Lethal Justice. Fern Michaels
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FERN MICHAELS
LETHAL JUSTICE
ZEBRA BOOKS
KENSINGTON PUBLISHING CORP.
http://www.kensingtonbooks.com
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
ZEBRA BOOKS are published by
Kensington Publishing Corp.
119 West 40th Street
New York, NY 10018
Copyright © 2006 by Fern Michaels. Published by arrangement with Severn House Publishers, Ltd.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.
Zebra and the Z logo Reg. U.S. Pat. & TM Off.
ISBN-10: 1-4201-4274-7
ISBN-13: 978-1-4201-4274-7
First Mass Market Paperback Edition: January 2007
First Trade Paperback Edition: March 2017
eISBN-10: 1-4201-2777-2
eISBN-13: 978-1-4201-2777-5
First Electronic Edition: January 2007
Contents
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
Epilogue
Prologue
Alexis Thorne slipped out of bed and walked over to the window. She loved watching the sun creep over the horizon, loved that a new day was beginning. She was mindful that today was the first day of spring. Finally, finally, she was going to get the justice she deserved. Today, she was ready. She curled up on the window seat with its flowered pillows and hugged her knees to her chest. Excitement rippled through every inch of her.
Once before she’d been in this same emotional state but it hadn’t worked out, because back then she wasn’t ready to exact her revenge against the two people who had ruined her life and sent her to prison. Now, though, she was soooo ready to take them on! Her body just screamed with vengeance.
“Woof.”
Alexis untangled herself and rushed over to her beloved dog Grady, the dog she had thought she would never see again. But here he was and her life was better for it. “Want to go out, huh? Okay, but be quiet, everyone is still asleep.”
The golden retriever dipped his head and it looked as if he understood, which he probably did.
There was nothing fashionable about the flannel robe Alexis slipped into or the fuzzy, worn slippers. Once, a long time ago, before prison or BP, as she referred to that ugly time, she’d had fine things and a fine life. These days, thanks to Nikki Quinn, her attorney, she earned a living as a personal shopper for some of Washington’s elderly residents. It paid the rent, her car payment, and her living expenses. Somehow or other, she managed to save a few dollars each month. It was a far cry from the high salary she used to earn as a securities broker but she’d gotten used to a frugal lifestyle.
Alexis opened the kitchen door to let Grady romp the grounds of Pinewood. She was startled to see Charles Martin on the terrace, surrounded by clay pots of brilliant spring flowers and drinking a cup of coffee.
“Good morning, luv. Can I get you some coffee?” he asked.
“I’ll get it if you don’t mind me joining you. It looks like it’s going to be a beautiful day. I’ve always loved the first day of spring with its promise of warm breezes, gentle rains, and golden sunshine.” Alexis was back within seconds, a cup of coffee in her hands. She sat down on one of the terrace chairs. “A penny for your thoughts, Charles.”
“Right now, my dear, my thoughts aren’t worth a penny. My mind is clear. It’s rare that this happens so I’m trying to enjoy these few minutes.”
“How do you do it, Charles?” Alexis asked. “Keeping it all straight, staying on top of everything, even while you may be missing your homeland? I would never be able to do that. I obsess. I can’t move on and I can’t seem