Never Tell

by Alafair Burke

  Leave it alone, and a few minutes from now, she’ll be a convicted murderer. She’ll have nothing.

  “Mr. Donovan, please make a representation concerning the facts that the people would be prepared to prove at trial.”

  Max’s voice felt far away as he methodically ran through the web of evidence against the defendant. “The defendant, rather than report to police the victim James Grisco’s attempt to blackmail her, took matters into her own hands. Taking advantage of a previous experience in which threatening comments had been posted to her website by another individual, she continued to post additional comments herself to create the impression that her stalker was escalating his conduct. She also sent herself a threatening package which had Mr. Grisco’s fingerprints on it, furthering that impression. Finally, she instructed Mr. Grisco to meet her at an address in East Hampton, where she shot him and then staged the scene to look like self-defense.”

  What had George Langston said—Ellie had just enough evidence to mess with his daughter’s head but could never get a conviction? The evidence in her own father’s death had been just enough to suggest that Jerry Hatcher had committed suicide, but never enough to give Ellie the firm answers she so desperately needed. She had spent her entire life wondering whether her father had loved his family so little that he chose voluntarily to leave them.

  Please don’t do that to my daughter. She’s the one innocent person.

  “How do you now plead to the charge contained in Count One of the indictment, Murder in the Second Degree?”

  “Guilty.”

  “Very well. It is the finding of this court that the defendant is fully competent and capable of entering an informed plea, is aware of the nature of the charge and consequences of the plea, and that the plea of guilty is knowingly and voluntarily entered and supported by a sufficient basis in fact. The defendant is adjudged guilty of that offense. I understand there is also an agreement to proceed straight to sentencing, with no evidence from either party to challenge the joint sentencing recommendation.”

  She thought about Casey, revisiting what he’d learned during his short-lived therapy with David Bolt: He’s all about separating yourself from your parents—being honest about who they are and how they treated you, but then letting go of it.

  “Ms. Langston, it is the judgment of this court that you be committed to the custody of the New York State Department of Corrections, to be imprisoned for a term of twenty years.”

  As the deputy took Adrienne back into custody, Ramona reached toward her from behind the courtroom railing. “I love you, Mom. Don’t forget. No matter what.”

  And then Adrienne was gone.

  When Ramona started to cry, George placed an arm around her shoulder and kissed the top of her head before guiding her from the courtroom. Casey followed behind. Only Katherine Whitmire acknowledged Ellie’s presence with a polite nod.

  Max was the last to make the trip down the center aisle of spectator seats. He looked behind him to make sure the coast was clear before giving her a peck on the cheek. “To what do I owe this surprise?”

  “Just wanted to see it all go down.”

  “Taking pleas is not exactly the most exciting part of my job. You got time for a cup of coffee? I missed you last night. Did you get any sleep? How late did you work?”

  The work itself hadn’t taken long, but she never did manage to sleep.

  She had been so certain about so much, from the very beginning of this case, but at each turn the people involved had surprised her. Julia had not taken her own life. Katherine Whitmire was leaving the husband who had defined her. Casey Heinz was finding family among people who had shunned him. Simple, rigid George Langston turned out to be remarkably complicated and empathetic.

  What had that book editor said? Not everything is black-and-white, or even shades of gray. Things can be black and white—right and wrong—all at the same time. A week ago, Ellie would never have kept quiet through that plea colloquy.

  “Yeah, coffee sounds good.” For the first time since they’d met, she let Max hold her hand in the courthouse as they walked to the elevator.

  George had said not all questions needed to be answered, but maybe some questions didn’t need to be asked. Maybe she was still getting to know herself after all.

  Acknowledgments

  I continue to be grateful to the many people who labor behind the scenes to support my work and bring it to readers. I have known my agent, Philip Spitzer, since I was twelve years old. He and his wife, Mary, and daughter, Anne-Lise, are my surrogate New York family and biggest champions. His colleagues Lukas Ortiz and Lucas Hunt round out the posse, making the Spitzer Literary Agency the Jerry Maguire of book agencies.

  Thank you, also, to the incredibly supportive and professional crew at HarperCollins: Amy Baker, Erica Barmash, Jonathan Burnham, Heather Drucker, Mark Ferguson, Michael Morrison, Danielle Plafsky, Nicole Reardon, Jason Sack, Kathy Schneider, Leah Wasielewski, and Lydia Weaver. Special thanks to my editor, Jennifer Barth, who has been with me from the beginning and continues to push me at every stage to write the best book I can write. She represents the very best in publishing, and I’m forever appreciative to have her on my side.

  Thanks as well to Ed Cohen, retired NYPD Sergeant Edward Devlin, Jen Forbus, Jonathan Hayes, McKenna Jordan, Ruth and Jon Jordan, NYPD Detective Lucas Miller, Erin Mitchell, and Richard Rhorer. Thank you, Duffer, for lending your name and image to the Duffer Awards. (Check Google. Trust me.)

  And, finally, thank you to my husband, Sean Simpson. If I were to write down all the mushy stuff I feel for you, my readers might never forgive me.

  A Special Note to My Readers

  I try to block out all the doom-and-gloom forecasts for the future (or lack thereof) of books, reading, publishing, and, gosh, even literacy. But I know enough to realize how lucky I am to have my words moved to paper pages and digital screens so I can tell my stories to you. And I know enough to understand that wouldn’t happen without your tremendous and often vocal support. Every writer thinks he or she has the very best readers, but I surely do.

  I’ve gotten to know many of you through my Web site, Facebook, and Twitter. Writing is a solitary activity, but I’m not a solitary person. Where I used to pop into the hallway for quick comedic relief back at the prosecutors’ office, I now pop onto the interwebs to chat with many of you when I need a little break. My thanks go to Holden Richards at Kitchen Media, Steffen Rasile at SRA Design Studios, and Catherine Cairns of Cairns Designs for their technical assistance in creating an interactive, online community.

  Some readers have gone the extra mile by serving as an online kitchen cabinet, helping me think through decisions like Never Tell’s title, character names, and the details of Jess’s reality television choices. For their helpful (and fun) comments during the writing of Never Tell, I thank the following readers: Adele Sylvester, Alan Williams, Alice Wright, Allison Freige, Amber Scott Guerrero, Amy Fleer, Amy Hammer, Amy Nagdeman, Amy Turner DeSelle, Andrea Napier, Andrea Stacy Kirk, Andrew Kleeger, Andy Gilham, Andy P. Barker, Angie Burton, Angie Thomas-Davis, Ann Abel, Ann Hyman, Ann Rousseau Weiss, Ann Smith, Ann Zerega, Anne Ward, Anya Rhamnusia Gullino, April Smith, Arllys Brooks, Art Battiste, Barb Finnigan, Barb Lancaster, Barb Mullen Gasparac, Barbara Bogue, Barbara Detwiler, Barry Nisman, Becky Decker, Becky Rathke, Ben Small, Beth Rudetsky, Betsy Steele Gray, Bettie Kieffer, Beverly Bryan, Bill Amador, Bill Hopkins, Bill Horn, Bill Strider, Bob Briggs, Bob Fontneau, Bob Horton, Bonnie Spears, Brantley Watkins, Brenda K. Gunter, Brenda LeSage, Brian Corbishley, Brian Highley, Brian Rosenwald, Bruce DeSilva, Bruce Southworth, Bud Palmer, Carl Christensen, Carl Fenstermacher, Carla Coffman, Carol Clark, Carol Johnsen, Carol O’Gorman, Carole M. Sauer, Caroline Garrett, Cele Deemer, Celeste Libert Mooney, Charlene Wigington Hulker, Charlie Armstrong, Charlotte Creeley, Cheryl Boyd, Cheryl Thompson, Chevy Stevens, Chris Cooper Cahall, Chris Hamilton, Chris Knake, Chris La Porte, Chris Schuller, Christine McCann, Christopher Zell, Chuck Bracke
n, Chuck Palmer, Chuck Provonchee, Chuck Stone, Cindy Current Griffin, Cindy Spring, Cindy Whitson, Clair Leadbeater, Connie Meyer, Connie Ross Ciampanelli, Cyndie Lamb, Cynthia Poley Parran, Dana Lynne Johnson, Danielle Holley-Walker, Dannii Abram, Danny Nichols, Daphne Anne Humphrey, Daryl McGrath, Daryl Perch, Dave Hall, Dave Kinnamon, David Bates, David Greensmith, David McMahan, David Michael Lallatin, David Stine, Dawn M. Barclay, Deb Sturgess, Debbie Clark Trolsen, Debbie Hartley Holladay, Debbie Hoaglin, Debbie Rati, Debi Kershaw, Debi Landry, Debi Sussman, Debra Eisert, Debra Manzella, Deda Notions, Dee Hamilton-Worsham, Denise Berger, Denise Sargent, Denise Shoup Andersen, Diane Donceel McDonald, Diane Griffiths, Diane Howell-Arp, Dick Droese, Dolores Melton, Don Lee, Dru Ann L. Love, Dudley Forster, Edward Foster, Elaine Meehan, Elaine Meehan, Elena Shapiro Wayne, Elizabeth Julia, Elizabeth Salisbury Anderson, Ellen Blasi, Ellen Montroy Doe, Ellen Sattler Harpin, Ellen Wills Bailey, Elyse Dinh, Erin Alford, Erin Mitchell, Etienne Vincent, Faye DeBlanc, Fran Burget, Francena Parthemore, Frank Guillouard, Fred Emerson, Fred Littell, Fred Pat Heacock, Garry Puffer, Gayle Carline, Gene Ruppe, Georgia Whitney, Glen Manry, Glenda Voelmeck, Glenn Eisenstein, Gretchen Gfeller, Hailey Ellen Fish, Hayden Wakeling, Heidi Moawad, Helen Carlsson, Ilene Ratcheson Ciccone, Ilene Renee Bieleski, Jackie Denney, Jackie Schmidt Welcel, Jacqueline May, James R. Bradbrook, Jan Wilberg, Jana Johnson, Janet Lindh, Janice Gable Bashman, Janie McCue Lynch, Janine Grondin Brennan, Jay Drescher, Jeanne Adcox Lockett, Jen Forbus, Jen Mullins Keae, Jenet Lynn Dechary, Jennifer Abelson Whitney, Jennifer Ellis Lindel, Jennifer Irvin, Jennifer Little Beck, Jennifer Mueller, Jennifer Murtha Kountz, Jerrica Furlong, Jerry McCoy, Jill Fletcher, Jill Porter Connell, Jim Boylan, Jim Cox, Jim Lewis, Jim Snell, Jimbob Niven, Jo Ann Nicholas, Jo Boxall, Jo Scott-Petty, Joan Long, Joan Lumb, Joan Moore Raffety, Joan Nichols Green, JoAnne Rosenfeld, Joe Carter, Joe Shine, Joey Mestrow, John Buckner, John Chester, John F. Armstrong, John Jones, John K. Peterson, John Karwacki, John P. Eperjesi, John Thomas Bychowski, Jon Schuller, Jordan Foster, Jordana Leigh, Josh Lamborn, Joyce Joyner, Joyce Wickham, Juaan Prescott Gibbs, Judith McCarrick, Judy Bailey, Judy Gehrig, Judy Jongsma Bobalik, Judy Lambert Watson, Judy Waren Bryan, Jules Davies-Conjoice, Jules White, Julie Ebinger Hilton, Julie Kosmata Elliott, Karen McNeel Meharg, Karin Carlson, Karla Davis Glessner, Kate Wood, Kathleen Andrews, Kathleen Geiger, Kathy Collings, Kathy Goodridge Poulin, Kathy Sammons, Kathy Schmidt, Kathy Vraniak Aldridge, Katie Blackmon, Kaye Wilkinson Barley, Kayla Painter, Kelly A. Gunter, Kestrel Carroll, Kim Baines, Kimberley Stephenson, Kristy Knox Taylor, Lance D. Carlton, Lance McKnight, Laura Aranda, Laura Bostick, Laura Piros McCarver, Leah Cummins Guinn, Leann Collins, Lee Walton, Leigh Sanders Neely, Liam Moloney, Lincoln Crisler, Linda Gilmer, Linda Hanno, Linda J. Myatt, Linda Jaros, Linda Maxine Williams, Linda Napikoski, Lisa Bergagna, Lisa Fowler, Lisa Wilcox, Liz Patru, Liza Kosiadou, Lois Alter Mark, Lola Troy Fiur, Louis Brunet, Louise Maughan James, Lovada Marks Williams, Lynda Pendley Bennett, Lynelle Russell, Lynn Ashworth Peters, Lynn Comeau, Lynn Hirshman, Lynne Dalton, Lynne M. Lamb, Lynne Victorine, Marc Davey, Margaret Franson Pruter, Margie Watts Iverson, Marie Horne Jackson, Marion Coro, Marjorie Tucker, Mark Gould, Mark O. Hammontree, Marlyn Beebe, Martha McConnell Greer, Martha Paley Francescato, Martha Stephenson La Marche, Martin Cook, Martin Treanor, Martyn James Lewis, Mary Geary, Mary Hohulin, Mary Phillips, Mary Stenvall, Mary Thompson Bullock, Maryann Mercer, Matt Foley, Matthew Jeanmard, Maureen Lennon Kastner, Maureen Wiley Apfl, Mauricia Sledd Smith, Melissa Costa, Michael Bok, Michael Charles Woodham, Michael Gallant, Michael Honeybear Cotton, Michael Ma, Michele Hendricks, Michelle Goad, Michelle Pabon Pharr, Michelle Phillips, Micki Fortenberry Dumke, Mike Forehand, Mike Houston, Mike Newman, Mitch Smith, Monica Niemi, Nancy A. Nash Coleman, Nancy M Hood, Nancy McCready, Nancy Rimel, Naomi Waynee, Nils Kristian Hagen Jr., Pamela Cardone, Pamela Jarvis, Pamela Pescosolido, Pamela Picard, Pat Neveux, Pat Winfield, Patricia Hawkins, Patricia Medley, Patsy Green, Patti James Anderlohr, Patti MacDonnell, Patti O’Brien, Patty Hudson, Patty McGuire Moran Kilkenny, Paul Hansper-Cowgill, Paul W. Stackpole Jr., Paula Rossetti, Pepper Goforth, Perry Lassiter, Pete Sandberg, Peter Robertson, Peter Spowart, Phil Messina, Phillis Spike Carbone, Rand Hill, Rebecca Turman, Rebecca Woodbury, Rhonda Tate McNamer, Richard Fox, Rick Miller, Robert Carraher, Robert Hartman, Robert Ray, Roger Vaden, Ronda Smittle Aaron, Rosemary Lindsey, Russell Meadows, Ruth Mariampolski, Ruth Miller Blackford, Ryan Dorn, Sabine Pilhofer, Sal Towse, Sally Channing, Sammi-Rexanne Huskisson-Bonneau, Sandra Jean Krna, Sandra Speller, Sandy Cann, Sandy Holcombe Olson, Sandy Maines, Sandy Plummer, Sandy Schwinning Hill, Sara Baldwin, Sara Glass Phair, Sara Gremlin, Sara Weiss, Sarah Pearcy, Scott Irwin, Shanna White, Shannon Keane English, Sharon Brown, Sharon Faith Graves, Sharon Woods Hopkins, Sherri Young Coats, Sherrie Saint, Sheryl Cooper, Sheryl Ditty Hauch, Shirley Anderson Whitely, Sita Laura, Soules Wanderer, Stacy Allen, Stella Mullis, Stephanie Angulo, Stephanie Doherty Rouleau, Stephanie M. Gleave, Stephanie Smith, Stephanie Stafford Roush, Stephen Burke, Sue Christensen, Sue Hollis, Sue Smith Stewart, Sue Stanisich, Susan Connolly, Susan Cox, Susan Dineen Kritikos, Susan Feibush Braun, Susan Ferris, Susan Jarrett Carey, Susie Cowan Hudson, Suzanne Abbott, Tammy Helms Baker Meyers, Teri James, Terry Butz, Terry Parrish, The Signal Grill, Thomas C. McCoy Jr., Tirzah Goodwin, Tommye Baxter Cashin, Tonett Mattucci Wojtasik, Tony Sannicandro, Tori Bullock, Tracey Edges, Tracy Nicol, Trena Klohe, Victoria Waller Ranallo, Viola Burg, Wallace Clark, Wayne Cunnington, Wayne Curry, Wayne Ledbetter, Wendy Brown, Wendy Burd-Kinsey, Wendy Weidman, Will Boyce, Will Swarts, William Bruner, and William Penrose.

  About the Author

  Alafair Burke is the best-selling author of seven previous novels, including the stand-alone Long Gone and the Ellie Hatcher series: 212, Angel’s Tip, and Dead Connection. A former prosecutor, she now teaches criminal law and lives in Manhattan.

  Visit www.alafairburke.com

  Visit www.AuthorTracker.com for exclusive information on your favorite HarperCollins authors.

  Also by Alafair Burke

  Long Gone

  THE ELLIE HATCHER SERIES

  Dead Connection

  Angel’s Tip

  212

  THE SAMANTHA KINCAID SERIES

  Judgment Calls

  Missing Justice

  Close Case

  Credits

  Cover design by Amanda Kain

  Cover photo montage © Getty Images (Woman) and Shutterstock (Wall)

  Copyright

  This book is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialogue are drawn from the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  NEVER TELL. Copyright © 2012 by Alafair Burke. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.

  FIRST EDITION

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data has been applied for.

  ISBN: 978-0-06-199916-1

  Epub Edition © JUNE 2012 ISBN: 9780062097088

  Version 07062012

  12 13 14 15 16 OV/RRD 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

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