Perfect for fans of Jeff Lindsay’s Dexter thrillers and the novels of Lisa
Gardner and Karin Slaughter, the gritty, action-packed Justice series
continues as a depraved mind taunts those who seek retribution on both sides
of the law.
I become whatever they want. Whatever they need.
Seattle Chief of Detectives Mort Grant is still reeling from losing his
daughter—again. When Allie first walked back into his life, breaking years of
silence, he could hardly believe his luck. And after hearing her story, Mort
tried to do everything in his power to keep her safe. The only person he
trusted with Allie’s life was The Fixer. But, for the first time, The Fixer
let him down.
Now Mort has been called in on a gruesome murder case: a beautiful young
woman found in a ravine, her body riddled with stab wounds. Within twenty-
four hours, the police uncover a snuff film depicting her murder, the
killer’s face always just out of shot. When a second body and video are
discovered, Mort knows this is no ordinary case.
From a chain of sleazy payday loan shops to the dark underworld of the sex-
slave trade, Mort’s chasing a twisted menace to hell and back. But he’s not
the only one. Once again, The Fixer is on the hunt—and she’s desperate to
make things right.
Exclusive Excerpt
Crystal had a good feeling about this job. Boss Man called her just three
hours ago. Told her to get herself pretty, said he’d send a car for her. She
told him she couldn’t make it. She didn’t have a sitter for her daughter.
Besides, Nyla’s birthday was tomorrow and the soon-to-be four-year-old was
too wired to pawn off on some babysitter uninitiated to how headstrong the
girl could be when she was this excited.
“Don’t you worry about a thing,” Boss Man promised her. “Sitter’s on me. Make
sure you’re ready to have a good time.”
“Look,” Crystal tried again. “I’m dead tired. I’ve been working double shifts
all week.” She chose her next words carefully; she knew his temper. “Besides,
you’ve had me out three times this month. Have somebody else take this one.”
She held the phone away from her ear and braced herself for an angry tirade.
Instead she heard his soft chuckle.
“You sure you want me to do that?”
Crystal brought the phone closer. “Why wouldn’t I want a night with my baby
the day before her party? Especially as tired as I am.”
Boss Man’s voice was full of sugar. “Don’t I always take care of you? This
job came up. Big bucks.” He waited a moment; his voice lowered to a near
whisper when he continued. “Man’s in town with his director. Scouting scenes
for a new movie he’s about to start. Word is they’ve still got a couple of
bit parts to fill. Naturally, I thought of you.”
Crystal glanced over to the small play table in the corner of the efficiency
apartment she called home. Nyla was busy drawing princesses. To Crystal they
all looked like circles and sticks, but Nyla had a name and story for each
one.
“If he’s such a hotshot, why’s he need you? Tell him to go down to the hotel
bar and crook his finger at any girl sipping happy hour away. Won’t cost him
a cent.”
Boss Man didn’t whisper this time. “Guys like this don’t pay the girl to
show. They pay her to leave when it’s time to get some shut-eye. He’s
expecting you. Now get yourself cleaned up and plant a big smile on that
pretty face. The car will be there at seven o’clock. With a babysitter in the
backseat.”
“Mama!” Nyla held up her paper. It was filled with purple blotches and
squiggles. “Princess Puppy Dog! She have birfday too!” The little girl smiled
wide, bounced her head of golden curls, and started singing a fractured
version of the birthday song.
Crystal heaved a sigh into the phone. “Look, I can’t.”
“If that’s the way you want it. But there’s one thing you should know before
you blow this guy off.”
“What’s that?”
The voice on the other end of the line was pure silk. “This could be your way
out.”
Crystal shifted her weight from one foot to the other. “I’m listening.”
“Now, I’m not going to lie to you, Crystal. This guy’s into some quirky kink.
Nothing you can’t handle, though. And he’s Hollywood. Those guys don’t pop a
zit without a camera rolling, so you can expect some of that. Don’t be
surprised if there’s another person invited to play along, either.”
“So far you’re making a night of tea parties and paper dolls sound pretty
good.”
“Tea party!” Nyla sang out.
“Like I said,” Boss Man continued. “This guy tells me what he’s looking for,
and him being Tinseltown connected and all, I know he’s got the bankroll to
back it up. So I negotiate for you like I’m Mark Fucking Cuban in the middle
of the shark tank.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“How’s this?” Boss Man asked. “You do tonight . . . make nice with Hollywood
. . . and you’re clear.”
Crystal pushed down a stir of hope tugging in her chest. “Specifics?”
“You’re all paid up, honey. No more principal. No more interest. You wake up
tomorrow morning with your debt marked ‘paid in full.’”
Crystal reminded herself to breathe. She looked over to Nyla and imagined an
endless string of evenings with her girl. If she could get clear of what she
owed Boss Man, maybe she could even cut back on overtime at the store.
“You’re not playing with me?”
Boss Man chuckled again. “Tell you what, I’ll leave an envelope with the guy.
I’ll have all your paperwork inside. Big red stamp across the front showing
it paid. Everything legit as the pope. If that’s not enough for you, turn
around and walk out.”
Crystal closed her eyes and stole a moment to dream. She’d be done. She and
Nyla could be together like a real family. No more shame. No more fear. Just
her and her baby girl.
“This sitter, she good?”
“I use her for my own kids. That is, when I can find the time to take the
wife out. Now, what do you say? Don’t let all my negotiating go for nothing.”
T. E. Woods is a clinical psychologist in private practice in Madison,
Wisconsin. Her scientific writings are well represented in peer-reviewed
journals and academic texts. Her literary works earned her first place for
Fiction at the University of Wisconsin Writers’ Institute. Dr. Woods enjoys
kayaking, hiking, biking, and hanging around the house while her two dogs
help her make sense of the world. Her habit of relaxing by conjuring up any
manner of diabolical murder methods and plots often finds her friends urging
her to take up knitting.
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