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  Sam chewed and swallowed slowly. “So the murder was premeditated.”

  Jess nodded and took a sip of her coffee. “He hunted her. Followed her to class. Took note of her habits for a full week. Then he orchestrated a meeting at her favorite bar the night she went missing.”

  “What about Trina? Why didn’t he kill her, too?”

  “She wasn’t at the bar that night. Trina was still angry after their big fight a couple of days earlier. And Trina didn’t deface the walls of the catacombs, either. Fortunately for her. But once the police identified Trina as a suspect, the press picked it up,” she shrugged. “The rest is history.”

  “I guess his stealthy planning and unusual motivation helped keep him under the radar, too.” Sam nodded. “He was damn lucky. Melinda and Trina were not so lucky.”

  “Things sometimes work out that way, Sam.” Jess placed a hand on his forearm. “But Trina’s grateful to you for solving the case now.”

  “Yeah,” he grimaced. “Just once, I’d like to get there before the bad guys do the deed, you know?”

  “I know. But this time, for Trina, it was truly better late than never.”

  “I suppose.” Sam picked up the file again and sifted through until he came across the photo. A young, vibrant Melinda stared back at him, a smile full of mischief. “Damn shame. And the young man I found? Same thing?”

  “He and a couple of friends brought some weed and beer for a party. Pierre followed them. He planned to lure them into that opening, one at a time.” Jess leaned in and gave him a sad smile. “We weren’t able to save Melinda or that young man, but we did some good here, Sam. Your finding Melinda and taking action likely saved more lives. We know how this goes. Once a man like Pierre starts killing, he doesn’t stop.”

  Sam put the photo down with a sigh. The faces would stay with him forever, but Jess was right. Stopping Pierre from killing again had to be enough. “So now what?”

  Jess tucked a lock of curly blonde hair behind one ear. “You mean since he confessed can he still get off on some sort of technicality? I don’t know what the law is here in France, so it’s hard to say. Since there is no death penalty here, I doubt he’ll try. He’s proud of his handiwork. My guess is that it’s over.”

  “You must be relieved. You were right. Trina was innocent after all. Maybe she can finally get her life back on track.”

  “What life she has left. This has been ruinous for her. She’s lived under a cloud for more than two years. Lost her friends. Had to drop out of school because she couldn’t deal with the harassment. Couldn’t get a job.” Jess frowned as she picked off a piece of her croissant. “But she’s a strong young woman. I hope she’ll be able to turn things around.”

  “Better than if Melinda’s body had never been found, at least.” He needed this. Just a narrow silver lining he could cling to.

  “True. And Melinda’s family can finally lay her to rest. So what’s next for you?” Jess restacked the papers and took one last look at the photo. She slipped everything into the folder. “You said you were going to start a security firm in Denver? When is that launching?”

  That was the question, wasn’t it? But now, the photo of Melinda’s smiling face still etched in his mind, he shrugged. “I planned to start my own agency. Now? I don’t know, Jess. Personal security might be okay. I feel like I could make a solid living, get my second kid the rest of the way through college, and then put together a nice little nest egg.”

  “But?” she urged, a smile tugging at her lips.

  “But there wouldn’t be this, you know? As bad as it gets, there’s no replacement for feeling like you’ve helped somebody.”

  What he’d done here certainly felt better than walking a paranoid businessman through a crowded airport or watching over a touring starlet while she signed autographs at the local concert venue.

  “Whether it’s saving a life, or getting a violent criminal off the street, or giving a parent some closure…all that stuff feels more important to me today than I realized when I left Denver P.D.” He grimaced when he realized what he’d said and felt a guilty stab to his heart.

  He hadn’t asked her about her son. But what was there to say? He knew Peter was still missing and he had nothing positive to offer her. He looked down at the table and let the urge to mention painful subjects pass.

  “You’re a good guy, Sam. Denver P.D. should welcome your return in a heartbeat.” Her voice was strong and her smile genuine. Whatever her private pain, she had pushed it aside for the moment. “If they won’t take you back, let me know. I think I could help you find something.”

  He smiled his thanks and then swallowed down the last of his coffee. “I appreciate that. If I can be of any help to you, anything at all, call me, and I’ll be ready.” He stood and tossed some bills on the table between them. Her eyes were glassy, and the last thing he wanted was to steal what little joy she’d found. “I’ve got to head out. There’s a tour of the Louvre starting in fifteen.”

  She raised her cup. “I’m going to hang back and enjoy my coffee and the calm for a few minutes. My flight leaves in a couple hours and then it’s back to the grind.”

  He nodded one last time and shuffled off toward the museum. She called after him.

  “Hey, Sam?”

  He turned and shot her a questioning glance.

  “Do me a favor and just stick to the tour, okay? No veering off. I think I’ve used up all my goodwill with the Police Nationale for a while. If they see us coming, they might decide to lock us up.”

  He gave her a grin and a thumb’s up then kept walking.

  THE END

  Coming Soon: FATAL DAWN: A Jess Kimball Thriller

  Click Here for Details

  Jess Kimball’s son, Peter, has been missing far too long. She’s done everything possible to find him. Henry Morris is pressuring her to give up and make a life for herself without Peter. She thinks he may be right. But in her mother’s heart, she believes Peter is still out there and she’s determined to find him. When Jess receives a ransom demand, her prayers may have finally been answered. She races to find the ones who hold Peter hostage. Will her son’s long ordeal finally be over?

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  I hope you’ve enjoyed Fatal Past as much as I’ve enjoyed creating it for you. I also hope you’ll recommend my books to your friends who might like them, too. The best way to share your honest review is to post a quick two or three-sentence review telling me what you loved about Fatal Past at the retailer where you bought this copy and give the books some stars. Please do that to help me write more of what you want and less of what you don’t want. I promise I won’t forget! And now that we’ve found each other, let’s keep in touch. Readers like you are the reason I write!

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  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Diane Capri is an award-winning New York Times, USA Today, and world-wide bestselling author. She writes several series, including the Hunt for Justice, Hunt for Jack Reacher, and Heir Hunter series, and the Jess Kimball Thrillers. She’s a recovering lawyer and snowbird who divides her time between Florida and Michigan. An active member of Mystery Writers of America, Author’s Guild, International Thriller Writers, Alliance of Independent Authors, and Sisters in Crime, she loves to hear from readers and is hard at work on her next novel.

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  Also by DIANE CAPRI

  (Click each title to buy or download a sample)

  CLICK HERE for a complete list of Diane Capri Books

  The Heir Hunter Series:

  Blood Trails

  Trace Evidence

  The Jess Kimball Thrillers Series:

  Fatal Enemy (novella)

  Fatal Distraction

  Fatal Demand

  Fatal Error

  Fatal Fall

  Fatal Edge (novella)

  Fatal Game

  Fatal Bond

  Fatal Past (novella)

  Fatal Dawn (coming soon)

  The Hunt for Jack Reacher Series:

  Don’t Know Jack

  Jack in a Box (novella)

  Jack and Kill (novella)

  Get Back Jack

  Jack in the Green (novella)

  Jack and Joe

  Deep Cover Jack

  Jack the Reaper

  Black Jack (coming soon)

  The Hunt for Justice Series:

  Due Justice

  Twisted Justice

  Secret Justice

  Wasted Justice

  Raw Justice

  Mistaken Justice (novella)

  Cold Justice (novella)

  False Justice (novella)

  Fair Justice (novella)

  True Justice (novella)