Every Last Fear

by Alex Finlay

  “Is the Texan there?” Bob asked.

  Keller looked over at Cal Buchanan, the Chicago field office SAC who’d helped her raid Marconi LLP. Cal stood next to several hard-looking men holding large guns and wearing tactical gear. As a result of the Pine case, Keller had been promoted to head of the New York office when her boss Stan Webb was elevated to D.C. It paid to make the president’s daughter happy. With the new position, Keller could pull together the teams she wanted. Some jobs required finesse, some needed a BSD.

  Cal was stealing looks at her like he was getting anxious that they’d miss their chance.

  “I want to talk to the twins,” Keller said, still feeling the nerves.

  “You talk to them after.”

  Bob was right. Think positive.

  “I’ll talk to you later,” Bob said. No hesitation there.

  “I love you,” she said.

  “You more. And, hey, you got this, G-woman.”

  Keller severed the connection, collected herself. She went over to the group huddled near the only window of the run-down shack.

  “We’ve got someone coming up to the place,” the spotter said from the window.

  “Tough business staying off the grid,” Cal Buchanan said. “How in the hell’d you find him?”

  “Airline records,” Keller said without elaboration. She went over to the spotter, took his binoculars, peered through a crack in the blinds.

  A man carrying a plastic jug of water approached the doorway to a shack even smaller than the one they were in. He was tall, thin, had what looked like a freshly shaved head. He wore a mustache. But the ’stache didn’t fully cover the scar—from a cleft palate—that cut from his right nostril to his lip.

  The man went inside the shack and Keller handed the agent the binoculars. “It’s him.”

  The team stood at attention, the sound of the men locking and loading filling the room.

  “You can stay in here,” Cal said. “We’ve got this. I’ve got the best breach men in the business.”

  Keller thought of a fearless young woman named Maggie who always charged in. She got in the stacked position with the rest of the team. Cal gave her an admiring look.

  Then she and the men charged out the door.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  This novel came about in the most old-fashioned of ways—a writer and an editor sitting in a grim New York City watering hole talking about books and life—and an idea I had for a story about a family torn apart and ultimately brought together by tragedy. Joseph Brosnan, you’re a genius, and I’d be lucky to spend the rest of my career benefiting from your sage guidance and vicious pen.

  I’m blessed to be represented by the best literary agent in the business, Lisa Erbach Vance. I’d walk through fire for you, Lisa, which is fitting because you’ve already done so for me.

  I also extend my deepest gratitude to the talented and dedicated team at St. Martin’s Press, including Kelley Ragland, who threw her considerable force behind this book; Martin Quinn, Steve Erickson, and Kayla Janas, who expertly made sure the world knew about it; and Kaitlin Severini, who fixed all of my mistakes.

  Special thanks to friends who read early drafts or helped with the medical, State Department, and technology research, including Reeves A., Lou B., Mara B., Deborah C., Kimberley H., Brian H., Dawn I., Stanton J., Robert K., Barry L., Doug L., Tony M., Sheila S., Carmen V., and “the Squad” from Recanati, Italy (Stephanie G., Jennifer R., Lynn S., and Charlie S.).

  I must also recognize the Center on Wrongful Convictions for its harrowing work, and the exonerees who spent years of their lives in prison for crimes they did not commit. I drew inspiration from some of their stories in the exceptional Anatomy of Innocence: Testimonies of the Wrongfully Convicted (Liveright, 2017).

  Of course, I must thank my family. In creating the Pines, I borrowed from my children: Jacob’s tales of life, friendship, and chess at NYU; Emma’s tenacious ways and our hours binge-watching Netflix true-crime dramas; and Aiden’s love of movies and travel—and his admiration of a rogue country club caddie master. Kids: You have my whole heart. You always did.

  And none of this would be possible without my wife, Trace. Like everything else, Every Last Fear is for you.

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  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  ALEX FINLAY is the pseudonym of an author who lives in Washington, D.C. Born in the American South, Alex spent years traversing the globe, from a tropical island in the Pacific to a small village in the UK to a remote region in the Far East. But it was on a trip to Tulum, Mexico, that Alex was inspired to write Every Last Fear. You can sign up for email updates here.

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  CONTENTS

  Title Page

  Copyright Notice

  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

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Chapter 45

  Chapter 46

  Chapter 47

  Chapter 48

  Chapter 49

  Chapter 50

  Chapter 51

  Chapter 52

  Chapter 53

  Chapter 54

  Chapter 55

  Chapter 56

  Chapter 57

  Chapter 58

  Chapter 59

  Chapter 60

  Chapter 61

  Chapter 62

  Chapter 63

  Chapter 64

  Chapter 65

  Epilogue

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  Copyright

  This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

  First published in the United States by Minotaur Books, an imprint of St. Martin’s Publishing Group

  EVERY LAST FEAR. Copyright © 2021 by Alex Finlay. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin’s Publishing Group, 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271.

  www.minotaurbooks.com

  Cover design by David Baldeosingh Rotstein

  Cover art © Sally Mundy/Arcangel

  The Library of Congress has cataloged the print edition as follows:

  Names: Finlay, Alex, author.

  Title: Every last fear / Alex Finlay.

  Description: First edition. | New York: Minotaur Books, 2021.

  Ident
ifiers: LCCN 2020042042 | ISBN 9781250268822 (hardcover) | ISBN 9781250268839 (ebook)

  Subjects: GSAFD: Suspense fiction.

  Classification: LCC PS3606.I5528 E94 2021 | DDC 813/.6—dc23

  LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020042042

  ISBN 978-1-250-79427-7 (Canadian edition)

  eISBN 9781250268839

  Our ebooks may be purchased in bulk for promotional, educational, or business use. Please contact the Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department at 1-800-221-7945, extension 5442, or by email at MacmillanSpecialMarkets@macmillan.com.

  First Edition: 2021