by Lisa Jackson
And she didn’t ask too many questions, perhaps suspected and didn’t want to know the truth. Besides she was too smart, had lived in New Orleans too long not to have speculated on my true identity.
But she didn’t check; or at least she never told me she did. Maybe my sordid reputation, if she even considered it, only added fuel to her already unquenchable fire, the heat of her sexual needs.
The nunnery was not for Camille.
But I miss her, wretchedly so, and it is all I can do not to scream at this lump of twisted womanhood who so blatantly killed her—using my own technique, no less!
Insidious bitch.
It’s all I can do to hear her confession and to know that after this night, I will have to submerge again, become invisible, tamp down my needs. Though this idiotic copycat has stolen my thunder, I will rise again, but not for a while, not until this night, too, has passed and I have become but a legend.
To everyone but Rick Bentz.
My teeth grit as I think of him, and the pain from his bullet seems to sear my flesh again as the pathetic nun mumbles her confession. Yes, I will become a ghost again, and only reappear when the time is right.
As Devota breathes her last vile words, I bless her, but then, before she looks up to my face again, as her head is bent, I place one hand over her mouth and quickly snap her neck.
I prop her up in the chair, and then, while the cameras are rolling, knowing Rick Bentz will review the footage, I slip out of the prison.
I’m not far away when the sirens begin to screech, but it’s already too late.
I disappear into the thick, welcoming Louisiana night.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS:
When I write a book, there are many people who help me pull it all together, whether it’s in editing or research, moral support, or technical advice. I trust many individuals and professionals who know far more than I about certain subjects, but any mistakes in the book are clearly my own.
I would like to thank those people who have helped me with Devious . There are more behind-the-scenes workers, of course, but the following people come to mind, and I can’t say how much I appreciate their help and support:
Alex Craft, Ken Bush, Nancy Bush, Matthew Crose, Michael Crose, Niki Crose, Wayne Kreitz, Carol Maloy, Arla Melum, Ken Melum, Trevor Melum, Roz Noonan, Robin Rue, John Scognamiglio, Larry Sparks, and Celia Stinson. Thank you, and if I forgot someone, my apologies!
AUTHOR’S NOTE
As ever, I have made some alterations to the facts, bending the rules a bit for the purposes of story.
Also, at the time of the writing of this book, the horrific accident in the Gulf Coast occured. The oil spill was fouling the incredible waters of that part of the world and threatening the wetlands of Louisiana, probably flowing its way to New Orleans. As I write this, the spill (really an explosion like an unending volcano) is still pouring out of the seabed, and I’m sick with worry for not only the Gulf states and countries surrounding the area, but also for the entire world, ecologically, financially, and morally.
New Orleans, and all of Louisiana, is very dear to me. Though I’ve never lived in the South, my characters do, and I’ve spent many happy hours in the beauty and vibrance of that incredible part of the world.
I did not address the oil spill in this book but will in later Bentz/Montoya novels, when I know more about how this whole catastrophe plays out. My heart goes out to the people who reside and work in the area—strong, courageous people who stood on the soil they loved and fought the devastation and disaster of Hurricane Katrina only to face this new, unthinkable calamity, a tragedy for us all. It takes incredible and brave people to fight the battles of nature and man. I applaud you all.
Lisa Jackson
KENSINGTON BOOKS are published by
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Copyright © 2011 by Susan Lisa Jackson
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.
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Library of Congress Card Catalog Number: 2010942790
ISBN: 978-0-7582-6844-0
