Jack of Spades Read online

  Jack of Spades

  BY

  DIANE CAPRI

  Presented By:

  AugustBooks

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  Praise for

  New York Times and USA Today

  Bestselling Author

  Diane Capri

  “Full of thrills and tension, but smart and human, too. Kim Otto is a great, great character. I love her.”

  Lee Child, #1 World Wide Bestselling Author of Jack Reacher Thrillers

  “[A] welcome surprise… [W]orks from the first page to ‘The End’.”

  Larry King

  “Swift pacing and ongoing suspense are always present… [L]ikable protagonist who uses her political connections for a good cause…Readers should eagerly anticipate the next [book].”

  Top Pick, Romantic Times

  “…offers tense legal drama with courtroom overtones, twisty plot, and loads of Florida atmosphere. Recommended.”

  Library Journal

  “[A] fast-paced legal thriller…energetic prose…an appealing heroine…clever and capable supporting cast…[that will] keep readers waiting for the next [book].”

  Publishers Weekly

  “Expertise shines on every page.”

  Margaret Maron, Edgar, Anthony, Agatha and Macavity Award-Winning MWA Grand Master

  Copyright © 2019 Diane Capri, LLC

  All Rights Reserved

  Excerpt from Past Tense © 2018 Lee Child

  Published by: AugustBooks

  http://www.AugustBooks.com

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  DianeCapri.com

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  Jack of Spades is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  License Notes:

  This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  Publisher’s Note:

  The publisher and author do not have any control over and do not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without express written permission from the publisher. The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

  eISBN: 978-1-942633-13-6

  Original cover design by: Cory Clubb

  Digital formatting by: Author E.M.S.

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  Reviews

  Copyright

  Dedication

  Dear Friends

  PAST TENSE by Lee Child

  Cast of Primary Characters

  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

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  More from Diane Capri

  About the Author

  Lee Child: The Reacher Report

  DEDICATION

  Perpetually, for Lee Child, with unrelenting gratitude.

  Dear Friends,

  Jack of Spades is the eighth novel in my Hunt for Jack Reacher Series, and I couldn’t be more excited for you to read it! More than two million readers already love the Hunt for Jack Reacher Series books—including Jack Reacher’s creator, Lee Child, thank heavens! Whew!

  The first question new readers usually ask me is how I’m allowed to write about Jack Reacher. The short answer is that Lee Child and I are friends and he’s a big fan of my work. I write these books with his full support, for which I’m eternally and unrelentingly grateful. I’ve included his Reacher Report at the end of this novel in case you’re not signed up to receive email from Lee directly (and you can sign up to hear from him on his website if you’d like to).

  I hope you’ll see right away why amazing #1 worldwide publishing phenomenon Lee Child calls my books, “Full of thrills and tension, but smart and human, too.” And why Lee gave the series an enthusiastic two thumbs up when he said, “Kim Otto is a great, great character. I love her!”

  The second question I often hear is about the source books for my stories. As many of you already know, every Hunt for Jack Reacher Series novel uses one of Lee Child’s Reacher novels as its source book. I’m not writing sequels here, though. FBI Special Agent Kim Otto has a totally new story every time and that story spins off from the source book.

  Jack of Spade’s source book is Past Tense.

  The source books are fun to read either before or after my Hunt for Jack Reacher Series books, and readers tell me they love both. Each of my books is a complete story and, like Lee Child’s original novels, my books do not need to be read in any particular order. (Although many readers enjoy reading the books in publication order.)

  A list of source books and publication order can be found in the back of this book HERE and on my website here: https://dianecapri.com/books/free-book-list-pdf/

  The third most frequent question I get is when the next Hunt for Jack Reacher book will be published. Jack of Spades is the eleventh book in my series, which consists of three exciting short reads and eight novels. I’m working on book number twelve, novel number nine, now. There’s a link to preorder the next novel at the end of this book so you won’t miss out! You can find a complete list of all of my books here: http://dianecapri.com/books/

  Please sign up for my mailing list to receive advance notice of new releases and lots of other exclusive stuff for reading group members only. You can do that here: http://dianecapri.com/get-involved/get-my-newsletter/

  While you’re waiting for a new Hunt for Jack Reacher Series book, please give my other books a try. I believe you’ll enjoy them just as much. And either way,
let me know what you think. You can write to me anytime, and I hope you will. I’d love to get to know you better. You can always reach me here: http://dianecapri.com/get-involved/message/

  Lee Child also suggests that you “Make some coffee. You’ll read all night.” If you enjoy my books, I hope you’ll recommend them to your friends who love to read mystery/thriller/suspense, too.

  Meanwhile, thanks so much for reading. It’s an honor and a privilege to write for readers like you!

  Caffeinate & Carry On!

  PAST TENSE

  by Lee Child

  2018

  Reacher stuck out his thumb.

  The truck stopped. An old guy with a long white beard leaned across inside and wound down the passenger window.

  He said, “I’m going to Laconia.”

  “Me, too,” Reacher said…

  “…Why are you going to Laconia?”

  “I was passing by,” Reacher said. “My father was born there. I want to see it.”

  “What’s your last name?”

  “Reacher.”

  …

  “I’m not a father myself. But I can imagine…Parenting tip,” Reacher said. “Don’t leave him lying in the road. He could get run over.”

  “I won’t forget this.”

  “That’s the difference between us,” Reacher said. “I already have.”

  CAST OF PRIMARY CHARACTERS

  Kim L. Otto

  Reggie Smithers

  Charles Cooper

  Lamont Finlay

  Jake Reacher

  Margaret Reacher

  Desmond Trevor

  Patty Sundstrom

  Shorty Fleck

  Carlos Gaspar

  John Lawton

  and

  Jack Reacher

  CHAPTER ONE

  Thursday, February 24

  5:30 p.m.

  Laconia, New Hampshire

  Jake Reacher found his mother in the kitchen facing the window over the sink, washing dishes, and staring at the bird feeder his father had installed in the side yard. His mother was an avid bird watcher. His father had been, too. More than two hundred species migrate through New Hampshire, Dad often said. His mother kept a diary, meticulously noting the date and time each spring when she saw her first Common Redpoll and Pine Siskin at the feeder.

  Jake didn’t see the fascination with staying in the same place. He wanted to experience the world, not stagnate here in Laconia, New Hampshire. A long and lazy road trip sounded perfect. Take his time on the drive, see something of the country, and stay awhile once he reached sunshine and beaches.

  The aromas coming from the oven declared his favorite pot roast was almost ready. His stomach rumbled like a hibernating bear awakened in the spring.

  His entire life, his mother had had dinner on the table every day at six o’clock when her husband came home from work. Habit of a lifetime.

  For a few days after his father’s funeral, she’d seemed foggy and unable to focus on much of anything. But she had set the small kitchen table for two instead of three tonight, which meant she had a good grasp on the reality of her situation. She was strong enough that he felt okay about leaving her alone.

  Only the two of them were left now. David Reacher would never come through the back door again after a long day teaching science at the university. Would never place his keys on the counter or hang his jacket on the peg by the door. Would never again hug his wife and say, “It smells amazing in here. What’s for dinner?”

  Jake shrugged. The situation was what it was. Pretending otherwise would not bring his father back. Cancer had killed him, slowly but effectively, while Jake had watched the process unfold over the past several months. There was no mistake. The only father he’d ever known was gone. Jake had accepted the truth. His mother needed to do the same.

  She turned away from the sink at the sound of his footsteps entering the kitchen. She’d been crying again. Tear tracks marked her cheeks and glassy tears settled in her eyes making them appear even more luminous than usual. She reached up with the back of her soapy hand and swiped her nose and offered him a weak smile.

  “Just in time.” She nodded toward the stove before she returned to the dishes. “Take the roast out of the oven for me, will you?”

  He gave her shoulders a quick squeeze and said nothing. She felt as small and fragile as one of the songbirds she loved to watch. His father had encouraged her to take care of herself, but his pleas had made little difference. She’d stayed glued to his bedside day and night those last weeks and she’d eaten barely enough to keep a bird alive.

  Jake looked down at her petite body. He had towered over both his parents for almost a decade now. He was twenty-two years old, but he had reached his full six feet, four inches long ago. He’d often wondered why he was so much taller and bigger than his parents. Or why he had blue eyes and fair hair when they were both darker. He’d assumed recessive genes were to blame. He knew now he’d been wrong.

  He found the oversized oven mittens, which were too small to fit his huge hands. Holding the mitts like hot pads, he removed the heavy cast iron from the oven and set it on top of the stove. When he lifted the lid and set it aside, his stomach growled as the scent of pot roast, carrots, onions, and potatoes nestled in bubbling rich gravy filled the room.

  “Put the rolls in the oven to warm, please. And the salad is in the refrigerator.” His mother tilted her head toward the appliance as if he might have forgotten where it was located, like she’d done a thousand times before. “I’ll just finish up these few dishes and we’ll be ready. You can pour the coffee if you like.”

  Jake found the tossed green salad and salad dressings in the refrigerator and moved them to the table. He poured strong, black coffee for both of them. She would add cream to hers. When the rolls were hot, he carried the plates to the range and dished out the food as usual. All without comment.

  Jake was quiet by nature. He saw no reason to fill the silence with idle chatter. When he had something to say, he said it. Otherwise, he kept his thoughts to himself and appreciated it when others did the same.

  By the time they were seated in their usual places, his mother had managed to compose herself, even if her eyes and nose were still red. He had tried to comfort her by holding her hand on the table, without success. Old Man Reacher had told him she’d heal with time and he hoped that was true. He’d done all he could.

  “Are you still leaving in the morning?” she asked as she placed her napkin on her lap.

  “It’s best to get on the road while the weather holds,” he replied between mouthfuls.

  Laconia, New Hampshire, was experiencing a winter thaw forecast to last another couple of days. The snow and ice had melted on the major thoroughfares and many of the busier side roads. His SUV had four-wheel-drive, but the travel would be easier if he avoided the heavy snow as long as possible.

  “It’s more than three thousand miles to the Pacific Ocean. How long do you figure it’ll take you to get there?” She was making conversation as if she believed his trip would be the grand adventure he’d claimed and she’d made peace with his decision. She hadn’t. But it seemed she had finally accepted that he was going, which was good.

  He shrugged. “Driving time on the interstates is forty-four hours, but I’m planning to take the back roads. See a bit of the country along the way. Make a few stops.”

  His mother nodded, pushing the food around on her plate with her fork. “Have you planned the route?”

  “Not exactly. Maybe Boston to Syracuse, Cincinnati, St. Louis, Albuquerque. I’m not sure.” He was leaving room for serendipity to strike.

  He put another forkful of beef in his mouth and chewed appreciatively. His mother was a damn good cook and he’d always had a hearty appetite. Eating well had produced his intimidating, heavily built body, all bone and muscle, which had always served him well.

  She nodded again and focused her gaze on her meal. She had nothing new to offer. She’d already made
all of her arguments for hours on end.

  She’d said it was a long drive for one person to undertake. He was young. He could easily get into trouble. There was no reason for him to go off looking for a man who didn’t know he existed. Couldn’t he wait until spring when driving conditions would be better? Didn’t he have a friend he could take along? Wouldn’t he rather fly?

  One by one, he had addressed her objections with replies that made sense to him if not to her.

  It was a long drive, but he was looking forward to it. He was young, so he had boundless energy for the trip.

  If trouble came his way, he could easily get himself out of it, as she well knew. Jake had been fighting his own battles since middle school, and looking out for his friends, too. Several times, she and his father had been called to the principal’s office, and later to the local police station, to bail him out after a fight. He never started trouble, but he was more than willing to finish it, and on his own terms.