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Public Secrets Novel Chapters
List of most recent chapters published for the Public Secrets novel. A total of 282 chapters have been translated and the release date of the last chapter is Apr 02, 2024
Latest Release: Chapter 1 : PUBLIC SECRETS.BY NORA ROBERTS.PROLOGUE Los Angeles, 1990 SHE SLAMMED ON THE brakes, ram
PUBLIC SECRETS.BY NORA ROBERTS.PROLOGUE Los Angeles, 1990 SHE SLAMMED ON THE brakes, ramming hard into the curb. The radio
continued to blare. She pressed both hands against her mouth to hold back hysterical laughter. A blast from the past, the disk jock
- 219 hair. "I won't leave you alone, Emma. You don't have to worry about that."By Christmas, she thought she was happy again. Drew took all the details of day-today living out of her hands. He chose her clothes, monitored her calls, took aw
- 220 mounted the stage and accepted the award, his award, by hurling a Waterford cracker barrel. The exquisite gla.s.s shattered, raining down like ice."Have you done one thing, one b.l.o.o.d.y thing to help me? Everything I've done for you, making y
- 221 The money's going to research a cure for exactly what Luke died of."She paused, letting it sink in. "I can go with Johnno. Representing you," she said quickly.He looked up from the keys again, his eyes flat. Her heart began to pound. I
- 222 mistakes."Emma. Dammit, Emma, pay attention."She jerked when he tugged hard on her hair. "I'm sorry." Her fingers gripped together, twisting, wringing."You're such a d.a.m.n fool. G.o.d knows where you'd be without
- 223 know and love." Her lips curved automatically. "That's a good girl. Now don't forget to mention the benefit to any reporters," he instructed as they walked downstairs. "Make sure you tell them how committed I am to raising mo
- 224 frayed. "I didn't think you had time for old friends anymore.""Marianne-" She couldn't break down right here. There were still reporters close enough, watching her, snapping pictures. Drew was going to see the pictures, of he
- 225 him out.""It's not another woman," Emma managed."Another man?"She struggled, sucking in the tears. Afraid if she let them fall too freely she'd never be able to stop. "No. I have no idea if Drew's been unfaith
- 227 "London then, to Bev. She'd want to help you.""No pa.s.sport. Drew locked it in a safe-deposit box. I don't even have a driver's license. He tore it up." She sat back because even the few bites of food had made her queas
- 228 unconscious, stolen the diamond off her finger, and had gone off to look for sunnier climes and more sympathetic company.But he'd left her the drugs. Hitch, in his way, was a humanitarian.Jane hadn't had s.e.x in over two months. It didn't
- 229 She smoked, and smiled.She knew how to get the money, but she'd have to be clever, very clever.The drug made her feel smart. It was time to pull out her ace in the hole.Scrounging through her dresser, she found a box of stationery. It was pretty, ra
- 230 "Better make time." Her voice changed, roughened. "I've been thinking that I should drop that detective in the U.S. a note. You remember him, don't you, dearie? Kesseiring was his name. Imagine me remembering his name all these ye
- 231 In a coy invitation, she put a hand on his lapel. He tolerated it, knowing he would burn the suit. "We'll conduct business anywhere you like. But let's get it done.""You always were in a hurry." She started up, mammoth hips s
- 232 hands."I started to write it." Confused and anxious, Jane glanced toward the desk. "I started to, but I was waiting for you. I won't finish it, if we have a deal."She wouldn't lie, he thought as he studied her face. She wasn&
- 233 &'Right."Brian lay in bed a moment trying to imagine it. He had known Jane longer than anyone but Johnno. He had loved her once, and he had hated her. But he couldn't imagine her dead.Rising, he walked to the window. The sunlight hurt his e
- 234 get her pride back. Involving the police, the press, the public, would only heap humiliation on top of humiliation."All right, not yet," Marianne said, though she had no intention of seeing Drew waltz away unscathed. "You're sure the a
- 237 did howl occasionally, but that could have been in response to Michael's singing. When they were both wrapped in towels, Michael searched through the linen closet for his hair dryer. He found it, and a frying pan he'd given up for lost.He dried
- 238 and red stripes on the floor as a throw rug-and as a sop to Conroy.Vertical blinds let in slashes of sunlight."I'd imagined you in one of those slick condos near the beach. Oh, Marianne's Legs." Delighted, she walked over to the print
- 240 "Next time," he said and cut into his steak.They lingered over the meal until twilight. She'd forgotten what it was like to talk about unimportant things, to laugh over dinner with music in the background and a candle flickering. The dog, s
- 242 Knowing a true ally, the dog shuffled over to Emma, head low. "Can he come?" she asked as he rested his head against her thigh. "I've got an MG.""I don't mind being crowded.""He'll shed all over you."
- 244 delicate-faced wife was a wh.o.r.e, just as his mother had been.He was going to give her a beating she'd never forget.Imagine her having the nerve to take off. The tucking gall to transfer her money and cancel the credit. He'd been humiliated at
- 245 disappointment was so great, he compensated by tras.h.i.+ng the loft. It took him nearly an hour to vent his frustration, ripping clothes, breaking gla.s.sware, hacking cus.h.i.+on after cus.h.i.+on in the sectional with a knife he'd taken from the k
- 246 sports, turning the page with one hand and pouring coffee with the other.JANE PALMER DiEs OF OVERDOSE Jane Palmer, forty-six, ex-lover of Devastation's Brian McAvoy, and mother of his daughter, Emma, was found dead in her London home, apparently a v
- 247 most of it dealing with four young bodies. "Emma, have you read the paper today?""No." She had deliberately avoided newspaper and television. The troubles of the world, like the people in it, were on the other side of her gla.s.s wall.
- 248 He wanted to grab the clerk by her slender throat and squeeze.With an effort, he fixed a puzzled frown on his face. "That's odd. I'm almost sure I haven't mixed the hotels. Emma wouldn't stay anywhere but the Wils.h.i.+re." H
- 249 up before she could respond."Kesseiring, if you've finished talking to your sweetheart-""Let's move." Michael interrupted his partner's complaint and started for the door at a run."What the-" "Move,"
- 250 "Yes." She'd be able to think if he turned the music off. She'd know what to do."All right, then." He took a step toward the recorder, then stopped."No, I think we'll leave it on. You have to learn to face things, E
- 251 screamed through her ribs until her vision wavered.She heard someone calling for her, shouting her name. Splintering wood.Was that the sound of splintering wood or was her body just breaking in two? The first slash of the belt across her back had her arm
- 252 dreaming. The light was soft and pearly, as he'd never seen it anywhere but Ireland. Dew was glittering on the gra.s.s. The only sounds he could hear were the bark of a dog and the distant hum of a tractor.When Bev saw him, she stopped. She hadn'
- 253 selfish with it, as if holding it to myself would make it only mine. But it's ours, the way he was ours."He said nothing. Tears were clogging his throat. Understanding, she turned to him. Holding each other, they sat in silence as the sun rose h
- 255 "You're safe now. I promise."Michael. She wanted to say his name, grateful not to be alone in the dark. To be alive. Then a dark red wave rolled in and covered her.She drifted in and out for most of the night. Michael knew the doctors had s
- 256 one thing he could have done differently. It was always timing, he thought wearily. If he had broken in the door five minutes earlier it might have changed everything.He stood again when he saw them come in. Marianne's eyes were red, but he didn'
- 257 "Hey." He smiled, tightening his fingers around hers and bringing them to his lips. His voice was rough with fatigue. "Good morning.""How ..." She closed her eye again, impatient with the thin whisper."How long?"&qu
- 258 begging him to stop. It sounded pretty bad so I beat on the door myself I had the room next door. Then the cops came. One of them broke in the door. It was only for a second, but I could see a woman sprawled on the rug, bleeding. She had a gun and she fir
- 259 ever since we got the call.""Yesterday, Drew Latimer found Emma here, in her hotel.""Found her?" Brian interrupted. "What do you mean? Weren't they together?""She's been hiding from him while she set the d
- 261 "P.M."s going to be a daddy," Emma said."Congratulations.""Thanks." It was awkward, standing beside the bed, trying to think of the right things to say. The things not to say. Stevie had flown over from London with him,
- 263 much."Michael PACED THE corridor, stabbed out his cigarette, then paced again."I don't like it.""I'm sorry you feel that way." Emma took her breathing carefully. After three weeks, her ribs still tended to twinge if she
- 264 forgetting not to look at the faces, not to see them. It seemed vital that she answer the question. "I don't know," she said again. "If, two years ago, anyone had told me that I would allow myself to be brutalized, I would have been fu
- 266 about all the rude and revolting things Stevie pulled on me. You might come close, but I doubt you could match him.""Do you love him?""Yes.""Are you going to marry him?" Thrown a bit off stride, Katherine lifted one shou
- 267 fury behind them. "I have to live with it every day. Do you think talking about it helps, finding excuses, choosing reasons? What difference does it make why it happened? It happened. I'm going for a walk." She raced down the steps and head
- 268 She couldn't keep her hands still. She poked and pushed at items on the counter. A wine gla.s.s that hadn't been put away from the night before, a bowl of fresh frt, the sugar bowl that matched the bovine teapot."He used to play tricks. Aft
- 269 that for later. "Do you want him to?"Now she did smile. Dawn had come, and with it, the safety of morning."I've often wondered if psychiatrists are just gossips.""Okay, we'll pa.s.s on that one. Can I make a suggestion?&
- 270 "No." He brushed her aside. "I can make the d.a.m.n coffee. Conroy, if you don't shut up I'm going to tie your tongue around your neck."In defense, he took the chips and set the bag on the floor for the dog to enjoy. "Wh
- 272 breathe. Dammit, I wasn't a boy anymore and it wasn't a crush."She had to struggle to find her voice. It was a different kind of fear now. Dozens of nerves jumping to tangle over each other. "You hardly knew me."He s.h.i.+fted his
- 273 her pulse scrambled. Her choice, she thought again, and one she'd taken much too long to make. Then her mind filled up with him so completely there was room for nothing else.He felt the change, the slow, hesitant response as her lips parted beneath h
- 274 there was no pain. Only delirium. He drew down her slacks, inch by maddening inch, following the path with his lips.She wanted. She had never wanted before. Only dreamed. Her body was slick with sweat, writhing with need, but he continued to kiss and care
- 275 sheet."Good. You're up." Michael strolled in carrying a bucket of chicken and a six-pack of c.o.kes. "I thought you might get hungry."He'd pulled an LAPD T-s.h.i.+rt on with his jeans. But he was still barefoot. To Emma he lo
- 276 "Why don't you follow them now?"She hesitated. Rising up to her knees, she linked her arms around his neck and kissed him. Michael tossed the half-eaten drumstick over his shoulder. She was laughing when they rolled over the bed.STAY TONIGH
- 277 your chances on the street. We've always got room for one more at the morgue." He listened as he pushed through the files. "Good choice. Ask for Detective Kesselring."Michael hung up and scowled at the paperwork. He'd hoped for fi
- 278 Lou turned the letter over in his hand. There wasn't any purpose in reminding Michael that the letter had been addressed to the investigating officer on the case. "It's possible. It's the first lead we've had on this in nearly twe
- 279 "Merry Christmas.""How long can you stay?""A couple of days." He glanced over toward the stove. "What's that noise?""Oh, my cookies." She dashed over to turn off the timer and rescue them. "I was
- 280 anything quite like it. Or smelled anything like it. The old girl had cooked for a couple of days.""No prints but hers on the syringe?""No. She did the job herself." Carlson removed his horn-rims to polish the lenses. "We deb
- 281 "She had help."He rose then, all but lunged from the chair to roam the room. It was full of the tangible proof of his success. Gold records, platinum records, Grammys, American Music Awards. Signs that the music he had created was important. Joc
- 283 still wants him to suffer."He crouched beside her and took the envelope that lay in her lap. "Maybe that's true, but she may have started something that will help us find out who killed him, and why.""I know." She closed her
- 284 She moved her shoulders and looked miserably into the gla.s.s. "You're too beautiful to be a jerk, Emma." He shoved the pillows into place and pulled her back beside him. "Tell me about it."When she'd finished, he continued t
- 286 "Do I?" Emma paused and gave Katherine one of her rare smiles. A memory drifted back-Johnno sitting on her bed in her room in Martinique. When it's with someone you care about, it's almost holy. "I don't suppose a degree is r
- 287 sworn to them that I would always look after him. That I'd keep him safe. But I broke my promise. No one ever punished me. No one ever blamed me.""But you did. Haven't you blamed yourself? Punished yourself?""If I hadn't
- 289 with me next weekend.""It is serious then.""Semi. Emma, what is so fascinating out there?"illt's just this man. It's almost as if he's looking right at me.""Sounds more like vanity than paranoia." Pus
- 290 checked and rechecked every interview that had been compiled during the original investigation. From his own memory he pulled out the visit to the house in the hills with Emma, making his own notes from her descriptions and recollections, From his father&
- 291 even I recognize.""A rock-and-roll countdown." Sitting on the edge of the desk, Michael lit a cigarette. "I know when you figure the main motive for kidnapping is money, most of these names don't fit. That's where Jane comes
- 292 "So have you."EMmA mD coNvINCED herself to ease back. Her relations.h.i.+p with Michael was moving too quickly. She would gently pull their relations.h.i.+p back a few notches. Her book was about to be published. It was time to open her own stud
- 294 to forget about Darren, not to dwell on it, not to think of it. I wasn't supposed to worry about what he was doing to his own life, either. Then Drew was going to take care of it all. I was too naive to handle my finances, my friends, my work. And I
- 296 "I'll ask him. He's ... Dad," she said on impulse. "What is it that makes you so comfortable with Michael?""He's steady as a rock. And he loves you as much as I do. He'll make you happy. That's all I'
- 297 "But' She looked over in time to see a car drive slowly toward the house. The figure behind the wheel was lost in the sheeting rain and shadows as it cruised down the street. "I'm sorry," she said again."Would you mind waiting until I get the grocer
- 298 He couldn't find the energy to argue. "Do I get bubbles?""All you want. Go ahead." She gestured toward the door. "Relax.I'll get you some more tea."He pulled off his s.h.i.+rt and let it fall with a wet splat to the floor."Make it straight Irish
- 300 "We're supposed to make a difference. G.o.dd.a.m.nit, we're supposed to make a difference. Six kids dead, and there's nothing you can do. You couldn't stop it, and you couldn't fix it. All you can do is walk away and try to convince yourself that th
- 301 surrender. How could she have known that all of her life she had waited to be wanted this way? Desperately, exclusively, heedlessly. Nor had she known that she had waited to feel this same wild recklessness.He wasn't gentle now, and she reveled in the fu
- 302 thought Katherine would lift her psychiatrist's brow and make interested noises if she told her. Poor Emma's gone off the bend again.Thinks she's being followed. Wonders if someone's been in the house when she goes out. What about those odd noises on
- 303 "And you're a regular Amazon. Here I was loping across the lot, trying to play white knight. You stole my thunder."She laughed and kissed his cheek. "You'd have flattened him.""I don't know. He's a lot bigger than I am. Better all around that you
- 304 Only P.M. left early, anxious to get back to his wife and baby."He's getting old," Johnno decided, plopping down beside her to play some blues on a harmonica. He glanced back to study the seventeen-year-old vocalist who was already an established star.
- 305 dreams. Once in a while, and only once in a while, someone comes along who truly understands, who has the gift to transfer all those needs and emotions into music."When I was three years old, I watched you"-she looked back up at Brian-"all of you, go o
- 306 "I need red meat.""I'll buy you a steer," Michael said as he walked back into the squad room."You know, partner, this whole business has ruined your sense of humor, And my appet.i.te. Blackpool's a big star. He does beer commercials, for Christ's
- 307 herself as whole, rather than as parts of the people she'd loved the best.She looked through the gloom to the house nestled on the hill, and hoped with all her heart she would dream of it that night. When she did, she would open that door. She would stan
- 308 On a prayer, she took her last chance and poured on the speed. The oncoming car swerved, brakes high and shrill, horn blasting. She caught a glimpse of the car behind her veering back to the right at a dangerous speed.For a second, she was alone, around t
- 310 the hospital.""I don't need the hospital."He traced a fingertip over her temple. "You've got a major-league b.u.mp on your head.""I didn't even feel it." Though she could now, with more clarity than was c
- 312 "It's supposed to be when it's right." Feeling a bit misty, he touched his rim to hers. "He's the luckiest man I know.""We can make it work." She sipped, letting the wine explode on her tongue. "We will ma
- 314 Emma mused."Babies change you." Bev sat on the arm of the sofa watching Samuel sleep. "I've been wanting to talk to you alone."Automatically Emma lifted a hand to the bruise on her temple. "There's nothing to worry about
- 316 elevator. It was time, time that he needed.It was supposed to have been so easy. In the dark, while everyone was confused, he should have been able to get to her. He still had the pills in his pocket he had planned to force her to take. It would have been
- 317 Blackpool and Jane could keep the money and everyone would be happy."She wasn't worried about the height any longer, or about the gun. With the wind in her hair and the sun dropping lower at her back, she stared at him. "You're telling
- 318 "I was fond of him.""You murdered him.""I never laid a hand on him. Blackpool got too rough, panicked. I never wanted to hurt that boy."She dragged her wind-tossed hair out of her face. "You just wanted to use him, to u
- 319 her combs came loose and spun off into empty s.p.a.ce. "No one knows but you. And no one but you will ever know."She clawed at him, fighting her way back from the edge. Her strength threw him off balance, and for an instant, she was free. Then h
- 320 able to make music again. "I don't know. We could ask ourselves forever, but it wouldn't change." She drew back. "Dad. We have to set it aside. Not forget, but set it aside.""A new beginning?""G.o.d no." She smiled. "I wouldn't want to begin a
- 321 looked, the way she smelled, the way she smiled at him. "Come here." He held out his arms. When she was in them, he found he couldn't let go.In the hours that had pa.s.sed, he'd thought he'd calmed himself But now, holding her, it