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Lisa Jackson's Bentz And Montoya Bundle Novel Chapters
List of most recent chapters published for the Lisa Jackson's Bentz And Montoya Bundle novel. A total of 274 chapters have been translated and the release date of the last chapter is Apr 02, 2024
Latest Release: Chapter 1 : Lisa Jackson's Bentz & Montoya Bundle.by Lisa Jackson.To John Scognamiglio, who was
Lisa Jackson's Bentz & Montoya Bundle.by Lisa Jackson.To John Scognamiglio, who was not only the editor of this book, but a major player in the creative process, just as he was with all my books for Kensington, especially during the writing of If She
- 1 Lisa Jackson's Bentz & Montoya Bundle.by Lisa Jackson.To John Scognamiglio, who was not only the editor of this book, but a major player in the creative process, just as he was with all my books for Kensington, especially during the writing of If She
- 2 Tiny seemed to know what was going on in the station at all times. A part-time communications student at Loyola, he designed and maintained the station's web site and was a whiz when it came to any computer glitch. In Sam's opinion, Tiny was inv
- 3 "I'll bet you have." Was there a hint of disapproval, or superiority in his voice? Who was this guy? Time to get on with the show."Do you have something you want to talk about tonight, John?""Sins."She nearly dropped her
- 4 "Yes." She meant it. She hadn't intended to lead him on; she'd just wanted to be careful, to make sure this time."Then I suppose you don't want me to be your escort at that benefit you've been talking about?""T
- 5 She was tense, her stomach in knots as she closed the door to the soundproof booth, slid into her chair and settled behind the microphone.Eleanor and George had been right, she thought as the intro music played through the speakers mounted over her desk.
- 6 Bentz asked more questions and didn't learn anything new.For the most part, Marvin's story matched Denise's. As the night hours crept quickly toward dawn, Montoya and Bentz interviewed the other denizens of the Riverview Apartments. They di
- 7 "Are you married, Mandy?""You bet I am. Fifteen years. Carl and me, we was high school sweethearts. We got ourselves three sons, and we've had our ups and downs, but we stick together. We go to church every Sunday and-"Absently Ty
- 8 "Positive. But my number's unlisted."Bentz scowled down at the photo as he leaned against a corner of her desk. "This is a publicity shot. Right? There were dozens of "em made. Handed out.""Yeah." She nodded."A
- 9 "I just don't want a big scandal, okay? I'm a celebrity of sorts around these parts, but because I'm on the radio, the general public doesn't really know what I look like. I have some anonymity, and I'd like to keep it that w
- 10 "I don't like it, Sam," William Matheson was saying from his condo in Santa Monica the next morning. The phone connection was clear and her father sounded as if he was in the next room rather than over a thousand miles away. "I don
- 11 "Is that your professional opinion?" He was toying with her. Flirting again."I don't know you well enough to make an honest evaluation. But if you want to look at ink blots or talk about how your mother didn't love you, we'd
- 12 Nothing less would do.Chapter Eleven.Melanie clicked off her cell phone and fumed as she pulled into a parking s.p.a.ce in the lot of the strip mall. It had been a bad week. Bad. And it wasn't getting any better she thought, slapping the dash and wis
- 13 "Well, I just moved into a neighborhood and I've met this woman that I'm interested in," he said in his soft drawl, and some of her apprehension fled."Is the feeling mutual?" Sam couldn't help but smile."Oh, yeah, I
- 14 Annie's words earlier-Don't you remember me?"No. Why don't you tell me? Where did we meet?" she said, her voice somehow steady though she could barely breathe. Her skin was hot, her insides cold as death.John didn't say a wor
- 15 "And I'd feel better having my own wheels.""Whatever you want." He shrugged. "But I'll walk you to your car and you can drive me back to mine.""You really don't have to," Sam said, but Melanie had dif
- 16 "You don't have to-""I want want to, okay?" His eyes, dark with the night, held hers and his fingers tightened. "I would never forgive myself, Samantha, if something happened to you. Now, we can sit here and argue semantics a
- 17 She was home. In her bed. Safe.The dream faded into the dark recesses of her mind where it belonged, but she was in a sweat, her head pounding, her heart racing. It had been so real. Too real. And she knew it would be back.Chapter Fifteen."We need to
- 18 "Pleased to meet you," Montoya oozed, slathering on his Latin charm."Thanks." She nodded. "I a.s.sume you were told about what happened last night.""Just got the report.""What do you think?""That this
- 19 And after it all, they'd both fallen asleep exhausted.Ty had sworn to himself he wouldn't get involved, that he had to remain objective, and yet he'd thrown caution to the winds last night and ended up in bed with her. Now, as he heated wat
- 20 "Was Louise one of your students, too?"Leeds's jaw tightened. "No...we'd met in grad school.""And you've married again, after the divorce from Samantha."Splaying his hands, Leeds said, "What can I say? I&#
- 21 But he never calls Dad. Nor me. Acts as if his family doesn't exist.Rather than dwell on a brother who didn't care if she thought he might be dead, Sam reached for the phone again. From memory, she dialed David's work number and was informe
- 22 She dragged in one final breath. Tasted blood, stumbled forward, half-believing she could escape.Then he wrenched the unholy noose again.Chapter Twenty-one"That's a wrap," Melanie said as the strains of "Midnight Confession" faded
- 23 "You'd better not, or I might be inclined to use this weapon where it would do the most good." She flipped the b.u.t.ter knife in the air and caught it on the fly.He laughed out loud. "Okay, now I'm scared.""I thought so
- 24 "Thanks," Samantha said, and hung up. Her heart twisted for Leanne. The kid had just never had a chance, with no father and Marletta for a mother. Sam decided that she'd call back tomorrow, just in case the message didn't get through,
- 25 "I could use the company," he said, linking his hand with hers and tugging her closer to him. He nuzzled her cheek. "We could have some fun."It was tempting. "No doubt, but I have things I've got to do here.""Like?&
- 26 Chapter Twenty-eight."Does this guy look like the guy who grabbed you in the park last night?" Bentz asked.He slid the computer-enhanced artist's sketch across his desk to the girl, Sonja Tucker, seated on the other side. She'd filed a
- 27 The baby began to wail loudly, and Ty released Prissy's hand. "If you ever want to talk about this, give me a call." He slipped a card from his wallet and tried to hand it to her, but she wouldn't take it."I won't," she
- 28 But he felt desperate. Angry. Restless. He glanced around the cabin, his only real home now, not much by his old standards, and yet a place where he felt he belonged. Only on the bayou did he feel some peace, some respite from the thrumming in his brain.H
- 29 "I just want you to think clearly." Straightening, he scrounged in her cupboard and eventually pulled out two mismatched mugs."What about "gut instinct'? Isn't that what you cops call it?" She tossed down the pen. She di
- 30 "Holy s.h.i.+t," Montoya muttered, gunning the engine. The cruiser shot forward. "This is really sick stuff."Amen, Bentz thought, but didn't say it. Bentz thought, but didn't say it.Chapter Thirty-one"You know I can'
- 31 The oar smacked the back of his head.He roared in pain, stumbled forward. She whacked him again, but he turned on the third attempt."You b.i.t.c.h." Grabbing her makes.h.i.+ft club, he ripped it from her hands. "You stupid, stupid c.u.n.t!&
- 32 "The case is closed." "There're a few loose ends," Bentz allowed. "I still want to talk to some people who conveniently dropped out of sight when the bodies started piling up. Roommates, exes, pimps and the like, but I think
- 33 Chapter Eight.Chapter Nine.Chapter Ten.Chapter Eleven.Chapter Twelve. Chapter Thirteen.Chapter Fourteen.Chapter Fifteen.Chapter Sixteen.Chapter Seventeen.Chapter Eighteen.Chapter Nineteen.Chapter Twenty.Chapter Twenty-One.Chapter Twenty-Two.Chapter Twenty
- 34 Chapter Thirty-Three.Chapter Thirty-Four.Chapter Thirty-Five.Chapter Thirty-Six.Chapter Thirty-Seven. Epilogue.To Robin Rue, agent extraordinaire-thanks for all!AcknowledgmentsFirst and foremost I would like to thank the City of New Orleans Police Departm
- 35 Chapter Thirty-fiveThe headlines were magnificent. The Chosen One had bought copies of all the local papers and now, in his sanctuary, as he clipped them with his pinking shears, he softly sang a Christmas carol and read the bold print."Hark the hera
- 36 CHAPTER 27.CHAPTER 28.CHAPTER 29.EPILOGUE.PROLOGUE. THE KILLING GAME.Montoya had just stepped onto the porch when Abby grabbed his arm impulsively. "Detective."He paused. Glanced down at the fingers surrounding his forearm, then looked up at her
- 37 She began to shake as she saw the door crack open a bit more."Sweet Jesus." Trembling, she backed up, her gaze fixed on the closet, her fingers sc.r.a.ping her forearm like mad. The door creaked open in slow motion. "Go away!" she whis
- 38 Her heart jumped to her throat.She spun around, half expecting to spy someone lurking in the deepening umbra. Eyes searching the coming darkness, she strained to see through the vines and brush and canopy of leafy trees. Her skin crawled, her pulse jack-h
- 39 "I bought it in Hawaii! And the canoe?""Actually I think that went to Our Lady of Virtues, a fund-raiser.""Our Lady of Virtues? The hospital where your mother-""It was for the church," she cut in. "The hospital
- 40 Abby pushed the speed limit. She was running late and trying to make up time as she drove into the city.When the going gets tough, the tough get going.Jacques Chastain's personal credo ran through her head as the winds.h.i.+eld wipers sc.r.a.ped rain
- 41 Her heart jammed into her throat. She began to quiver from the inside out. Terror slid through her veins.Holy Mary, Mother of G.o.d, Pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death . . .He cut the engine. Rain peppered the roof of the car. Mary coul
- 42 Abby had decided not to let Luke's diatribe over the airwaves get to her."It's just not worth it." She kissed the cat between his ears then set him on the floor and checked his water dish. Still half-full. He trotted to the back door,
- 43 "Um-hmm. What we have here is either a murder-suicide or a double murder. Haven't figured that out yet. But I will."He didn't doubt it."I think the man was tied to that chair over there." She indicated an old metal and plasti
- 44 She thought of her father . . . dying by inches from complications of emphysema and cancer. No, dear G.o.d, please, don't let Dad be dead! Her heart was beating like a drum, her nerves strung tight as high wires."My name's Chastain. Abby Ch
- 45 Or was she just imagining things? Had the shock of Luke's death put her over the edge?"I really think we should call someone to be with you. A friend? Relative? Maybe a neighbor."She thought of Vanessa Pomeroy next door, or her sister in Se
- 46 ". . . oh, G.o.d, no. No! No! No! Not Mary. Please, please, you must be wrong!" Virginia LaBelle was trembling, her blue eyes wide, her head shaking violently from side to side as she stood next to her husband. Her face had turned white, her leg
- 47 "Who called?""Lots of people. Irate. Or ones who had stories to share with old Luke. The thing is, one of the people who phoned in hung up before she said anything."Montoya felt it coming."That caller just happened to be his ex. A
- 48 "We're all in shock here at WSLJ," the disk jockey was saying, "everyone's going to miss Luke Gierman. I mean, the guy, was like a legend around here . . ."Oh, save me, Abby thought. Abby thought.". . . as a tribute to L
- 49 "I'm lookin' into the money." The cigarette wobbled in his mouth as he spoke. "Who gets what, a.s.suming Gierman still has some after his divorce. Usually the wife, she makes out like a bandit."Montoya wasn't buying it.
- 50 Four rings.s.h.i.+t!Click.His heart nearly stopped."Hi, this is Abby. Leave a message." He slapped his phone shut, jammed it into his pocket, and silently raced through the dense foliage. He was swift, his body honed from exercise, but he didn&#
- 51 "Let me get this straight," Brinkman said, folding his arms over his chest. "She freaked freaked you you out?" out?"O nodded. "Amen and end of story."They questioned her a little more, then, after securing the file from
- 52 "I'm not the one who'll be making the arrangements. It'll probably be one of Luke's brothers, or his parents.""But they'll call and give you the information," he said steadfastly, as if they were all still one
- 53 "That's right," she said evenly. Getting to her feet, she glared at both men. "You seem to think that I had something to do with my ex-husband's murder. The plain d.a.m.n truth is that I didn't and I have no idea who did. I&#
- 54 And who would that be, Abby?Are you getting paranoid now?Like her?Like Faith?Remember, your mother's disease started as simple distrust and moved quickly into general suspicion and thoughts of persecution. Is that what's happening to you, too? &
- 55 "I don't know. I'm not sure that anyone does. It's one of the great mysteries surrounding the hospital. But Faith is with G.o.d now. She's no longer plagued and tormented by the demons in her mind. That's all that matters.&qu
- 56 "Full to capacity. A shooting on Decatur and an accident on the waterfront. Been a busy day. This sc.u.mbag already said his piece in the interrogation room, we've got it on tape, but he wanted to make a statement. Waived his right to a lawyer.
- 57 Eventually the houses thinned and the terrain was more familiar with the stands of live oak or swamp holly. Her pulse accelerated and her hands were sweaty on the steering wheel. Several times she considered turning around.When the going gets tough . . .&
- 58 She tried again. The door was probably just stuck, swollen against its frame from years of neglect. She tried again. The k.n.o.b didn't turn. It wasn't the door that wasn't moving; the lock had been turned."Great."She rationalized
- 59 "Isn't that curious," Sister Maria thought aloud and walked to the first door. "h.e.l.lo? Is anyone here?" she called out, obviously irritated."Who would be here?""I don't know, but let's find out."&q
- 60 "Luke? Admit to being hung up on a woman who would have nothing to do with him? Nah. Not his style." Maury raised his slim shoulders and shook his head. "But then who knows, maybe I got it all wrong.""The ex-wife couldn't hav
- 61 But this, with Abby, was different. She didn't flirt with him. She didn't pretend to be innocent and flash him glimpses of her body, nor did she play the naughty vixen to intrigue him.h.e.l.l, she hadn't had the chance! He barely knew her.
- 62 "Yeah, that's it.""And so, instead of homemade cookies and punch, they all bring their vials of blood for a little drinkie-poo?""Was Courtney's roommate that that bad, or is he just being a p.r.i.c.k?" Zaroster aske
- 63 CHAPTER 15.Montoya, dressed in faded jeans, a black T-s.h.i.+rt, and a leather jacket, stretched out of his vehicle. He slammed the door and pressed a b.u.t.ton on his key ring. The sleek car chirped and blinked its lights but Abby focused on the man.His
- 64 He waited a few minutes, finis.h.i.+ng his first piece, and said casually, "I heard you went out to the old sanitarium."She nearly choked on the bite she was chewing. "How did you know that?" The only person she'd confided in was
- 65 A sixth sense?Or just the fact that she was bone-tired?There were lots of homeless people and drifters in this part of New Orleans. And the town had more than its share of oddb.a.l.l.s and neurotics and druggies. As much as she loved New Orleans, she knew
- 66 He s.h.i.+fted, one arm around her ribs, the gun pressed under her b.r.e.a.s.t.s as he slowly and sensuously slid the blade of the knife down the slope of her cheek. Against her back, she felt his erection. The jerk was getting off on this!Tears burned he
- 67 d.a.m.n the man, where was he?Why the sudden vanis.h.i.+ng act?As she drove along the winding road to his hunting lodge, she had a premonition that he might be dead, and if so, lawsy-mercy, all of her plans would go up in smoke . . . well, unless she talk
- 68 Montoya had seen enough. He didn't understand why in each case the bodies had been positioned in a way to suggest the victims were lovers. What was the point of that? Skirting the central part of the crime scene, he walked with Bentz through the fron
- 69 "Jesus, Maury, don't you have a brain?" Eleanor demanded. "Why didn't you tell me about this?""I'd just opened it before I went on the air.""Right." She glowered from her chair."You should have c
- 70 Abby couldn't believe what she was seeing and hearing on her television.Asa Pomeroy and Gina Jefferson were dead? dead? Killed in the same manner as Luke and Courtney LaBelle? Killed in the same manner as Luke and Courtney LaBelle?Sitting on the edge
- 71 She laughed and it felt good to let go of some of the tension of the past week. "I'll have you know you're not the only one who's been working hard. While you were out fighting crime and keeping the streets of New Orleans safe from ser
- 72 He'd nearly called out, whispered through the panels. But then the other noises had reached him, the unmistakable sounds of rutting: the raw, guttural moans of animal pleasure, the cra.s.s, rhythmic creaking of the bedsprings, the swift intake of bre
- 73 "Why?""Because once we cross a certain line, there's no going back.""You think I don't know this?""I'm in the middle of a murder investigation and-""Is that what you're in the middle of?&quo
- 74 Ether!She recognized it from her days at the hospital.No! she thought. she thought. No, no, no! No, no, no!Sister Maria struggled. Tried to scream. Fought with all the strength in her body, but as she writhed and flung her useless arms upward, she breathe
- 75 The psycho turned his back for just a second. In that instant, Billy Ray made his move. He leaped upward, his legs free, his hands unbound. With a strength he swore came from the Lord, he plunged the Pomeroy Ultra deep into the a.s.sailant's chest, just
- 76 Recalling the night's lovemaking, she smiled. Snuggling closer, she wrapped her arms around his torso, and spied the small gold ring in his earlobe. She kissed his temple, then nibbled at the tiny piece of jewelry."You've got half an hour to cut that o
- 77 "We'll have to look into everyone a.s.sociated with the convent to find Sister Maria. I'm sure you'll want to cooperate fully."Her lips pursed a bit tighter. "Of course, Detective Montoya, but it's also my position to protect the people who live he
- 78 "What's even more disturbing is that Billy Ray Furlough is missing as well.""Oh, G.o.d.""We don't know if their abductions were done by the same person who killed the others, but it doesn't look good.""Oh, no," she whispered. "I'm sorry.""Y
- 79 "Abusing her?" Zoey stared at Abby as if she, too, had lost her mind."Molesting her.""Jesus, Abs!""I know, I know, but as I recall, her blouse and bra were undone and . . ." She hesitated. "I can see his face, but . . ." She tried to think, to r
- 80 "I've got a stop first, but I can be there in an hour or two.""That'll be fine."He hung up, jogged to his Mustang, climbed behind the wheel with a sense of renewed urgency. The clouds had thinned and the spires of St. Louis Cathedral shone a bright,
- 81 "Yes. And his picture, I think."Montoya didn't waste any time, but opened the clasp, sliding out the yellowed pages. "Was h.e.l.ler a big man?""Tall, but not big. Almost scarecrowish. One of the patients saw a picture of a praying mantis in one of t
- 82 Hershey, spying her loading the car, whined and stood at the door, ready for a "ride." Abby hesitated. Should she take the dog? "Later," she said, patting Hershey's head. "Promise . . . or maybe 'Aunt Zoey' could take you for a walk.""I'm not t
- 83 He walked up the steps leading to the yawning open door and stepped into the bowels of h.e.l.l.The interior of the old trailer was lit by the weird blue glow of klieg lamps and on the filthy floor were two bodies, entwined as previously: his aunt, in her
- 84 Montoya floored the accelerator, ignoring the speed limit. He pa.s.sed other cars and trucks, his jaw set, his pulse pounding in his temple. The image of his aunt's body laid upon Billy Ray's corpse burned through his mind and his fingers curled more ti
- 85 Now, Abby brushed the beam of her flashlight over the hallway. Every door down the length of the inky corridor was open, either yawning wide, or slightly ajar. But unlatched. Except for 307. That door was shut snugly.It means nothing, she told herself, do
- 86 Drip.Drip.Drip.The sound of water hitting the floor was steady and clear.Where am I? Zoey wondered as she roused, groaning, every muscle in her body aching. It was cool and dank, only a small lantern flickering in the corner of a tiny cell-like room givin
- 87 His grin was twisted.Evil.Leering.She nearly fainted in fear as he stepped into the tiny cell."I thought you'd finally wake up," he said, his voice as smooth as oiled gla.s.s. "Good. I want you to know what's going on." That sounded bad. She braced
- 88 Did she feel the tape giving, if only just a bit? Or was it her own anxious imagination, her own desperate hopes?Rapidly she worked, her shoulders shrieking in pain, her toes feeling as if they would break, her wrists hot and rubbed free of the skin where
- 89 Pride? Humility? Sloth? Zeal? Sins and virtues? What was this all about? And who represented pride? Someone whose name started with the letter P? She remembered the sins and virtues from her youth in private Catholic schools. But what did they have to do
- 90 "I don't think you need this anymore." Montoya plucked the don't think you need this anymore." Montoya plucked the For Sale For Sale sign off the post, then tossed it into a pile of leaves near the trash basket. sign off the post, then tossed it into
- 91 PROLOGUE.Near New Orleans Three months earlier The voice of G.o.d pounded through his brain: Kill.Kill them both.The man and the woman. Sacrifice them.Tonight.This is your penance.He lay on the sweat-stained sheets of his bed while a neon light pulsed blo
- 92 Because he'd erred.Horridly.And now he was being punished.He tried to concentrate. Had he been mistaken. Hadn't the Voice told him there would be two inside? Two to sacrifice? Yes, he was certain that was it. A man and a woman, Eve, were supposed to be
- 93 Bam!A gun went off.The muzzle blazed fire!Gla.s.s shattered.White hot pain exploded in her head. Her knees buckled. She crumpled onto the floor. The dark room swirled around her and Cole Dennis's angry face was the last image burned into her brain.LISA J
- 94 CHAPTER 19.CHAPTER 20.CHAPTER 21.CHAPTER 22.CHAPTER 23. CHAPTER 24.CHAPTER 25.CHAPTER 26.CHAPTER 27.CHAPTER 28.CHAPTER 29.CHAPTER 30.CHAPTER 31.CHAPTER 32.CHAPTER 33.CHAPTER 34.CHAPTER 35.CHAPTER 36.EPILOGUE.Acknowledgments.There were many people involved
- 95 But no.... He couldn't think this way. He had to have faith. Faith in the Voice, in what It told him, in Its ultimate wisdom.Quickly he rolled off the cot and onto his knees. Deftly, from years of practice and sacrifice, he sketched the sign of the cross
- 96 Still he waited.The Voice had never been wrong before.And who was he to doubt G.o.d's instructions?Sometimes he became confused. Often the other voices screamed at him-screechy, irritating little things that would hiss, whine, and yell at him, clouding h
- 97 The noise slammed like a blow.The muzzle blazed fire!Gla.s.s shattered.White-hot pain exploded in her head.Her knees buckled. She crumpled to the floor. The dark room swirled around her, and Cole Dennis's angry face was the last image burned into Eve's
- 98 Cole walked over to the mirror, glaring through the gla.s.s and seeing only his own reflection: harsh blue eyes; thick brows drawn down in simmering anger; high, flat cheekbones and a razor-thin mouth compressed to the point that white showed around his l
- 99 It had been on the wide porch of her father's house. Cole had been sitting on a stool, leaning forward, tanned arms resting on his jean-covered knees, dark hair badly in need of a haircut, a day's worth of beard shadow darkening that defined jaw.She'd
- 100 As the sleek car roared away from the curb, Cole headed inside, but he knew he wasn't going to take Deeds's advice. One of his first acts as a free man would be to confront Eve.Hang the consequences.She had to keep moving.Couldn't waste time.Eve headed