The man was watching her through a pair of binoculars.
Suzannah stared back, completely confused. He was wearing a baseball cap and nicely fitted jeans. He was also wearing a brown leather bomber jacket exactly like Justinâs, but with the binoculars obscuring his features, she simply couldnât tell who it was.
At least, not for sure.
If it were Justin, he would have waved to her by now. Even if he hadnât intended for her to catch him following her, heâd do something now to acknowledge her. Wouldnât he?
She was about to call out to him when the man finally moved. Reaching his hand under his jacket, he pulled out a jet-black, long-barreled firearm. Then, to her shock, he aimed it right at her.
Dear Reader,
Law students learn countless rules governing trial procedure. Most laypeople know the major ones, too, just from reading or watching legal thrillers. Rules like: Donât lead your witness. Donât badger their witness. That sort of thing.
But Rule #1 overshadows all others: Donât piss off the judge.
A good litigator chants it silently before every appearance. No competent attorney wants to test it, much less break it.
Itâs true that a judgeâs rulings can be reversed later on appeal, but while trial is in session, he or she is omnipotent. Get on that judgeâs bad side, and suddenly, you have zero leeway with either your questioning or your arguments. Heck, at that point, youâre just trying to survive! Because if youâre really annoying, you could go to jail for contempt.
Among her other problems, the heroine of Spin Control has just broken Rule #1.
Enjoy!
Kate
is the author of more than a dozen novels and novellas, ranging from time travel and paranormal to historical romance, suspense and romantic comedy. An attorney, she draws on her criminal law background to create challenges worthy of her heroines, who crack safes, battle bad guys and always get their man. As for Kate, she definitely got her man and is living happily ever after with him and their two children in Elk Grove, California. Please visit her Web site at www.katedonovan.com.
This story is dedicated to our dog Murphy,
who was so sweet, so loyal and so loving for fourteen years, and who never once complained at the end. Good boy, Murf. Weâll never forget you.
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
Epilogue
Kristie Hennessyâs career at the Strategic Profiling and Identification Network required her to excel at three things: evaluating a subjectâs state of mind, anticipating his next move and designing a strategy to deal with it. She had been doing this sort of thing every day, weekends included, for almost two years, yet had to admit the man she was currently observing was the most fascinating subject she had ever encountered.
He paced back and forth like a wild animal that had just been caged. The fact that he was visibly conflicted was particularly intriguing given his profile. Everything in his file indicated that he was a man of incredible confidence, determination and single-mindedness. And Kristieâs dealings with him up till this point had proved that profile correct.
So why was he suddenly so unsure of himself? So tense? So downright fidgety?
And then it hit her, right between the eyes. This manâSPIN Director Will McGregorâwas about to propose to her.
Finally!
âAs you know,â he was saying, his sexy voice resembling an X-rated travelogue as he paced the floor of her Washington, D.C., apartment, âthe West Coast office is ready to roll. The last stage in this plan is to assign permanent staff, and thenâassuming the President doesnât change his mind againâSPIN will be converted from a separate agency into a division of the Bureau.â
âItâs like going home for you,â she agreed, wistful for the days when he had been an FBI agent in the field, depending on herâhis âspinnerââto provide him with undercover identities and support via computer and telephone.
It had been his gorgeous intonation and impressive record that had first attracted her to him. For weeks they had known each other only by voice. Now they were lovers. And if she was reading the signals accurately, they were about to become even more.
âI kind of miss the days when you were an agent yourself,â she told him. âBut youâre such a great director, the change has definitely been worth it.â
He seemed disconcerted by the interruption, so she warned herself to stop distracting him from his objective.
McGregor cleared his throat. âOnce the transition is complete, I wonât be a director any longer. Iâll be an assistant director of the FBI. Theyâve promised me I can choose to be based in L.A. or D.C. And since my sister lives in L.A., thatâs my preference. But it affects you, too, because Iâd want you to permanently relocate there. The good news is, you wonât have to find housing. Because obviously youâd be living at my place.â