by Sara Rosett
The skin around Jack’s eyes crinkled as he smiled. “I don’t doubt it for a minute.”
“I’m serious.”
“So am I.”
“Good.” Zoe blew out a breath and checked the monitors. She needed to get going. “Right. Okay. Well, this is it.”
Jack’s arm encircled her. “No, this isn’t it.” He kissed her quickly on the lips. “Once all this mess around Costa gets cleared up, there’s a few things we need to sort out. Things just between you and me,” he said then pulled away.
She gripped his coat and drew him back to her. “Is that a promise or a challenge?” she whispered, teasing his lips with hers.
“Consider it a bit of both.” He managed to get the words out before his lips came down on hers.
Epilogue
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One week later
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SATO placed an envelope on the corner of Mort’s desk.
“What’s this?” Mort asked, eyeing it over the frame of his half glasses.
Sato propped himself up on a nearby desk and sipped from his tall Starbucks to-go cup. “Retirement present.”
Mort frowned then opened the envelope gingerly. He pulled out a license plate frame and snorted as he read the lettering around the edge: “I’m retired. Go around me.”
“Not nearly as bad as I thought it might be,” Mort said. “Thanks.”
Sato raised his cup in acknowledgement. “Don’t worry, that’s just the first of many. Your party is next week. I’m sure the presents will get worse.” He looked toward the open file on Mort’s desk. “Jack Andrews case?” At Mort’s nod, Sato asked, “Will it be wrapped up before you leave?”
“Almost. Once he finishes answering the Brit’s questions, Andrews will be able to come back. No charges pending.”
“So the ex-wife’s story checked out?”
Mort took off his glasses and rolled his chair away from his desk an inch. “Amazingly, yes.”
“The emails in the draft folder were legit?”
Mort nodded. “Yep. Costa planned the whole shebang from the get-go. Hooked Jack Andrews and drew him in, then set him up to be the patsy.”
Sato made a clicking sound. “Slick. And the money?”
“The tech guys are sorting through Costa’s accounts. He had Bent juggling his money through multiple accounts around the world. It will take a while, but they’ll find it.”
“Probably not before you go.”
“Doubtful. But everything else checks out. Several of Zoe Hunter’s neighbors remember a white van parked on the street for several days. One person even called in and reported it as suspicious, so we have a plate. It’s registered to Wade Selinger of Muskogee, Illinois, who has apparently skipped town. Moved out of his apartment during the night. We ran down his family in Cleveland, but they haven’t heard from him. I’m sure we’ll get him someday.”
Mort closed the file and tossed his glasses on top of it. “Her car did have a tracker on it, and once the computer guys actually get their hands on her computer from the British, it will probably have one as well. Find anything on Sam Clark?”
Sato reached over to his desk and pulled out a sheet of paper. “Small time musician from Bakersfield. He did have a store that sold used musical instruments, which was suspected of being involved in money laundering for Costa. The cops over there were never able to charge him. From what we can piece together with the phone records and the emails between Costa and Sam Clark, Costa offered to underwrite him, set him up in business in Dallas with the understanding that he’d stay close to Zoe Hunter and keep an eye out in case Jack showed up.”
Sato handed the sheet of paper to Mort, who took it, but pointed back at Sato with it, “You called that one, that he wasn’t dead.”
Sato shook his head. “Just a feeling.”
“You got a feeling about this Anna Whitmore? Where she might be?”
Sato shook his head. “Nothing yet.”
“Guess I have to leave that part with you. Let me know what happens.”
“Sure. I’ll come play checkers with you and give you an update. I figure you’ll be going crazy in two weeks.”
“You’ll have a long trip. In two weeks, I’ll be in the middle of the Caribbean. Kathy’s booked us on a cruise.”
“You almost sound like you’re looking forward to it.”
“This retirement idea sounds better and better every day.”
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ANNA studied the mountain valley from the window, squinting against the glare of the sunlight on the snow. The tube with the painting jostled against her leg with the movement of the train. Now that she was sure she’d gotten away clean, her next step was to find a place to store the painting. Then she could seek out buyers, but there was no rush. She had all the time in the world. No one would ever come after her.
She opened the letter from Costa’s printer, read over it again. The instructions were detailed and convoluted, as all of Costa’s plans were, but it all boiled down to a simple result. Costa instructed Bent to move the GRS money to a new account, using a digital trail that could be followed. He was to cover his tracks, of course—he couldn’t make it too easy—but he wasn’t to cover them too well. Costa wanted the digital money trail to be discovered.
She smiled at the thought of some analyst in a dreary cubical in the States following the money from one bank account to another, finally running it down to a single, empty account with the name Zoe Hunter on it. How nice that the account would show Zoe had used the money to purchase an expensive painting from a shady Paris art dealer.
Anna refolded the letter and relaxed into her seat, debating where she’d settle down. The south of France was nice...but she’d always wanted to see Capri.
Look for Book Three in the On The Run series, Deceptive,
in fall 2013
Other books by Sara Rosett:
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On the Run series
(suspense)
Elusive
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Ellie Avery series
(cozy mystery)
Moving is Murder
Staying Home is a Killer
Getting Away is Deadly
Magnolias, Moonlight, and Murder
Mint Juleps, Mayhem, and Murder
Mimosas, Mischief, and Murder
Mistletoe, Merriment, and Murder
Note From The Author
Thanks for reading Secretive! This is my second outing with Zoe and Jack, and this adventure was as much fun to write as their first one. I hope you enjoyed it. If you’d take a moment to rate or review Secretive on-line, I’d appreciate it.
You can check out pictures that inspired me as well as photos from my trip to Germany at the Secretive board on Pinterest. You can find out more about me and my books at my website, www.SaraRosett.com, or you can sign up for my newsletter here. I hope you’ll connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Goodreads. Happy reading!
About the Author
A native Texan, Sara is the author of the Ellie Avery mystery series and the On The Run suspense series. As a military spouse, Sara has moved around the country (frequently!) and traveled internationally, which inspired her latest suspense novels. Publishers Weekly called Sara’s books, "satisfying," "well-executed," and "sparkling."
Sara loves all things bookish, considers dark chocolate a daily requirement, and is on a quest for the best bruschetta. Connect with Sara at www.SaraRosett.com. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Goodreads.
Read more at Sara Rosett’s site.
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Praise for Sara Rosett
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapt
er 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
Epilogue
Look for Book Three in the On The Run series, Deceptive,
Other books by Sara Rosett:
Note From The Author
About the Author