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COLD-BLOODED KILLER
The Congregational Church was packed to capacity, the sanctuary and the vestibule. A crowd had gathered outside on the front steps and down the sidewalk. She knew that these people weren’t here to show their respects to Jamie. Not many people had liked Jamie. Quite a few had despised him. And several had hated him, as she had. The huge outpouring of sympathy was for Big Jim and Miss Reba.
The sheriff and the chief of police were here, reminding everyone that Jamie had been murdered. Tortured and tormented. Made to suffer. Punished for his sins. She’d seen to that. She’d made sure he would never hurt her, her child, or any other woman—not ever again.
Jazzy Talbot was conspicuously absent. Good. She’d hated to think that worthless slut would dare show her face.
As she watched while others paraded by Jamie’s closed casket, she had to fight the urge to smile—even laugh. She had destroyed his pretty face and silenced his lying mouth. And now Jazzy was suffering.
But not nearly as much as she would suffer.
The woman had to die.
Deserved to die.
Would die.
But not yet.
When this all came to an end and everything was as it should be, Jazzy would be the last to die…
Books by Beverly Barton
AFTER DARK
EVERY MOVE SHE MAKES
WHAT SHE DOESN’T KNOW
THE FIFTH VICTIM
THE LAST TO DIE
AS GOOD AS DEAD
KILLING HER SOFTLY
CLOSE ENOUGH TO KILL
MOST LIKELY TO DIE
THE DYING GAME
THE MURDER GAME
COLD HEARTED
SILENT KILLER
DEAD BY MIDNIGHT
DON’T CRY
DEAD BY MORNING
DEAD BY NIGHTFALL
DON’T SAY A WORD
JUST THE WAY YOU ARE
THE RIGHT WIFE
(available as an e-book)
Published by Kensington Publishing Corporation
In memory of a very special lady, an avid reader and a
fellow Tuscumbian who never missed one of my
autographings,
JAN WHITTLE
and
In memory of my dear cousin
LOUISE GIBBS THORNE,
a fellow writer whose weekly column appeared in
The Colbert County Reporter
for many years.
A very special thank you to my wonderful editor JOHN SCOGNAMIGLIO
And several dear friends who understand the life of a writer and help keep me sane, LINDA, LJ, WENDY, and PAULA
Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Epilogue
PINNACLE BOOKS are published by
Kensington Publishing Corp.
119 West 40th Street
New York, NY 10018
Copyright © 2004 Beverly Beaver
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.
To the extent that the image or images on the cover of this book depict a person or persons, such person or persons are merely models, and are not intended to portray any character or characters featured in the book.
If you purchased this book without a cover, you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as “unsold and destroyed” to the publisher, and neither the author nor the publisher has received any payment for this “stripped book.”
All Kensington titles, imprints, and distributed lines are available at special quantity discounts for bulk purchases for sales promotions, premiums, fund-raising, educational, or institutional use. Special book excerpts or customized printings can also be created to fit specific needs. For details, write or phone the office of the Kensington sales manager: Kensington Publishing Corp., 119 West 40th Street, New York, NY 10018, attn: Sales Department; phone 1-800-221-2647.
This book 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 fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
PINNACLE BOOKS and the Pinnacle logo are Reg. U.S. Pat. & TM Off.
ISBN-13: 978-0-7860-4103-9
ISBN-10: 0-7860-4103-X
First Zebra mass market paperback printing: January 2004
Revised Zebra mass market paperback printing: January 2009
First Pinnacle mass market paperback printing: May 2018
16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8
Printed in the United States of America
First Pinnacle electronic edition: May 2018
ISBN-13: 978-0-7860-4107-7
ISBN-10: 0-7860-4107-2
Prologue
He pounded on her door and shouted her name. Go away, she wanted to scream. Leave me the hell alone. But she knew he wouldn’t go. Not unless someone came and dragged him away.
Maybe she should call Jacob and tell him that Jamie was harassing her again. As the county sheriff, he could hold Jamie in jail overnight. Or she could phone Caleb and ask for his help in getting rid of an unwanted midnight