When a Secret Kills Read Online Free PDF Page A

clean, while his thoughts taunted him.
    Jillian was still alive and a professional assassin was dead. And not only was Jillian still alive, so were Alexia Allen and Serena Hopkins. How was this possible? How hard was it to get rid of three women? Three women who could ruin him. Or was it more than that by now? The longer they lived, the more the odds increased that Jillian would tell what she saw that night. If she hadn’t already.
    No. If she had talked, he’d be in custody. He had to get rid of her immediately.
    Frank finished cleaning the weapon and turned to settle it back into place on the wall behind him. He turned back to his desk, his thoughts on his career and the certain knowledge that, if Jillian Carter didn’t disappear soon, he would have no career to think about. Just visualizing such a thing struck terror into his heart. He’d worked so hard on keeping everything above reproach. His image, his private life, his physical health, his family appearances . . .
    Everything. And now, in the length it would take Jillian to tell what she saw that night, he could lose it all.
    Frank broke out into a cold sweat and looked at the calendar. Three months until election day. Campaigning was hot and fierce between the candidates, and Frank had no intention of losing—or going to jail.
    Appearances. He had to keep up appearances.
    And get rid of Jillian.
    A curse slipped out.
    “What was that?”
    Frank jerked as his wife, Elizabeth, stepped into the room. Beautifully made up, she exuded poise and class. Exactly what he’d been looking for when he’d gone searching for a wife. The perfect political partner, one to inspire confidence in the voters; if such a woman would marry him, he must be worthy of their trust and their votes. “Sorry, I was just thinking about the debate coming up.”
    She arched a delicate eyebrow. “Well, if you plan to use that kind of language, you can pretty much kiss your career goodbye.”
    He rolled his eyes and stuffed down his impatience. “I think I can handle it.”
    Her shuttered eyes gave him a cool appraisal. “Be sure you do.”
    “Is there something you wanted?” He couldn’t help the impatience in his tone.
    She narrowed her eyes. “Carmen will be home next weekend. I do hope we can at least have one family dinner while she’s here.”
    Carmen. His daughter. His troubled daughter who seemed tobe trying to make something of her life. Finally. “Of course. Friday night?”
    Elizabeth gave him a slightly warmer look. “Perfect. Here or out somewhere?”
    “Let’s go out.” Being seen in public as a family was always good for a few votes. As long as Carmen behaved herself.
    “Wonderful. I’ll tell Carmen.” She turned toward the door, then looked back at him over her shoulder. “You seem more stressed than usual, Frank, is everything all right?”
    Frank forced a smile. “Everything’s fine. Where are you headed?”
    “Girls’ night out.”
    “Right. Well, enjoy yourself.”
    “I plan to. Don’t wait up.”
    And then she was gone, her light perfume lingering behind. He smiled. He’d brought that particular scent back on his last trip to Paris. She’d loved it and seemed genuinely happy with his gift.
    Current problems intruded on his pleasant memories and he frowned once again.
    Rising from the black leather chair, he paced his home office. He thought he’d had the best people that could be bought on this. But they’d failed to take care of the problem. Time after time, they’d failed. Maybe it was time to take matters into his own hands.
    Literally.
    He lifted them, palms up, and stared at them. Smooth and white. Yet even now, ten years later, he could almost see the blood dripping from them. Blood he’d never actually touched but caused to flow nevertheless. He still couldn’t believe he’d become a murderer. Never would he have envisioned himself capable of killing someone.
    But he had, hadn’t he? That night was such a blur. It had happened so