Mary Jane Clark - Do You Promise Not to Tell?

HIGH RATINGS FOR MARY JANE CLARK

DO YOU PROMISE NOT TO TELL?

Nail-biting suspense, two budding romances, and the heartwarming tale of an elderly Russian emigr make DO YOU PROMISE NOT TO TELL? a top notch read. The story grabbed me from page one and kept me mesmerized until the surprising finale.Toby Bromberg, Romantic Times

For those who cant get enough of the competitively backbiting world of network news, this novel offers entertaining verisimilitude.Publishers Weekly

DO YOU WANT TO KNOW A SECRET?

A polished page-turner with a smart, appealing TV anchorwoman as the main character. Twists, turns and a terrific plot. I loved it.Mary Higgins Clark

An unabashed edge-of-the-seat, they-dont-write-em-like-that-anymore, unplug-the-phone-and-disconnect-the-TV page-turning stunner!Dan Rather

Secrets... ambition... intrigue... Mary Jane Clark knowingly seduces you in this intensely suspenseful be-hind-the-media-scenes thriller.Joan Rivers

A brilliantly structured thriller. The secrets and surprises just keep coming.Janet Evanovich, author of High Five and Hot Six

ST. MARTINS PAPERBACKS TITLES
BY MARY JANE CLARK

Do You Want to Know a Secret?
Do You Promise Not to Tell?
Let Me Whisper in Your Ear
Close to You
Nobody Knows
Nowhere to Run
Hide Yourself Away
Dancing in the Dark

MARY JANE
CLARK

St. Martins Paperback

NOTE: If you purchased this book without a cover you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as unsold and destroyed to the publisher, and neither the author nor the publisher has received any payment for this stripped book.

This is a work of fiction. All the characters and events portrayed in this book are either products of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously.

DO YOU PROMISE NOT TO TELL?

Copyright 1999 by Mary Jane Clark.
Excerpt from Let Me Whisper in Your Ear copyright 2000 by Mary Jane Clark.

Cover photograph by Frank Spinelli.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. For information address St. Martins Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010.

ISBN: 0-312-97424-8
EAN: 80312-97424-4

Printed in the United States of America

St. Martins Press hardcover edition / August 1999
St. Martins Paperbacks edition / July 2000

20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11

It takes a village to write and publish a book. Id like to express my appreciation to the support population of Do You Promise Not to Tell?

Roberta Golubock took me to lunch at the Metropolitan Museum of Art while the Faberg exhibit glittered. An idea was born and Roberta encouraged me to see it through to fruition.

Margaret Trombly, Director of the Forbes Museum, Associate Curator Robin Troemer-Brenner and George Tempro, Director of Administration, helped me with my early research on Fauxberg. Geza Von Hapsburg, Thomas Hoving, and the late Robert Woolley assisted too, with their respective tomes on Faberg, art forgery, and auctions.

Norma Nutman and the late Deena Teitlebaum guided me through Brighton Beach as I tried to absorb the local color of Little Odessa.

Margot Dennedy, Director of Security at Sothebys, helped me find the one spot to get away with murder in a world class auction house without security cameras watching.

An FBI agent, who wishes to remain nameless, generously volunteered inside information on how todays Federal Bureau of Investigation works. I promise not to tell.

Louise and Joel Albert, Cathy and David Holmes and Barbara and Reginald Brack opened their writers retreats to me.

Father Paul Holmes was my sounding board, hole-finder, and cheerleader, egging me on as I labored to make deadline. His editorial help made the book better.

Laura Dail, my agent and friend, seems to be thinking constantly of my career, which frees me up to think about my writing. I always feel I am in good hands with Laura and her enthusiastic assistant, Francheska Farinacci.

The St. Martins Press team is led by Sally Richardson, who has made me feel quite special. My editor Jennifer Weis, her assistant, Joanna Jacobs, publicist Walter Halee and paperback quarterback Matthew Shear tackle their work hard, determined to score. My thanks to them and everyone at St. Martins who worked on this project.

Frances Twoomey, what would I do without you?

Louise Albert, Joy Blake, Liz Flock, Cathy White Haffler, Katharine Hayden, Elizabeth Kaledin and Steve Simring: the ones I called when I was ready to shave my head. That happened a lot.

Doris and Fred Behrends, my parents, constantly tried to help me.

Finally and always, Elizabeth and David, my children. They bear with their mother. I love you both, very, very much.

JUST FOR ELIZABETH...
My sparkling, intricate, miraculous treasure

Do You Promise
Not To Tell?

Fat Tuesday

Why hassle with buying a gun when you can just cruise the aisles of Home Depot? Its all there.

A box of heavy-duty black plastic garbage bags was thrown into the wire shopping cart. Industrial Strength, the package boasted.

No one would miss Mishaat least no one that the police would bother trying to satisfy.

Slowly up and down the busy aisles. Pruning shears. Big ones. Into the basket they went.

Either youre on the team, or youre not, Misha.

So many axes, so little time. A salesman in an orange, bib-fronted apron appeared amid the axes.

Can I help you?

Yes. Im doing some yard work. I have to clear some trees and brush.

How thick are the tree trunks?

The salesman was assessed. A little thicker than your waist.

The salesman selected a large, wooden-handled ax from the bin. This ones a beauty. Double-edged. When one side gets dull, you just flip to the other.

Okay.

You said you have to clear some brush, too? Its a waste of your energy to use an ax as heavy as this one if you dont have to. Youd better have a smaller hatchet in your toolbox.

The hatchet found a home on top of the garbage bags.

Youll want one of these files, too. That way, you can keep your tools keen. Youd be surprised at how much easier your job is when theyre razor sharp.

In went a shiny new hammer for good luck.

It was essential to get out while the going was good. Many people would get away with their crimes if they just knew when to stop. Instead, their egos got in the way. You gotta know when to quit.

The pimply-faced high-school kid at the register scanned the tools that would make Misha... well, go all to pieces.

The kid looked up and felt a chill creep up his spine. He ignored it.

Spring cleanup, huh?

Ash Wednesday

Farrell Slater knew her days were numbered. Her contract was up and Range Bullock, executive producer of KEY Evening Headlines, didnt like her. A lethal combination. Unless she could redeem herself, Farrell knew her contract would not be renewed and her days as one of the producers of the networks highly-rated evening-news broadcast would be over unless she could pull a journalistic rabbit out of a hat.

Shed even started going to church again. Funny how worry led one back to the kneeler. On the way to the office this morning, Farrell had stopped for ashes at St. Gabriels. It was the first time in years shed bothered. Might as well start the Lenten season off right. Having God on her side right now wouldnt hurt.