Acknowledgments

A very special thank you to Capt. Russ Hayes of the Newport, RI, Police Department who provided extra help with this book, including two hours of coffee shop time, which helped to jumpstart the story. I appreciate Russ’s attention to detail and the finer points of police work he so willingly shares with me.

Thank you to everyone on “Jack’s” team: Julie Cupp, Lisa Cafferty, Holly Sullivan, Isabel Sullivan, Nikki Colquhoun and Cheryl Serra. Years ago I had a vision of someday working with most of my favorite ladies. Now that vision is my daily reality, and I couldn’t be happier. To my spectacular beta readers, Ronlyn Howe, Kara Conrad and Anne Woodall, thank you so much for all you do to help me out—usually at a moment’s notice! My appreciation goes to Sarah Spate Morrison, Family Nurse Practitioner, who helps with the medical details. Thanks to my editor Alissa Davis as well as Carina Press Editorial Director Angela James and everyone at Harlequin for their hard work on behalf of the Fatal Series. My wonderful agent Kevan Lyon is a fabulous partner on this journey, and I’m appreciative of her many contributions.

The most special thanks of all go to the readers who have embraced Sam and Nick’s story from the start and to those who have joined the party along the way. Thanks to all of you, Fatal Mistake became the first book in the Fatal Series to make the New York Times bestseller list. I’m very grateful to all of you! Stay tuned at the end of Fatal Jeopardy for answers to some of your most pressing questions about Sam, Nick and the Fatal Series. Thanks so much for reading!

Chapter One

The game whizzed by so quickly Sam could barely keep up. Next to her, Scotty bounced with excitement as they watched Nick fly around on the ice with skill and stamina that astounded her. Although she shouldn’t be surprised he was so good. Not only had he played hockey for years when he was younger but he regularly demonstrated his stamina in other important ways.

Chuckling at her own joke, Sam tried to keep her eyes on his white helmet and green jersey with number 22 on the back. With the campaign over and the election won, he had time now to rejoin the men’s league he’d played in before his life took an unexpected turn almost a year ago.

That’s when his best friend and boss, Senator John O’Connor, had been murdered. From that awful tragedy had come two interesting things—their relationship and his ascendancy into the Senate, where he now held the seat from Virginia in his own right after a resounding win in the election.

“He’s so good,” Scotty said, dazzled by Nick’s skill on the ice. “I’ll never be that good.”