by Blake Pierce
t h e p e r f e c t m i s t r e s s
(a jessie hunt psychological suspense—book 15)
b l a k e p i e r c e
Blake Pierce
Blake Pierce is the USA Today bestselling author of the RILEY PAGE mystery series, which includes seventeen books. Blake Pierce is also the author of the MACKENZIE WHITE mystery series, comprising fourteen books; of the AVERY BLACK mystery series, comprising six books; of the KERI LOCKE mystery series, comprising five books; of the MAKING OF RILEY PAIGE mystery series, comprising six books; of the KATE WISE mystery series, comprising seven books; of the CHLOE FINE psychological suspense mystery, comprising six books; of the JESSE HUNT psychological suspense thriller series, comprising nineteen books; of the AU PAIR psychological suspense thriller series, comprising three books; of the ZOE PRIME mystery series, comprising six books; of the ADELE SHARP mystery series, comprising thirteen books, of the EUROPEAN VOYAGE cozy mystery series, comprising six books (and counting); of the new LAURA FROST FBI suspense thriller, comprising four books (and counting); of the new ELLA DARK FBI suspense thriller, comprising six books (and counting); of the A YEAR IN EUROPE cozy mystery series, comprising nine books, of the AVA GOLD mystery series, comprising three books (and counting); and of the RACHEL GIFT mystery series, comprising three books (and counting).
ONCE GONE (a Riley Paige Mystery--Book #1), BEFORE HE KILLS (A Mackenzie White Mystery—Book 1), CAUSE TO KILL (An Avery Black Mystery—Book 1), A TRACE OF DEATH (A Keri Locke Mystery—Book 1), WATCHING (The Making of Riley Paige—Book 1), NEXT DOOR (A Chloe Fine Psychological Suspense Mystery—Book 1), THE PERFECT WIFE (A Jessie Hunt Psychological Suspense Thriller—Book One), IF SHE KNEW (A Kate Wise Mystery—Book 1), and MURDER (AND BAKLAVA) (A European Voyage Cozy Mystery—Book 1) are each available as a free download on Amazon!
An avid reader and lifelong fan of the mystery and thriller genres, Blake loves to hear from you, so please feel free to visit www.blakepierceauthor.com to learn more and stay in touch.
Copyright © 2021 by Blake Pierce. 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 permission of the author. This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictionally. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Jacket image Copyright coka, used under license from Shutterstock.com.
BOOKS BY BLAKE PIERCE
RACHEL GIFT MYSTERY SERIES
HER LAST WISH (Book #1)
HER LAST CHANCE (Book #2)
HER LAST HOPE (Book #3)
AVA GOLD MYSTERY SERIES
CITY OF PREY (Book #1)
CITY OF FEAR (Book #2)
CITY OF BONES (Book #3)
A YEAR IN EUROPE
A MURDER IN PARIS (Book #1)
DEATH IN FLORENCE (Book #2)
VENGEANCE IN VIENNA (Book #3)
A FATALITY IN SPAIN (Book #4)
SCANDAL IN LONDON (Book #5)
AN IMPOSTOR IN DUBLIN (Book #6)
SEDUCTION IN BORDEAUX (Book #7)
JEALOUSY IN SWITZERLAND (Book #8)
A DEBACLE IN PRAGUE (Book #9)
ELLA DARK FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER
GIRL, ALONE (Book #1)
GIRL, TAKEN (Book #2)
GIRL, HUNTED (Book #3)
GIRL, SILENCED (Book #4)
GIRL, VANISHED (Book 5)
GIRL ERASED (Book #6)
LAURA FROST FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER
ALREADY GONE (Book #1)
ALREADY SEEN (Book #2)
ALREADY TRAPPED (Book #3)
ALREADY MISSING (Book #4)
EUROPEAN VOYAGE COZY MYSTERY SERIES
MURDER (AND BAKLAVA) (Book #1)
DEATH (AND APPLE STRUDEL) (Book #2)
CRIME (AND LAGER) (Book #3)
MISFORTUNE (AND GOUDA) (Book #4)
CALAMITY (AND A DANISH) (Book #5)
MAYHEM (AND HERRING) (Book #6)
ADELE SHARP MYSTERY SERIES
LEFT TO DIE (Book #1)
LEFT TO RUN (Book #2)
LEFT TO HIDE (Book #3)
LEFT TO KILL (Book #4)
LEFT TO MURDER (Book #5)
LEFT TO ENVY (Book #6)
LEFT TO LAPSE (Book #7)
LEFT TO VANISH (Book #8)
LEFT TO HUNT (Book #9)
LEFT TO FEAR (Book #10)
LEFT TO PREY (Book #11)
LEFT TO LURE (Book #12)
LEFT TO CRAVE (Book #13)
THE AU PAIR SERIES
ALMOST GONE (Book#1)
ALMOST LOST (Book #2)
ALMOST DEAD (Book #3)
ZOE PRIME MYSTERY SERIES
FACE OF DEATH (Book#1)
FACE OF MURDER (Book #2)
FACE OF FEAR (Book #3)
FACE OF MADNESS (Book #4)
FACE OF FURY (Book #5)
FACE OF DARKNESS (Book #6)
A JESSIE HUNT PSYCHOLOGICAL SUSPENSE SERIES
THE PERFECT WIFE (Book #1)
THE PERFECT BLOCK (Book #2)
THE PERFECT HOUSE (Book #3)
THE PERFECT SMILE (Book #4)
THE PERFECT LIE (Book #5)
THE PERFECT LOOK (Book #6)
THE PERFECT AFFAIR (Book #7)
THE PERFECT ALIBI (Book #8)
THE PERFECT NEIGHBOR (Book #9)
THE PERFECT DISGUISE (Book #10)
THE PERFECT SECRET (Book #11)
THE PERFECT FAÇADE (Book #12)
THE PERFECT IMPRESSION (Book #13)
THE PERFECT DECEIT (Book #14)
THE PERFECT MISTRESS (Book #15)
THE PERFECT IMAGE (Book #16)
THE PERFECT VEIL (Book #17)
THE PERFECT INDISCRETION (Book #18)
THE PERFECT RUMOR (Book #19)
CHLOE FINE PSYCHOLOGICAL SUSPENSE SERIES
NEXT DOOR (Book #1)
A NEIGHBOR’S LIE (Book #2)
CUL DE SAC (Book #3)
SILENT NEIGHBOR (Book #4)
HOMECOMING (Book #5)
TINTED WINDOWS (Book #6)
KATE WISE MYSTERY SERIES
IF SHE KNEW (Book #1)
IF SHE SAW (Book #2)
IF SHE RAN (Book #3)
IF SHE HID (Book #4)
IF SHE FLED (Book #5)
IF SHE FEARED (Book #6)
IF SHE HEARD (Book #7)
THE MAKING OF RILEY PAIGE SERIES
WATCHING (Book #1)
WAITING (Book #2)
LURING (Book #3)
TAKING (Book #4)
STALKING (Book #5)
KILLING (Book #6)
RILEY PAIGE MYSTERY SERIES
ONCE GONE (Book #1)
ONCE TAKEN (Book #2)
ONCE CRAVED (Book #3)
ONCE LURED (Book #4)
ONCE HUNTED (Book #5)
ONCE PINED (Book #6)
ONCE FORSAKEN (Book #7)
ONCE COLD (Book #8)
ONCE STALKED
(Book #9)
ONCE LOST (Book #10)
ONCE BURIED (Book #11)
ONCE BOUND (Book #12)
ONCE TRAPPED (Book #13)
ONCE DORMANT (Book #14)
ONCE SHUNNED (Book #15)
ONCE MISSED (Book #16)
ONCE CHOSEN (Book #17)
MACKENZIE WHITE MYSTERY SERIES
BEFORE HE KILLS (Book #1)
BEFORE HE SEES (Book #2)
BEFORE HE COVETS (Book #3)
BEFORE HE TAKES (Book #4)
BEFORE HE NEEDS (Book #5)
BEFORE HE FEELS (Book #6)
BEFORE HE SINS (Book #7)
BEFORE HE HUNTS (Book #8)
BEFORE HE PREYS (Book #9)
BEFORE HE LONGS (Book #10)
BEFORE HE LAPSES (Book #11)
BEFORE HE ENVIES (Book #12)
BEFORE HE STALKS (Book #13)
BEFORE HE HARMS (Book #14)
AVERY BLACK MYSTERY SERIES
CAUSE TO KILL (Book #1)
CAUSE TO RUN (Book #2)
CAUSE TO HIDE (Book #3)
CAUSE TO FEAR (Book #4)
CAUSE TO SAVE (Book #5)
CAUSE TO DREAD (Book #6)
KERI LOCKE MYSTERY SERIES
A TRACE OF DEATH (Book #1)
A TRACE OF MURDER (Book #2)
A TRACE OF VICE (Book #3)
A TRACE OF CRIME (Book #4)
A TRACE OF HOPE (Book #5)
CONTENTS
PROLOGUE
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY THREE
CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR
CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE
CHAPTER TWENTY SIX
CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN
CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT
CHAPTER TWENTY NINE
CHAPTER THIRTY
CHAPTER THIRTY ONE
CHAPTER THIRTY TWO
CHAPTER THIRTY THREE
CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR
CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE
CHAPTER THIRTY SIX
CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN
CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT
CHAPTER THIRTY NINE
CHAPTER FORTY
CHAPTER FORTY ONE
CHAPTER FORTY TWO
CHAPTER FORTY THREE
PROLOGUE
The snow crunched beneath her feet.
In the bright moonlight, Sarah Ripley could clearly see the exact spot where the snow gave way to the slicker, far more dangerous ice at the edge of the road. She made sure to steer clear of it as she walked up the last stretch of the hill to the cabin.
She could have taken a rideshare home. Even in the small mountain town of Wildpines, there was always a driver available. In fact, that’s how she’d gotten to the bar earlier in the evening.
But her face was flushed and she felt warm from the drinks and the heat of the crowd at the Wild Things bar. The walk would cool her off and clear her head. It needed clearing and even a night out with the girls hadn’t helped.
She glanced at her phone. It was 9:41p.m. That was more than enough time to get back before her visitor arrived at ten. Even though this was hardly new to her, Sarah’s stomach was a bubbling cauldron of nervousness and anticipation.
She had almost crested the hill. The top of the cabin, or as her friends called it, Chalet Ripley, was in sight. Smoke billowed from the fireplace, obscuring the moon slightly and giving the night a ghostly vibe.
Her husband had warned her repeatedly not to leave the fireplace roaring when there was no one in the house. But she liked how toasty it made the place when she returned. Besides, he barely came up here anymore so he wasn’t in a position to dictate how things should operate. By contrast, Sarah came up here at least once a month, more often in the winter. While Dwayne considered the Wildpines cabin an investment, to Sarah it was much more: a respite from the noise and crowds of L.A.
There was plenty of time for the Beverly Hills soirees, elaborate beachfront parties, and dinners at the restaurants of James Beard Award winners. This place offered something far more valuable: solitude.
And if things went as planned, it would also be the second location of her store, SEE, which specialized in funky gifts and collectibles. The small town was popular with hipster tourists and she was pretty sure her wares would be catnip to them.
When she finally got to the top of the hill, she stopped and allowed herself a moment to catch her breath. Bending over and resting her hands on her knees, she watched as her exhalations rose into the air like the smoke from her chimney. The walk had been close to a mile long—almost all uphill—and after a period where she’d felt pleasantly cool, she was warm again despite the 30 degree temperature.
She allowed herself a moment to take in the beauty of her surroundings. The town was encircled by multiple peaks. The combination of snow and intermittent exposed rock made the mountains gleam like diamonds in the night sky.
She carefully made her way up the wooden steps to the front door. They too could get icy, which her left hip had learned the hard way a few years ago. She dug her key out and opened the door. Immediately, she was hit with a wave of warm air and hurried to take off her coat and beanie before she got sweaty. She hung them on the rack and locked the door behind her. The house was quiet.
She was about to get a glass of water to soothe her cold-parched throat when her phone buzzed. She looked down to see an alert. She immediately went to the affiliated site and logged in, where she found a message from the person she’d hurried back to meet. It read: Have to cancel. Can’t get away. Sorry for being so last second. Another time.
Sarah sighed. She was disappointed, as she’d been looking forward to this for days. But it was hardly the first time it had happened and it wouldn’t be the last. Glancing in the foyer mirror, she briefly wondered if the cancellation was related to her. Had her appeal faded? She didn’t think so.
She studied her features. Maybe she wasn’t as fresh-faced at thirty-four as she’d been at twenty-five, but she thought that she still looked good. Her workouts had paid off to the point where she could still wear those twenty-five-year-old’s clothes. Her skin still had a golden glow. Her dark hair framed her face nicely. There was nothing obviously objectionable about her appearance. The cancellation had to be on his end.
She was just starting toward the kitchen again for the water when she heard a noise outside. It sounded like a cry for help. Checking the peephole, she saw what looked like a smallish woman sitting on her butt at the edge of where the driveway met the road.
Sarah could guess what had happened. The woman was likely doing the same thing: either walking to or from town, when she lost her balance. Water tended to pool in the crevices between the road and driveway. When frozen over, those spots were especially slippery. It was easy for a person’s foot to skid, sending them toppling back onto their tailbone.
Sarah opened the door and rushed out, leaving her jacket behind. She was happy to help out a neighbor in a pinch but she didn’t intend to be outside long enough to bundle up for an extended conversation.
“You okay?” she called out.
The woman nodded, even as she rubbed her backside. Her long hair had fallen in her face.
“I slipped and landed kind of hard,” she admitted. “I think I’m good but I could use a hand up.”
The request made her a little uneasy. Approaching a stranger at night while alone w
as something she’d never do back in L.A. But this was a small town and word traveled fast. If she got a reputation as a bad neighbor, that would be hard to change. So despite some mild apprehension, she headed over, making sure to step in her own footprints so as to avoid the woman’s fate and fall herself. When she got close enough not to have to yell, she asked, “Do you think you’re all right to walk or should I call you a car?”
“I’ll know more once I’m upright,” the woman said sheepishly, extending her left hand.
Sarah offered hers. The woman squared her feet below her, grabbed Sarah’s hand and tugged hard, lifting herself up. As she did, Sarah saw the woman’s right arm appear from behind her back and rise above her head. Something metal gleamed in the moonlight. It took a second to process that it was a butcher knife.
She tried to let go of the woman’s hand but the grip tightened. Before she could do anything else, she felt a deep, icy pain in her chest. She looked down and saw the knife had embedded in her chest all the way to the heel. Suddenly it was ripped out and the pain turned to agony. Blood began pouring out of her. She glimpsed steam leaking from the gaping hole in her chest.
Weird that I would notice a detail like that at a time like this.
She looked up and saw that the woman was raising the knife again. Staring at her face, she realized that she actually knew this person. But there was no time to process the knowledge before the knife slashed through her flesh again, this time at the neck.
The excruciating anguish mixed with weakness as she fell back into the heavy snow, and watched her own blood shoot into the air. She knew she should feel cold but she didn’t. Instead she felt helplessness, softened slightly by the awareness that everything was getting soft and fuzzy.
And then not even that.
CHAPTER ONE
Jessie was already awake when she heard the floorboard creak.
Trying not to overreact, she fought the urge to reach for the handgun in the bedside table drawer.
Houses creak. This is normal.
She rolled over in bed and looked at Ryan, who was still fast asleep. He’d had a rough night, waking up with a jolt from a nightmare he described right afterward as him being suffocated with a pillow while underwater. He’d had many of those since last summer, when he was stabbed in the chest and spent weeks in a coma.
