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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

Alex held himself stiff and silent, all expression wiped from his face. Mia said, “So you didn’t tell her about Juliet, Alex? You could confess your young man’s mistakes, and I suppose she might buy it, but no way could you explain away you and Kent roofieing Juliet and raping her.”

“They were going to marry! It makes no sense! Alex, tell her it’s crazy!”

Mia said to Pamela, “It’s true, Pam. Alex roofied her and both he and Kent raped her, two years ago. That was why Juliet broke off the engagement. She remembered what happened, Pam, but Alex didn’t care because he was sure she would never accuse them publicly, never blow up her family with so devastating a scandal. But once she found out Alex is not only a rapist, but a murderer, she was perfectly willing to help us.”

Pamela whirled on Alex, openmouthed. “Juliet? She’s not lying? You and Kent really raped Juliet?” She started shaking her head. “No, of course that can’t be true. They’re making this all up. You’d never do such a thing. Yes, yes, when you were young, you told me Kent talked you into some foolish mistakes, but Juliet? Kent couldn’t have talked you into raping Juliet. Alex, tell them you didn’t do that.”

Alex said between clenched teeth, “Of course it’s not true. Juliet made it up, as revenge because I dumped her two years ago. And now she wanted to ruin my career, and she helped them do it.”

He fell silent. Another ember popped in the fireplace. No one moved. Alex whispered to Pamela, “I knew how badly you wanted to be the New York mayor’s wife, and that’s why I trusted you, told you as much as I did.” He stared at her with new eyes. “So you tried to kill Mia? To keep her away from me? But why Kent? Damn you, why Kent?”

Pamela drew herself up. Even though Hoolihan still towered over her, she managed to look down her nose at him. “I am innocent. You, Detective, I will see you hounded out of the police force, I will sue this wretched city. I want to speak to my lawyer.”

Hoolihan nodded, said, “Pamela Raines Barrett, I’m arresting you for the attempted murder of Mia Briscoe and Kent Harper.” He read her her rights, his deep professional voice the only sound in the living room.

Epilogue

Sean

The Savich Home, Georgetown

Washington, D.C.

Sunday