponi’s release from federal prison. Professor Joseph Taylor on the legal mechanics of prosecutorial options should additional evidence come to light years after a conviction.
My brother, attorney Jeffrey Jacobson, and my good friend, attorney Perry Ginsberg, for their feedback and comments on the manuscript, and assistance with all other things “legal” in this novel.
Sid Dunn, executive vice president of AEPi, for his background information on fraternity record-keeping methods. Paramedics Monique Becker and Doran McDaniel and trainer Jeff Rheault. Steven Schneiderman of Schneiderman & Associates LLC (schneiderman.net) for his knowledge base and net savvy.
Richard Herman, fine writer and good friend, thanks for all things air force, covert, and military. “Check six,” buddy.
Paul Ortega, IBM, for assistance with computer worms, hacking, cracking, and all that techno-fun stuff.
Gerry Gaumer, National Park Service’s Washington Monument site manager, and Park Ranger Peter Prentner. Debbie Meier, registered veterinary technician, for her assistance with rat and mouse behavior. If you read The Hunted, you’ll understand why. Stephanie Bersee, Warrenton-Fauquier Visitor Center, for being “my eyes” on the ground.
Kip Hakala, assistant editor at Pocket, for his insightful comments and for helping me get everything accomplished on time. Emily Bestler, Pocket vice president and editorial director, for opening the can of worms and forcing me to do something I didn’t initially think was necessary. It was, and it ended up making the manuscript a better read.
My wife, Jill, to whom this novel is dedicate
d, gets the ultimate thanks. She sees things I don’t see and edits my material with an entirely different sensibility.
Though I have attempted to be accurate wherever possible, errors of fact, unintentional or intentional, should not reflect on the professionals noted above.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Alan Jacobson is the national bestselling author of several novels, including Velocity, Crush, The 7th Victim, The Hunted, and False Accusations. His novels have been translated internationally and two are in development as major motion pictures.
Alan’s tireless research enables him to bring realism to both character and story. His seven years of work with the FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit gave him the creds to create and write his character of FBI profiler Karen Vail, the series protagonist of his most recent novels.
For video interviews and a free personal safety booklet co-written by Alan and FBI Profiler Mark Safarik, please visit Alan at AlanJacobson.com.
NOVELS BY ALAN JACOBSON
Alan Jacobson is the national bestselling author of several novels, including Velocity, Crush, The 7th Victim, The Hunted, and False Accusations. His novels have been translated internationally and two are in development as major motion pictures.
Alan’s tireless research enables him to bring realism to both character and story. His seven years of work with the FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit gave him the creds to create and write his character of FBI profiler Karen Vail, the series protagonist of his most recent novels.
For video interviews and a free personal safety booklet co-written by Alan and FBI Profiler Mark Safarik, please visit Alan at AlanJacobson.com.
NOVELS BY ALAN JACOBSON
Alan Jacobson has established a reputation as one of the most insightful suspense and thriller writers of our time. His exhaustive research, coupled with years of unprecedented access to law enforcement agencies, including the FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit, bring realism and unique characters to his pages. Following are his current, and coming, releases. (Release dates are subject to change.)
False Accusations
(eBook release coming Spring/Summer 2011)
Dr. Phillip Madison has everything: wealth, power, and an impeccable reputation. But in the pre-dawn hours of a quiet California suburb, the revered orthopedic surgeon is charged with double homicide—a cold blooded hit-and-run that has left an innocent young couple dead. Blood evidence has brought the police to his door. An eyewitness has placed him at the crime scene...and Madison has no alibi. With his family torn apart, his career forever damaged, no way to prove his innocence and facing life in prison, Madison hires an investigator to find the person who has engineered the case against him. False Accusations is a psychological thriller that instantly became a National Bestseller and launched Alan Jacobson’s career, a novel that spurred CNN to call him, “One of the brightest stars in the publishing industry.”
The Hunted
How well do you know the one you love? Lauren Chambers’ husband Michael disappears while on a ski trip—but as she searches for him, she discovers Michael’s hidden past involving the FBI, international assassins—and government secrets that some will go to great lengths to keep hidden. As The Hunted hurtles toward a conclusion mined with turn-on-a-dime twists, no one is who he appears to be and nothing is as it seems. The Hunted introduces the dynamic Department of Defense covert operative Hector DeSantos and FBI Director Douglas Knox, characters who return in Velocity, Hard Target, and future Alan Jacobson novels.
The 7th Victim
What reader wouldn’t like a character who is tough, smart, funny, very believable, and compelling? That’s how literary giants Nelson DeMille and James Patterson describe Karen Vail, the first female FBI profiler. Vail, with a dry sense of humor and a closet full of skeletons, heads up a task force to find the Dead Eyes Killer, who is murdering young women in the Virginia and Washington, D.C. region: the backyard of the famed FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit. Named one of the Top 5 Best Books of the Year (Library Journal), The 7th Victim is a psychological suspense thriller that packs a powerful ending no reader will see coming.
Crush
FBI Profiler Karen Vail travels to the Napa Valley for a vacation—but the Crush Killer has other plans. Vail and Inspector Roxxann Dixon lead a task force to find the architect of death who leaves his victims in exclusive wine caves and vineyards. Crush is not only a twisting and compelling read, but it brings the wine country to life in a story that Publishers Weekly describes as “addicting” and New York Times bestselling author Steve Martini says is “Crisply written and meticulously researched,” and which “rocks from the opening page to the jarring conclusion.”
Velocity
A missing detective. A bold serial killer. And evidence that makes FBI Profiler Karen Vail question the loyalty of those she has entrusted her life to. Squaring off against foes more dangerous than any she has yet encountered, shocking personal and professional truths emerge—truths that may just be more than Vail can handle. Velocity was named to The Strand magazine’s Top 10 Best Books for 2010, Suspense Magazine’s Top 4 Best Thrillers of 2010, Library Journal’s Top 5 Best Books of the Year, and the Los Angeles Times’ top picks of the year. Michael Connelly said Velocity is “As relentless as a bullet. Karen Vail is my kind of hero and Alan Jacobson is my kind of writer!” Since Crush and Velocity form essentially one large story, it’s advisable to read Crush before reading Velocity
Inmate 1577
(Coming Spring 2011)
When an elderly woman is found raped and brutally murdered, Karen Vail heads west to team up with Inspector Lance Burden and Detective Roxxann Dixon. As they follow the killer’s trail in and around San Francisco, the offender leaves behind clues that ultimately lead them to the most unlikely of places, a mysterious island ripped from city lore whose long-buried, decades-old secrets hold the key to their case: Alcatraz. The Rock. It’s a case that has more twists and turns than the famed Lombard Street. The legendary Clive Cussler called Inmate 1577 “a powerful thriller, brilliantly conceived and written.”
Hard Target
(Coming soon; release date to be announced)
An explosion pulverizes the president-elect's helicopter on Election Night. It soon becomes clear that the group behind the assassination possesses far greater reach than anything the FBI has yet encountered—and a plot so deeply interwoven in the country’s fabric that it threatens to upend America's political system. But as covert operative Hector DeSantos and FBI Agent Dan “Uzi” Uziel sort out who is behind the bombings, Uzi’s personal demons not only jeopardize the investigation but may sit at the heart of a tangle of lies that threaten to trigger an international terrorist attack. Hailed by political thriller master Vince Flynn as “a smart, complex novel that explodes from the page," and by Lee Child as “a great thriller” that’s “fast, hard, and intelligent,” Hard Target is a ticking time bomb that makes you think while keeping you clinging to the edge of your seat.
For a peek at recently released and new, soon-to-be released Alan Jacobson novels, go to alanjacobson.com.
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