Inviting a stranger into your home can be dangerous. Inviting a stranger into your life can turn deadly.
How would you feel if you discovered your death was meticulously planned by someone you loved? You didn’t know how or when or even why. All you could do was wait.
Emma has it all-a job she loves and a man who professed to love her.
Or did she? How could she be so blind?
When her lover’s car is found burned and abandoned in another state, the police come asking some hard questions. What she discovers upends her world completely. Jude had been living a double life right under her nose. A deceitful life, a treacherous life. Who was this man that had already groomed another woman to take over Emma’s life? A woman who was Emma’s body double and now dead.
Why had she so easily trusted this psychopath with her heart? Betrayed on every level, consequences not of Emma’s making were nipping at her heels. Tick. Tock.
THREE is a gripping crime thriller that will have you hooked. A fast-paced psychological thriller that has been compared to the works of Dan Brown. It can be read as a standalone and serves as the first book in the Path of Deception and Betrayal series.
Extract
As he leaned forward, he rested his elbows on the table and his fingers pointed into a steeple. “I am sorry Dr. Collier is going through this stressful time. But I cannot offer you any further information. When we have something more concrete, we will let you know.”
“Well, you realize I can get what I need through a request under the Freedom of Information Act,” Alexi challenged.
“Ms. Morgan. Alexi. I am aware you have connections, and that you were a US assistant attorney. I am not naive to the possibility, more likely the probability, the minute I walk out you will use every resource at your disposal to find out what you want to learn. I realize you need to know the details of the investigation. That is what we are working on and not ready to explain yet. Agents lives remain at risk, and you could compromise an ongoing undercover operation. You can press for more information, but to save you time, I assure you Homeland sealed the files. I am asking you to back off,” he urged.
Aunt Mary couldn’t help herself. “Homeland. So, dickhead is a terrorist. I have to say I told you so. How long have I said he is a commie?”
She had our attention and continued. “Agent Thomas, if you get me into witness protection—I want Arizona, nothing cold—I will share my information. Get me a deal, and I will spill.”
All I could say was, “Jesus, help me,” as I lowered my forehead to the table.
Agent Thomas looked dubiously at Alexi and then back at Aunt Mary. “Thank you. If you would share your information with Ms. Morgan, she can tell me, and I will take your proposal under advisement.”
Aunt Mary hit the table, and I jumped. “Well, get cracking because I have the goods.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He picked up his papers and tapped the bottom to straighten them, then put them in his briefcase. He bid us a good day and left.
When I was sure he had left the building, I whirled around to let Aunt Mary have it. “What in the holy hell is wrong with you? If anybody should be ready to send Jude down the river, it’s me. But for the love of God, terrorism? Get a grip!”
“You think I am not crystal-clear right now? You think I am in one of my funks? I have been telling you for years he’s associated with Russians. You heard for yourself what the man said in spook-speak. Shit for brains is on a terrorist watch list. Now if they want my information, they will give, and I will give. As our great president says, there’s a deal to be made. I will not live the rest of my life looking over my shoulder once I blow the whistle,” she advised and crossed her arms and indicated she was done.
“Okay, okay, everyone quiet down,” Alexi said. “Mary, I am an officer of the court and a US citizen just like you. It is our duty to keep our country safe any way possible. If you have any information to substantiate Mr. White is involved in a terrorist organization, you must tell me.”
Glancing at me Mary said, “Ask her.”
For emphasis, she pointed an accusatory finger at me. “Ask Em. I’ve been feeding information to her for years about his behavior.”
Alexi stood up and squared her shoulders. She walked over to Mary, who appeared to drop back in her seat.
“Mary, this situation is very, very serious. Mr. White is missing, and we don’t have enough information to determine if he’s voluntarily missing, or missing as in dead. A woman posing as Emma is dead.” Alexi purposefully stopped there to let her absorb the information.
About the author
K. J. McGillick was born in New York and once she started to walk she never stopped running. But that’s what New Yorker’s do. Right? A Registered Nurse, a lawyer now author. As she evolved so did her career choices. After completing her graduate degree in nursing, she spent many years in the university setting sharing the dreams of the enthusiastic nursing students she taught. After twenty rewarding years in the medical field she attended law school and has spent the last twenty-four years as an attorney helping people navigate the turbulent waters of the legal system. Not an easy feat. And now? Now she is sharing the characters she loves with readers hoping they are intrigued by her twisting and turning plots and entertained by her writing
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