by Blake Pierce
She found, much to her own surprise, that she had risen to her feet and was walking over to the lectern. And then, without really knowing what words would come out of her mouth, Jessie began to speak.
“I only knew Garland Moses for about two years, although of course I knew of him for many before that. I was scared of him at first, intimidated, though he never gave me a reason to be. It was his reputation for hunting down the worst of humanity that made him seem fearsome.
“But once I screwed up the courage to talk to him, to seek out his counsel, to get to know him, I discovered that he wasn’t so fearsome after all. He was gentle, which he hid by being quiet. He was kind, which he masked by seeming absent-minded. He was warm, which he veiled in crustiness. He was generous, which he pretended was inadvertent. He never once refused me help when I asked or advice when I needed it.
“Most importantly, when I doubted myself and feared that what I knew to be true might be false, he refused to doubt me. He believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself and that allowed me to believe again. He was always there for me. And isn’t that what family is supposed to be about? Garland Moses was my family and I will miss him dearly.”
EPILOGUE
A machine in the darkened hospital room beeped quietly.
Jessie wasn’t certain which one was making the sound. There were so many to choose from, so many tubes connected to Ryan’s body.
She sat silently in the uncomfortable chair she’d pulled up next to his bed so that she could hold his hand. She’d been here for hours and would stay for several more. Hannah was at Kat’s apartment, enthusiastically plastering posters of singers Jessie had never heard of to her side of the wall in the spare room they’d be sharing for now.
For half a second, Jessie thought Ryan had squeezed her hand, but then the hope faded. She remembered that the doctor had told her he might twitch involuntarily on occasion. But that didn’t mean he was regaining consciousness or that he ever would.
His condition was still described as “critical” and had been for two days now. When she’d pressed him, the doctor had admitted that Ryan’s chances of survival were “no better than fifty-fifty.”
“But he’s strong,” the doctor had added quickly. “And that means a lot. We’ll know more in a few days.”
If Ryan did wake up, it would be to another world.
The new world, which she hadn’t yet told anyone about, was one in which she intended to resign as a criminal profiler for the LAPD. She’d written the letter to Captain Decker in her head. She just had to put it down on paper now.
She was done with hunting serial killers. She was done with losing friends and family to the monsters she’d let define her life. Her mother had died at the hands of one, as had her adoptive parents. She’d lost her mentor to another killer and almost lost her sister to him too. She might well still lose the man she loved. This life had to end.
She knew she could get a teaching position almost anywhere she wanted. Her thesis advisor had adored her. Her therapist, Dr. Lemmon, a former profiler herself, held influence at every major university in Southern California and would surely use it if Jessie asked.
She recalled Garland Moses’s words from what ended up being their last conversation, in the Nickel Diner over coffee, just before she’d sent him off with a sarcastic quip, something she now deeply regretted.
You need to take care yourself. If you won’t do it for your own well-being, think of your little sister and that dashing detective you love. Those relationships are inevitably going to suffer if you keep your foot on the pedal all the time. Looking out for you helps you look out for them.
She planned on taking his advice. This change would allow her to lead a more normal life, get home at a decent hour, and actually be there to help Ryan recover, assuming he got the chance. She’d be there to help her little sister through the hell that had been her life this last year. She still didn’t know if Hannah had helped her defeat Kyle out of genuine love, obligation, or self-preservation. But she had helped and that was a good sign. Jessie hoped to build on it.
With the decision made, Jessie felt something unexpected: liberation. It was as if she’d been carrying an enormous stone and suddenly decided to simply drop it and walk away. Even more, for the first time in what felt like an eternity, here in the hospital ICU, staring at her unconscious boyfriend, worrying about her troubled sister and mourning her dead mentor, she was filled with optimism about the future.
She managed a wry chuckle. Garland would have appreciated the irony.
NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER!
THE PERFECT DISGUISE
(A Jessie Hunt Psychological Suspense Thriller—Book Ten)
“A masterpiece of thriller and mystery. Blake Pierce did a magnificent job developing characters with a psychological side so well described that we feel inside their minds, follow their fears and cheer for their success. Full of twists, this book will keep you awake until the turn of the last page.”
--Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos (re Once Gone)
THE PERFECT DISGUISE is book #10 in a new psychological suspense series by bestselling author Blake Pierce, which begins with The Perfect Wife, a #1 bestseller (and free download) with over 500 five-star reviews.
When a demanding Hollywood starlet is murdered, Jessie must navigate her way through the murky world of film studios, casting directors, producers, agents, rival actors and an ecosystem of people who may have wanted her murdered.
After one shocking twist after another, the truth, Jessie finds, may be much more unexpected than anyone thinks.
Can Jessie, still wrestling with her own demons, enter the killer’s mind and stop him before he strikes again?
A fast-paced psychological suspense thriller with unforgettable characters and heart-pounding suspense, THE PERFECT DISGUISE is book #10 in a riveting new series that will leave you turning pages late into the night.
Book #11—THE PERFECT SECRET—is now also available!
THE PERFECT DISGUISE
(A Jessie Hunt Psychological Suspense Thriller—Book Ten)
Did you know that I've written multiple novels in the mystery genre? If you haven't read all my series, click the image below to download a series starter!
Blake Pierce
Blake Pierce is the USA Today bestselling author of the RILEY PAGE mystery series, which includes seventeen books. Blake Pierce is also the author of the MACKENZIE WHITE mystery series, comprising fourteen books; of the AVERY BLACK mystery series, comprising six books; of the KERI LOCKE mystery series, comprising five books; of the MAKING OF RILEY PAIGE mystery series, comprising six books; of the KATE WISE mystery series, comprising seven books; of the CHLOE FINE psychological suspense mystery, comprising six books; of the JESSE HUNT psychological suspense thriller series, comprising eight books (and counting); of the AU PAIR psychological suspense thriller series, comprising three books; of the ZOE PRIME mystery series, comprising four books (and counting); of the new ADELE SHARP mystery series; and of the new EUROPEAN VOYAGE cozy mystery series.
ONCE GONE (a Riley Paige Mystery--Book #1), BEFORE HE KILLS (A Mackenzie White Mystery—Book 1), CAUSE TO KILL (An Avery Black Mystery—Book 1), A TRACE OF DEATH (A Keri Locke Mystery—Book 1), WATCHING (The Making of Riley Paige—Book 1), NEXT DOOR (A Chloe Fine Psychological Suspense Mystery—Book 1), THE PERFECT WIFE (A Jessie Hunt Psychological Suspense Thriller—Book One), and IF SHE KNEW (A Kate Wise Mystery—Book 1) are each available as a free download on Amazon!
An avid reader and lifelong fan of the mystery and thriller genres, Blake loves to hear from you, so please feel free to visit www.blakepierceauthor.com to learn more and stay in touch.
BOOKS BY BLAKE PIERCE
EUROPEAN VOYAGE COZY MYSTERY SERIES
MURDER (AND BAKLAVA) (Book #1)
DEATH (AND APPLE STRUDEL) (Book #2)
CRIME (AND LAGER) (Book #3)
ADELE SHARP MYSTERY SERIES
LEFT TO DIE (Book #1)
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p; LEFT TO RUN (Book #2)
LEFT TO HIDE (Book #3)
LEFT TO KILL (Book #4)
LEFT TO MURDER (Book #5)
LEFT TO ENVY (Book #6)
LEFT TO LAPSE (Book #7)
THE AU PAIR SERIES
ALMOST GONE (Book#1)
ALMOST LOST (Book #2)
ALMOST DEAD (Book #3)
ZOE PRIME MYSTERY SERIES
FACE OF DEATH (Book#1)
FACE OF MURDER (Book #2)
FACE OF FEAR (Book #3)
FACE OF MADNESS (Book #4)
FACE OF FURY (Book #5)
FACE OF DARKNESS (Book #6)
A JESSIE HUNT PSYCHOLOGICAL SUSPENSE SERIES
THE PERFECT WIFE (Book #1)
THE PERFECT BLOCK (Book #2)
THE PERFECT HOUSE (Book #3)
THE PERFECT SMILE (Book #4)
THE PERFECT LIE (Book #5)
THE PERFECT LOOK (Book #6)
THE PERFECT AFFAIR (Book #7)
THE PERFECT ALIBI (Book #8)
THE PERFECT NEIGHBOR (Book #9)
THE PERFECT DISGUISE (Book #10)
THE PERFECT SECRET (Book #11)
THE PERFECT FAÇADE (Book #12)
THE PERFECT IMPRESSION (Book #13)
THE PERFECT DECEIT (Book #14)
THE PERFECT MISTRESS (Book #15)
CHLOE FINE PSYCHOLOGICAL SUSPENSE SERIES
NEXT DOOR (Book #1)
A NEIGHBOR’S LIE (Book #2)
CUL DE SAC (Book #3)
SILENT NEIGHBOR (Book #4)
HOMECOMING (Book #5)
TINTED WINDOWS (Book #6)
KATE WISE MYSTERY SERIES
IF SHE KNEW (Book #1)
IF SHE SAW (Book #2)
IF SHE RAN (Book #3)
IF SHE HID (Book #4)
IF SHE FLED (Book #5)
IF SHE FEARED (Book #6)
IF SHE HEARD (Book #7)
THE MAKING OF RILEY PAIGE SERIES
WATCHING (Book #1)
WAITING (Book #2)
LURING (Book #3)
TAKING (Book #4)
STALKING (Book #5)
KILLING (Book #6)
RILEY PAIGE MYSTERY SERIES
ONCE GONE (Book #1)
ONCE TAKEN (Book #2)
ONCE CRAVED (Book #3)
ONCE LURED (Book #4)
ONCE HUNTED (Book #5)
ONCE PINED (Book #6)
ONCE FORSAKEN (Book #7)
ONCE COLD (Book #8)
ONCE STALKED (Book #9)
ONCE LOST (Book #10)
ONCE BURIED (Book #11)
ONCE BOUND (Book #12)
ONCE TRAPPED (Book #13)
ONCE DORMANT (Book #14)
ONCE SHUNNED (Book #15)
ONCE MISSED (Book #16)
ONCE CHOSEN (Book #17)
MACKENZIE WHITE MYSTERY SERIES
BEFORE HE KILLS (Book #1)
BEFORE HE SEES (Book #2)
BEFORE HE COVETS (Book #3)
BEFORE HE TAKES (Book #4)
BEFORE HE NEEDS (Book #5)
BEFORE HE FEELS (Book #6)
BEFORE HE SINS (Book #7)
BEFORE HE HUNTS (Book #8)
BEFORE HE PREYS (Book #9)
BEFORE HE LONGS (Book #10)
BEFORE HE LAPSES (Book #11)
BEFORE HE ENVIES (Book #12)
BEFORE HE STALKS (Book #13)
BEFORE HE HARMS (Book #14)
AVERY BLACK MYSTERY SERIES
CAUSE TO KILL (Book #1)
CAUSE TO RUN (Book #2)
CAUSE TO HIDE (Book #3)
CAUSE TO FEAR (Book #4)
CAUSE TO SAVE (Book #5)
CAUSE TO DREAD (Book #6)
KERI LOCKE MYSTERY SERIES
A TRACE OF DEATH (Book #1)
A TRACE OF MUDER (Book #2)
A TRACE OF VICE (Book #3)
A TRACE OF CRIME (Book #4)
A TRACE OF HOPE (Book #5)