Recovery Read Online Free PDF Page B

it will be very difficult for you to continue with your life in New Orleans after everything you’ve learned.”
    I knew Simon was right, no matter how much I wanted to deny it. I could never go back to New Orleans and live as I once had after his disclosures. The only way to get my life back was to find and destroy the person who had taken my life away.
    “What do you want from me, Simon?”
    He smiled triumphantly. “I have someone who will be making contact with you. He is a member of my specialty group. In fact, he is the best within my organization. A sort of precision instrument, if you will.”
    I shook my head. “I don’t understand.”
    Simon’s face grew somber. “This man is called on when extreme measures are needed to get information. But for him to be able to gather information about those we suspect, he will need you as a cover in order to penetrate your inner circle of society.”
    “A cover?” I laughed. “You’re joking!”
    Simon ignored my amusement. “His name is Dallas August and you will introduce him to all your friends and family back in New Orleans as your new paramour. And no one,” Simon’s voice became very hard, “no one is to know his real reasons for being with you. We cannot chance his cover being blown and losing our best opportunity to flush out the killer.”
    I shivered when he used the word “killer” and instinctively wrapped my arms about my body.
    “Forgive me for being so crass.” His voice was charming and soothing again. “But one must be blunt when speaking of such things. Remember, we are looking for a murderer now, not a friend. Keep that in your thoughts, it will make things easier.”
    I frowned at him. “You mean it will keep me objective.”
    “That too,” he replied, smiling.
    “And this man who is to pretend to be my lover, will he be able to find this killer?”
    “Dallas August is a cold and ruthless son of a bitch who will have no qualms about doing what is absolutely necessary to get the job done.”
    “Sounds like a charming fellow.” I shook my head. My life was suddenly spinning out of my control. “Simon, what makes you so sure we can pull this off?”
    “I know my man can pull it off. The rest will be up to you, my dear.” He sighed impatiently. “So do we have an arrangement?”
    “May I ask one question before I agree?” I paused as Simon nodded warily at me. “Why are you doing all of this? It’s not for David. There’s more to this, isn’t there?”
    He let a few seconds tick by before he answered.
    “My reasons are very simple, dollars and cents, my girl. Having one of my more prominent specialists killed has hurt my affairs and my income.”
    His words only confirmed the burning resentment I felt for the little man. “I knew you were a cold-hearted bastard under all that charm, Simon La Roy.”
    He bowed his head. “You flatter me, Nicci. In my line of work being a cold-hearted bastard is a compliment.”
    I turned and hurried away, leaving Simon basking in the glory of his newest acquisition, me. I was being used to help him remove the taint on his organization and improve his bottom line. It was just like finding out David had used me to destroy my family’s business all over again. Only this time I wanted to be used. I wanted to find out who had killed David. Quite simply, I wanted revenge. And the realization of that left me feeling strangely empowered. Love may give you wings, my father had always said, but only vengeance gives you courage.
    I made my way back to the party, stopped here and there by critics who had read my novel. I did not know how interested they were in actually meeting me since their eyes never seemed to travel higher than my bustline. But I smiled, played the coquettish tease, and flirted shamelessly. None of the men seemed to mind, but when I bumped into Dora, I got an earful.
    “Laying it on thick, aren’t you?” she asked just after a critic from the Herald Advocate had left my side.
    I