Jami Alden - Hide from Evil

As usual, I owe a huge thanks to my writing buddies who have helped me through every single book since I started this crazy writing adventure. First to Monica McCarty, for the daily sanity checks and accompanying ego boosts or ass kicks, depending on what I need that day. I love our shared brain. And to Bella Andre/Bella Riley/Lucy Kevin, without whom this book would not exist! If you enjoy Hide from Evil , thank Bella, because if Id had my way Sean would have never had his own happily ever after. And most especially thank you to my readers, for reading my books, enjoying them, and letting me know it! Nothing gets me through the tough spots and plot snags like knowing you are out there eagerly awaiting my next offering.

Y ou ready to go?

Krista Slater looked up and nodded at King County Prosecuting Attorney Mark Benson, who stood in the doorway of her office, briefcase in hand and an overstuffed accordion folder under his arm. She gathered the notes shed made on the witness statements shed taken in the past month, trying to summon up that hungry feeling that used to overtake her every time she prepared for court.

Come on, Slater, eye of the tiger , she told herself as she shoved her files into her briefcase. She needed to be on her A-game today. No room for self-doubt or mistakes, not when they were facing off against a slick fish like Roman Karev and his team of five-hundred-dollar-an-hour attorneys. Karev, a restaurant owner with known ties to the Russian mob, was accused of murdering a local businessman and his wife.

Today was the pretrial hearing, and while she was damn sure their case was rock solid, she knew any mistake, any slipup could and would be used to get crucial pieces of evidence thrown out. She couldnt afford to be distracted by anything, especially not

The phone on Kristas desk buzzed, and she pushed the button on the intercom. What is it, Lisa?

Her paralegals voice sounded on the speakerphone. Ms. Slater, I have a phone call for you. He wont say who he is, only that he was told to call you

As casually as she could, Krista punched Lisa off speakerphone and picked up the handset. She shot Mark an apologetic look, praying her elevated pulse rate and the twist of anticipation in her belly didnt show on her face. I have to take this.

Benson looked pointedly at his watch. We need to be there in ten minutes, and I need to go over some last-minute details.

Two minutes, I promise. Krista ignored Bensons impatient sigh. Put him through. She glanced up, stifling a grimace when it became clear Benson had no intention of leaving.

Krista swiveled her chair, turning her back to Benson, a thousand questions racing through her mind in the seconds it took for Lisa to put the call through.

Is this Krista Slater? asked a hoarse male voice.

Thats me, she said. Whos this?

This is Jimmy, Jimmy Caparulo.

Im so glad to hear from you. Ive been waiting for you to call.

Uh, yeah, the man replied, his confusion at Kristas borderline flirtatious tone evident.

Her heart thudded against her ribs. Jimmy Caparulo, the man Nate Brewster had tried to frame as the Slasher before Nate had been caught and killed. Im really glad you called, Krista said. My friend mentioned you might be in touch.

The friend was private investigator Stew Kowalski, whom Krista knew through his work on several cases with the prosecuting attorneys office. But this time Stew wasnt working in any official capacity, so she was careful not to mention him by name in front of Benson.

Krista had hired Stew a couple of months ago to look deeper into the Nate Brewster case. Even though there was no doubt Brewster was guilty of killing seven women, including Evangeline Gordon, some things about him just werent adding up. Too many gaps of information, too many things screaming at her that what happened to those women didnt begin and end with Nate Brewster.

But everyone from the FBI agent in charge of Brewsters case to Kristas own boss seemed content to let it go. The Slasher had been caught. They had incontrovertible proof in the form of video that hed killed all seven victimseight in total if you included Evangeline Gordon, the victim whose murder Sean Flynn had been sent to death row for. Flynn had been exonerated, freed, and generously compensated, and now everyone seemed content to put the entire embarrassing episode behind them.

Except for Krista, who couldnt let it go. When it became clear there was no way to keep the investigation active, she hired Stew on her own dime to find out the real story behind Brewster and the prostitution ring hed run out of one of Seattles most exclusive nightclubs. Up until now, he hadnt been able to find anything. The trail was cold, and Krista realized she needed to resign herself to the fact that sometimes the bad guys got away.

Flynn was free. She should be happy about that.

Then, a few days ago, Stew had made contact with Jimmy Caparulo. Krista told herself not to get her hopes up. Even so, this call from Jimmy sent her back on high alert. I told Stew I would only talk to you. I knew the way you helped Sean. Youre the only one I can trust with this, Jimmy said, his words coming out in a rush.

I wish youd called sooner. Krista injected a pouty note into her voice and snuck a glance at Benson. His expression was one of disbelief.

I knew they would hurt my aunt if I ever said anything, Jimmy continued, unable to stop himself now that the words had started. But now Nates dead and shes gone too. I cant keep it in anymore. I should have said something sooner. I should have helped Sean

Krista cut him off before he got rolling. She couldnt completely focus with Benson tapping his foot and giving her the wrap it up sign, and she didnt want to miss a word. I really want to talk to you more, but this isnt the best time. Can I call you later, or better yet, why dont we go out?

Go out? Yeah, this will be better in person. Where do you live?

Wow, you dont waste any time! she said with a little laugh. How about we at least meet for a drink before you invite yourself over?

What on earth are you doing? Benson whispered incredulously. We have to leave, now!

Krista held up a finger and mouthed Sorry , as she grabbed a pen to write down the name of a coffee place near Jimmys aunts house. Tonight at eight. Its a date, she said before she hung up.

She gathered her things, avoiding Bensons eyes as she braced herself for the scolding that would begin in five, four, three, two

What was that all about? Benson said, exasperated, his footsteps echoing off the hard floors of the corridor that connected their office wing to the courthouse. Ten minutes before we face off against Karev is not the time for a personal call.

Krista bit back a smart-ass response. Relieved as she was that Benson had bought her performance, it galled her that he really thought, after working with her for over seven years, she would be that frivolous. Still, hed be furious if he knew she was investigating Brewster after hed told her to drop it. I know, and Im sorry. But I made a commitment to myself to give a little more balance to my personal life, and my friend has been trying to connect me with this guy for months now, and Ive been really excited to meet with him.

At least that part was true. Ever since the truth about Seans innocence had come out, Krista had wondered if Jimmy had known all along that Nate was guilty. When Jimmy had testified against his friend Sean, had he known he was covering for Nate Brewster?