Praise for the novels of J.T. Ellison
“Mystery fiction has a new name to watch.”
—John Connolly
“The Cold Room combines
The Silence of the Lambs with The Wire.”
—January Magazine
“Outstanding…potent characterization and clever plotting, and Ellison systematically cranks up the intensity all the way to the riveting ending.”
—Publishers Weekly on The Immortals [starred review]
“Flawlessly plotted, with well-defined characters and conflict…quite simply a gem.”
—RT Book Reviews [Top Pick] on The Cold Room
“A tight and powerful story.
Judas Kiss moves at a rapid-fire rate…rushing like adrenaline through the bloodstream.”
—The Strand Magazine
“Carefully orchestrated plot twists and engrossing characters… Flawed yet identifiable characters and genuinely terrifying villains populate this impressive and arresting thriller.”
—Publishers Weekly on Judas Kiss [starred review]
“A twisty, creepy and wonderful book… Ellison is relentless and grabs the reader from the first page and refuses to let go until the soul-tearing climax.”
—Crimespree on 14
“A terrific lead character, terrific suspense, terrific twists…a completely convincing debut.”
—Lee Child on All the Pretty Girls
“All the Pretty Girls is a spellbinding suspense novel and Tennessee has a new dark poet.
A turbocharged thrill ride of a debut.”
—Julia Spencer-Fleming
So Close the Hand of Death
J.T. Ellison
For David Achord, who gave me the tools.
And for my Randy.
By three methods may we learn wisdom: first, by reflection, which is noblest; second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third, by experience, which is the most bitter.
—Confucius
Imitation is suicide.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson
Contents
November 5
Chapter One
November 6
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
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
November 7
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
November 8
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Chapter Forty
Chapter Forty-One
Chapter Forty-Two
Chapter Forty-Three
Chapter Forty-Four
Chapter Forty-Five
Chapter Forty-Six
Chapter Forty-Seven
Chapter Forty-Eight
Chapter Forty-Nine
Chapter Fifty
Chapter Fifty-One
Chapter Fifty-Two
Chapter Fifty-Three
Chapter Fifty-Four
Chapter Fifty-Five
Chapter Fifty-Six
Chapter Fifty-Seven
Chapter Fifty-Eight
Two Weeks Later
November 22
Chapter Fifty-Nine
Acknowledgments
One
Boston, Massachusetts
8:12 p.m.
From: [email protected]
Subject: Boston
Dear Troy,
All is well.
BB
Quiet, except for the pounding of his heart.
She was home now, the week of late nights at the office finally over. He’d been starting to wonder if she’d ever make it back and was amused at the relief he felt when he saw her trundling down the street, her heavy wool coat dragging her steps. He had been more concerned than he expected, considering the stakes. This was just a game for him, after all. A lovely game.
She’d walked right past the truck without giving him a second glance. A few feet more and she was at her building. The wrought-iron kissing gate was broken, listing slightly, ajar. She pushed it open with her left hand and plodded up the steps. He watched with his head bent, eyes slid to the side as she unlocked the door and slipped inside. She never turned her head, never thought for a moment that she wasn’t safe. Her millionth mistake this week.
He’d give it just one more minute, let her get upstairs. He busied himself with the package, the hard, plastic electronic-signature tablet, the straps on the box, all the while counting.
One Mississippi. Two Mississippi.
Once he hit sixty, he followed her path to the door. He pushed his finger into the white button, heard the shrill bell ringing. A woman’s voice, tinny and thin, said, “Yes?”
“Delivery