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Back Vortex Save as PDF
Chapters (61)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. 1
  4. 2
  5. 3
  6. 4
  7. 5
  8. 6
  9. 7
  10. 8
  11. 9
  12. 10
  13. 11
  14. 12
  15. 13
  16. 14
  17. 15
  18. 16
  19. 17
  20. 18
  21. 19
  22. 20
  23. 21
  24. 22
  25. 23
  26. 24
  27. 25
  28. 26
  29. 27
  30. 28
  31. 29
  32. 30
  33. 31
  34. 32
  35. 33
  36. 34
  37. 35
  38. 36
  39. 37
  40. 38
  41. 39
  42. 40
  43. 41
  44. 42
  45. 43
  46. 44
  47. 45
  48. 46
  49. 47
  50. 48
  51. 49
  52. 50
  53. 51
  54. 52
  55. 53
  56. Epilogue
  57. Epilogue
  58. Acknowledgments
  59. About the Author
  60. Also by Catherine Coulter
  61. About the Publisher

Mia saw no trace of guilt in Alex’s expression, only honest puzzlement and insult, and the controlled anger of the righteous man. He really was very good. He glanced back toward Pamela, whose expression was not as controlled, fury clear on her face. Alex gave a slight shake of his head but she ignored him, strode forward like a force of nature, and placed her gloved hand on his sleeve, ready to leap into the fray. She stared out over the sea of faces in front of her, and slowly, the voices died until there was only the sound of the traffic. When she spoke, Pamela’s voice was filled with pain mixed with fury, a potent combination and very effective. “Kent Harper is also one of my own lifelong friends. He is at this moment fighting for his life, so I will answer for him. He would be as appalled as Mr. Harrington by these slanderous rumors. They are unconscionable and malicious. My fiancé, all of us who love Kent, are suffering along with him from this brutal assault. I think it’s time for you to show some compassion, and some restraint.” Pamela swiped her hand over a tear.

Alex gently eased her away and stepped back to the microphones. “As you can see, we are all upset. I thank you for coming, and I ask all of you to pray for my friend. We are on our way to Bellevue to be with his family.” He managed a stiff smile toward Pamela, whose tears sparkled on her cheeks.

And Mia wondered. Tears of pain or tears of rage?

More questions rang out, but Alex shook his head, took Pamela’s hand in his, and stepped down from the dais, followed by his silent entourage.

Mia stepped out from behind big Jumbo Hardy of The New Yorker, willed Pamela to see her. Their eyes met and the look Pamela sent her way could have burned asphalt. But only for an instant. Her sad, brave smile returned. She walked with Alex to a long black limousine that idled at the curb. He and Pamela disappeared inside.

48

Mia

Bellevue Hospital

Friday

Mia watched Kent’s family trail to the elevator headed down to the cafeteria for lunch. She’d just gotten back from One Police Plaza for Alex Harrington’s news conference. It was her chance and she had to hurry. The doctors had told the press his condition was critical, but he was still alive, even breathing on his own, and that was amazing enough. The surgeons refused to speculate whether he’d survive, and the Harper lawyers and family wouldn’t let the police near him. If he died, Alex Harrington would win. Everything Kent knew would be buried with him.