The Last to Die. Beverly Barton

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      COLD-BLOODED KILLER

      The Congregational Church was packed to capacity, the sanctuary and the vestibule. A crowd had gathered outside on the front steps and down the sidewalk. She knew that these people weren’t here to show their respects to Jamie. Not many people had liked Jamie. Quite a few had despised him. And several had hated him, as she had. The huge outpouring of sympathy was for Big Jim and Miss Reba.

      The sheriff and the chief of police were here, reminding everyone that Jamie had been murdered. Tortured and tormented. Made to suffer. Punished for his sins. She’d seen to that. She’d made sure he would never hurt her, her child, or any other woman—not ever again.

      Jazzy Talbot was conspicuously absent. Good. She’d hated to think that worthless slut would dare show her face.

      As she watched while others paraded by Jamie’s closed casket, she had to fight the urge to smile—even laugh. She had destroyed his pretty face and silenced his lying mouth. And now Jazzy was suffering.

      But not nearly as much as she would suffer.

      The woman had to die.

      Deserved to die.

      Would die.

      But not yet.

      When this all came to an end and everything was as it should be, Jazzy would be the last to die…

      Books by Beverly Barton

      AFTER DARK

      EVERY MOVE SHE MAKES

      WHAT SHE DOESN’T KNOW

      THE FIFTH VICTIM

      THE LAST TO DIE

      AS GOOD AS DEAD

      KILLING HER SOFTLY

      CLOSE ENOUGH TO KILL

      MOST LIKELY TO DIE

      THE DYING GAME

      THE MURDER GAME

      COLD HEARTED

      SILENT KILLER

      DEAD BY MIDNIGHT

      DON’T CRY

      DEAD BY MORNING

      DEAD BY NIGHTFALL

      DON’T SAY A WORD

      JUST THE WAY YOU ARE

      THE RIGHT WIFE

      (available as an e-book)

      Published by Kensington Publishing Corporation

      In memory of a very special lady, an avid reader and a

       fellow Tuscumbian who never missed one of my

       autographings,

       JAN WHITTLE

      and

      In memory of my dear cousin

       LOUISE GIBBS THORNE,

       a fellow writer whose weekly column appeared in

       The Colbert County Reporter

       for many years.

      A very special thank you to my wonderful editor JOHN SCOGNAMIGLIO

      And several dear friends who understand the life of a writer and help keep me sane, LINDA, LJ, WENDY, and PAULA

      Contents

      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

      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

      Epilogue

      PINNACLE BOOKS are published by

      Kensington Publishing Corp.

      119 West 40th Street

      New York, NY 10018

      Copyright © 2004 Beverly Beaver

      All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.

      To the extent that the image or images on the cover of this book depict a person or persons, such person or persons are merely models, and are not intended to portray any character or characters featured in the book.

      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.”

      All Kensington titles, imprints, and distributed lines are available at special quantity discounts for bulk purchases for sales promotions, premiums, fund-raising, educational, or institutional use. Special book excerpts or customized printings can also be created to fit specific needs. For details, write or phone the office of the Kensington sales manager: Kensington Publishing Corp., 119 West 40th Street, New York, NY 10018, attn: Sales Department; phone [phone].

      This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

      PINNACLE BOOKS and the Pinnacle logo are Reg. U.S. Pat. & TM Off.

      ISBN-13: 978-0-7860-4103-9

      ISBN-10: 0-7860-4103-X

      First Zebra mass market paperback printing: January 2004

      Revised Zebra mass market paperback printing: January 2009

      First Pinnacle mass market paperback printing: May 2018

      16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8

      Printed in the United States of America

      First Pinnacle electronic edition: May 2018

      ISBN-13: 978-0-7860-4107-7

      ISBN-10: 0-7860-4107-2

      Prologue

      He pounded on her door and shouted her name. Go away, she wanted to scream. Leave me the hell alone. But she knew he wouldn’t go. Not unless someone came and dragged him away.

      Maybe she should call Jacob and tell him that Jamie was harassing her again. As the county sheriff, he could hold Jamie in jail overnight. Or she could phone Caleb and ask for his help in getting rid of an unwanted midnight