THE PERFECT IMAGE

by Blake Pierce

  “I’d read you your rights,” he said, panting heavily, “but we’ve already been through all that. Besides, you’ve already confessed.”

  Sumner could only grunt in response. Jessie got to her feet, stumbled over to Ryan, and helped him up. He was clearly winded. But for a guy who’d been unable to walk seven months ago and had just made an open field tackle, he looked pretty good.

  “You have no idea how pissed I am at you right now,” he told her.

  “You have no idea how hot you are right now,” she replied.

  CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN

  “I just want to make sure that he’s being kept on at least a twenty-four hour hold.”

  Ryan pulled into the driveway at home close to ten, just as Jessie finished up her conversation with the police psychiatrist evaluating Dr. Roland Gahan. He had been formally cleared of the murders, but considering that he had a gun in his mouth earlier this afternoon, it didn’t seem advisable to just release him back into the world.

  Ryan turned off the engine and waited while Jessie got her assurance that the surgeon was being transported to the hospital for a more formal evaluation.

  “All good?” he asked when she hung up.

  “I wouldn’t go that far. The man lost his livelihood, his reputation, and his marriage. Now he may end up losing his medical license and his autonomy, so all in all, not a great day for him.”

  “At least he’s not in jail, charged with murder,” Ryan replied with strained enthusiasm.

  “There is that,” she conceded before looking at the door leading to the house and groaning. “I’m scared of what we’re going to find in there.”

  “Hey, if there was bad news to share, Kat would have reached out by now. Sometimes no news really is good news.”

  “You really are a fount of positivity this evening,” she noted warmly. “Between that and your heroic rescue earlier, it kind of makes a girl want to be around you, if you catch my drift.”

  “Your wish is my command,” he said, trying to bow from the driver’s seat.

  Maybe it was the release of tension or the lack of sleep, but his goofy gesture was so endearing that she had half a mind to marry him right then and there. The idea filled her with equal parts giddiness and shame.

  Why was she still insisting on holding off? She’d told herself that it was because of Hannah’s issues, and because of the constant threats they faced. But there would always be threats.

  Even if she gave up consulting for good and stuck to teaching at UCLA, as she was tempted to do, Ryan was still an LAPD detective. And no matter how well therapy with Dr. Lemmon went for Hannah, she had a long road ahead of her to process what she’d done. Were those really reasons to hold off on getting married? Was she not allowed to be happy until all their issues were resolved? She knew better than most that such a day was unlikely to ever come. And like Ryan had told her the other day, the world couldn’t just stop because things were hard right now.

  “We should start telling people,” she said.

  “What?” Ryan asked, perplexed.

  “About the engagement, we should start sharing the news.”

  “Okay,” he said, his broad smile nearly blinding her, “Why the change of heart?”

  “We have a source of joy in our lives. I’m tired of hiding it.”

  “That’s what I like to hear, Hunt,” he said loudly, slapping the steering wheel enthusiastically. “Who do you want to start with?”

  Jessie opened the car door and got out.

  “Considering that Kat already knows,” she said, “I think there’s only one logical choice: we have to tell Hannah.”

  Ryan gave her an apprehensive look as he got out.

  “I’m all for it,” he said. “But are you sure she’s going to react well?”

  “I’m not sure of anything with that girl,” Jessie said as she opened the door to the house, “but if we don’t tell her next, we’ll never hear the end of it. So let’s take the leap and hope for the best.”

  “Do I hear familiar voices?” Kat called out.

  Jessie and Ryan rounded the corner to find her seated at the kitchen table, surrounded by scattered files.

  “Oh no,” Jessie said. “Are you still working on that crappy accounting case?”

  “Just wrapping it up,” Kat said, standing up and stretching. “That’s why I’m smiling.”

  “How did it go?” Ryan asked.

  “Turns out it wasn’t all that different from the other cases I typically get. Remember how the head of the accounting firm thought an employee was siphoning off money in small amounts? He was partly right. Only it wasn’t an employee, it was his partner, who also happens to be his wife. She was draining the funds to pay for her affair, which she conducted in various high-end downtown hotels.”

  “You look pretty satisfied about it,” Jessie noted.

  “It’s just reassuring to know that no matter how technical a case seems, in my line of work it usually comes down to somebody screwing someone else or screwing over someone else. In this case it was both. And I partly have you to thank.”

  “Me?” Jessie said. “Why?”

  “Because if I hadn’t been holed up in this house, mostly at this table, I probably would have found some excuse to do unnecessary surveillance that would have kept me from seeing what was really going on, but being stuck here for two days kept me focused.”

  “So you’re saying I shouldn’t feel bad about imposing on you well beyond what should be asked of a reasonable person?” Jessie asked hopefully.

  “Oh no, you should definitely feel bad,” Kat assured her. “But considering the payday I’m getting from my extremely pissed off client, I’ll let it go this once.”

  “I appreciate that,” Jessie said, giving her a hug. “All the same, I can’t thank you enough for doing this. You were a lifesaver.”

  “It wasn’t so bad,” Kat said. “When she wasn’t in her room on a device, she was mostly pleasant, which is more than I expected.”

  “Is that where she is now?” Jessie asked.

  “Yup, for the last hour,” Kat answered, gathering up her files. “Oh hey, how did your case go? I assume well or you wouldn’t be so chatty, or for that matter, home.”

  Jessie looked over at Ryan to see if he wanted to do the honors. But he had spent much of the drive home updating Captain Decker and she could tell he wasn’t up to doing it again.

  “Short version,” she said. “We caught the guy, a chef who liked to cut a little too much. He was pretty good at it too. If he hadn’t admitted his guilt, I don’t think we could have nailed him.”

  “She’s being modest,” Ryan interjected. “That was a Jessie Hunt special. She bluffed her way into a confession.”

  “Wouldn’t expect anything less,” Kat said, dropping her files into a duffel bag. “Well, I’m headed out, you two lovebirds. Say goodbye to Hannah for me, will you?”

  They promised they would and escorted her to the door. Once she left, Ryan turned to Jessie.

  “Ready to break the news to your sister?” he asked.

  Before she could answer, her phone rang. When she saw who it was, a cold shot of anxiety cut through her.

  “It’s Callum Reid,” she said. “I better take it, just in case. We’ll tell her after, okay?”

  “That’s fine,” Ryan said, acting like there was nothing to worry about. “Gives me a chance to grab a drink.”

  While he went to kitchen, Jessie stepped into the living room to answer the call.

  “Hey, Reid,” she said. “Is everything okay?”

  For a long second there was no answer and she feared the worst.

  “Reid, are you there?”

  After another second his familiar voice came on the line.

  “Sorry about that,” he said. “I dropped the phone.”

  “That’s okay,” she replied, relieved. “How are you feeling?”

  “Pretty decent, all things considered,” he told her, sounding like he meant it. “I�
�m on the couch, being catered to hand and foot. I should have had a myocardial infarction years ago.”

  “Don’t push it!” Jessie heard Reid’s wife shout in the background.

  “Sorry, honey,” he said, before returning to Jessie. “Are you alone?”

  “That would be a no,” Jessie said.

  “Then I’ll be quick,” he said. “I just wanted to thank you for keeping my secret. I know you must have had second thoughts after things went sideways for me. But I’m glad I’m getting to end things on my own terms.”

  “Me too,” Jessie said. “So how was the big news received?”

  “Decker was disappointed but understanding. I think he could tell there was no changing my mind. And like you predicted, having a bigger budget and a new detective in the unit eased the pain for him. He’s having a retirement party for me tomorrow. He wants to be the one to tell the whole HSS team. So when he makes the announcement, please act surprised.”

  “Not a problem,” she promised.

  “Thanks,” he said. “And can I make one final request?”

  “Of course.”

  “It’s about Susannah Valentine.”

  “What about her?” Jessie asked warily.

  “She’s brand new and she’s trying to impress everyone. Sometimes she might go a little overboard and I could see how it could rub someone the wrong way. But maybe you could take it easy on her?”

  “Why are you telling me this?” Jessie asked. “Did she say something to you?”

  “She didn’t have to. I have very keen investigative instincts. After all, I’m a detective, or I was one until today.”

  “She didn’t exactly present a winning first impression,” Jessie admitted. “But for you, I’ll try.”

  “Thanks, Hunt. And who knows, maybe you’ll end up being besties, or whatever it is the kids call it these days.”

  “Goodbye, Reid,” Jessie said.

  “Goodbye, Hunt.”

  She hung up and started toward the kitchen for a drink when Ryan emerged with a glass of mineral water with a lime wedge, just the way she liked it.

  “You are a prince among men,” she said.

  “I know,” he said, handing her the drink. “How’s Reid?”

  “He’s good,” she said, “just wanted to check in on us.”

  It was a white lie, hopefully the last time she’d have to tell it.

  “You ready to try this again?” he asked, looking at Hannah’s door.

  “Let’s do it.”

  She knocked on the door. After a good five seconds, an irked voice yelled, “Yeah?”

  “It’s me and Ryan,” she said. “We’re home for the night. Can we come in?”

  “It’s not locked.”

  She opened the door and stepped in. Ryan followed close behind. Hannah was lying on her bed, scrolling through her phone. She must have sensed something was going on because she sat straight up.

  “What is it?” she demanded. “Did someone die?”

  “No,” Jessie said, “at least not anyone you know.”

  “Then what is it? I can tell it’s something big. Are you sending me away to boarding school?”

  “Hannah, calm down,” Jessie pleaded. “We do want to tell you something but it’s nothing bad. Ryan asked me to marry him and I said yes. We’re engaged.”

  She almost laughed as she watched her sister’s defensive glower turn into slack-jawed astonishment.

  “For real?” she asked.

  “For real,” Jessie said, showing her the ring on her hand.

  “Wow, that’s—congratulations,” she said with real sincerity.

  “Thank you,” Jessie replied.

  “When’s the wedding?”

  “Actually,” Ryan said, “we haven’t gotten that far yet. We’ve mostly kept it to ourselves until now.”

  “Okay,” Hannah replied, mildly perplexed. “Well, whatever works for you. Congrats again.”

  It seemed like that was the end of the conversation as far as she was concerned.

  “Did you have any other questions?” Jessie asked.

  Hannah shrugged ambivalently.

  “No, I’m good. I figure you’ll fill me in when there’s stuff worth sharing.”

  “Okay,” Jessie said, trying not to take offense. It wasn’t a stunning surprise that a seventeen-year-old might not be giddy to learn more details about her much old sister’s engagement. Still, the coolness was palpable. She decided to change subjects.

  “How did it go with Dr. Lemmon today?”

  Hannah looked at Ryan and he got the message.

  “I just remembered that I have a thing that I have to do in a room that’s not this one,” he said, before leaving and closing the door behind him.

  “It was good,” Hannah said once he was gone. “I know what you’re wondering and the answer is no—I haven’t told her about shooting the Night Hunter yet. But it was good to be back in therapy in person. I feel like I’m on the right track.”

  “That’s great,” Jessie said, deciding not to push the issue. “You can tell me more later if you like. For now, I’m going to get cleaned up and crash. I’m pretty wiped out. Don’t stay up too late. You’ve got school tomorrow.”

  Hannah nodded and returned her attention to her phone. Jessie got up and moved to the door. Before she closed it, she took one last look at her sister. Hannah was immersed in her phone. To any casual observer, she looked like a normal teenager with normal problems. Maybe one day she really would be.

  *

  Hannah lay in bed. Her eyes were on the phone but her mind was elsewhere.

  She kept thinking back to Dr. Lemmon’s request in therapy: “Tell me what you were thinking about just now.”

  She had wanted to. But some part of her knew that if she had said what she was really thinking out loud to another person, even a therapist, it would change everything. How could she admit to Dr. Lemmon what she could barely admit to herself?

  Yes, she had shot the Night Hunter because he was a monster who would always be a threat to herself and the people she loved as long as he lived. But that wasn’t the main reason: she had killed the unarmed, handcuffed, elderly man because she wanted to.

  And now, weeks later, she could admit something else: she liked it. More than that, she missed it.

  EPILOGUE

  The hulking, sweaty woman was crying uncontrollably.

  It was all Andy Robinson could do not to throw up as she hugged her. But she gulped hard and squeezed her back. When they finally separated, Andy looked down at her prison uniform. It was damp but she wasn’t sure whether the liquid was tears or perspiration.

  “I ruined your clothes,” Livia said apologetically as she wiped her wet nose with the back her massive forearm.

  It was true. Not only was the unflattering, yellow shirt wet, it now stunk of Livia’s body odor. Livia wasn’t big on showers.

  “Don’t worry about it,” Andy said, smiling broadly and ignoring Livia’s matted black hair. “It’s not like I’m going to be walking the red carpet in this outfit anytime soon. Besides, the guards have another one just like it waiting for me.”

  “Yeah, I guess,” Livia agreed, looking despondent.

  “Hey,” Andy said encouragingly, “let’s focus on you. You’re getting out of here. Pretty soon you’ll be lying in a park under a tree, eating bonbons.”

  “I’m going to miss you, Andy,” Livia said, her bulging cheeks threatening to jiggle again as she fought back more tears.

  “Me too,” Andy said, clutching the giant’s hand and pretending not to notice the mucus where Livia had used it as a tissue. “But remember, it going to be okay. We’ve talked about this. If you start to doubt yourself, just follow the principles we discussed.”

  “I still think I should write them down,” Livia said.

  “No, they’re more powerful if you just keep them in your mind. When you feel like you’re getting into trouble, just follow those principles. Remember, your mind is your strongest
tool. It can take you anywhere if you let it.”

  “Uh-huh,” Livia said, starting to blubber again.

  “Livia Bucco, time to go,” shouted a guard from down the hall.

  Livia looked back at Andy with panic in her eyes.

  “I’m scared,” she whispered, “I don’t think I can do it.”

  “Sure you can,” Andy promised. “I know it’s scary to be out in the world again. But I believe in you.”

  Livia took a deep breath and shook her head hard, like she was trying to force demons out of it.

  “Thank you, Andy,” she said softly. “If it wasn’t for you, I’d probably be behind bars in this nuthouse forever. It’s only because of you that I’m going free. I won’t let you down.”

  Livia gave Andy one last squishy, gag-inducing hug and headed off to the waiting guard, who would process her out of the Female Forensic In-Patient Psychiatric Unit at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility Medical Services Building. She didn’t look back for fear of losing it again, but if she had, she might have been surprised by the devilish twinkle in Andy Robinson’s bright blue eyes.

  NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER!

  THE PERFECT VEIL

  (A Jessie Hunt Psychological Suspense Thriller—Book Seventeen)

  “A masterpiece of thriller and mystery. Blake Pierce did a magnificent job developing characters with a psychological side so well described that we feel inside their minds, follow their fears and cheer for their success. Full of twists, this book will keep you awake until the turn of the last page.”

  --Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos (re Once Gone)

  THE PERFECT VEIL is book #17 in a new psychological suspense series by bestselling author Blake Pierce, which begins with The Perfect Wife, a #1 bestseller (and free download) with over 5,000 five-star ratings and 900 five-star reviews.