The Murder That Never Was: A Forensic Instincts Novel Read Online Free PDF Page B

and gone to a salon on the other side of town, where she’d gotten a haircut and highlights. She’d then picked up colored contacts to change her eye color from hazel to golden brown.
    It was enough. She looked startlingly like Julie.
    Milo had done the rest. He’d searched the Internet, exploring dozens of cities and towns across the country, until he’d found exactly what they needed: a small local gym that was rent-to-buy in Upper Montclair, New Jersey.
    The woman who needed to unload it was moving to Europe and required an instant transaction. So she’d settled for a modest monthly rental with the hopes that Julie would be purchasing the popular gym in no time. It was in the heart of a yuppie area, near mass transit to Manhattan, and included in the deal all the newest and most extensive array of training equipment.
    So Milo and Lisa were on their way to a new life.
    “Thank you,” Lisa murmured now. “For everything.”
    “I’ll take some home-cooking as my payback.” Milo winked, his gaze returning to his computer. “Plus, it’s a cool opportunity for me. I’ve never been to the Big Apple or to New Jersey. And my job is certainly transportable—as am I.”
    “Where are we living?”
    “Right on Bellevue Avenue in Upper Montclair, one block from your gym. I rented us an apartment with one and a half bedrooms, a living room, a bathroom, and a galley kitchen. I’ll use the half bedroom as a combo bedroom and computer station. We’ll be fine.” “Wasn’t that expensive?”
    “Not too bad. Plus, we have my income, your inheritance, and the gold mine of a gym you’re about to launch.”
    “Does the landlord allow pets?”
    Milo grinned. “Still dead set on getting that dog, I see. Well, you’ll have your wish. Pets are allowed. But I’m not cleaning up turds, so the training’s on you.”
    “Fair enough.” Lisa glanced at Milo’s keyboard, which he was now pounding on again. “What are you doing?”
    “A whole bunch of things, Julie.” He kept using her new name so it would sink in and become her own. “I logged on as you. I’m now emailing your landlord, telling him you got a sudden out-of-town job and had to relocate ASAP. I told him to charge your credit card for the duration of your lease so he’s appeased and doesn’t raise any red flags. I know the rental house was furnished, but I’m letting him know that he can sell everything else, donate it to charity, whatever, and to keep the proceeds for his trouble.”
    “Oh.” Lisa was trying to process everything Milo was saying.
    “I’m also emailing your two gym bosses, Kristen and Nora, and explaining that you’re leaving town. I scanned an article from the Sun-Times reporting Lisa’s death, and I’m attaching it to the emails. I’m saying that, after living with someone who was shot to death right in front of your house, you’re too freaked out to work. That you’ve got to get out of Chicago. I’m sending your apologies for the lack of notice and any inconvenience it causes them, and asking them to email any unemployment paperwork. Blah, blah, blah.”
    Milo paused and gave a baffled shrug. “Kristen and Nora are both females. Statistics say that females are far more motivated by feelings than males are; I’ve read that in several reliable sources. So, they’ll understand where you’re coming from and forgive you. I don’t get it, but that’s how it will go down.”
    “I guess.” Lisa tucked her hair behind her ear. She was still getting used to this new angled style, although she’d really admired it on Julie.
    The old Julie. The dead Julie.
    She shuddered. “Milo, do you really think we’ll be able to pull this off? I mean, I can memorize anything and pass any test. But becoming another person…” She broke off, glancing quickly around as she recalled what Milo had said about talking about this among people.
    “Not a doubt, Julie,” he replied. “You’re going to create a gym that everyone will want to