The Perfect Block Read online

  “Yeah, well, we sorted that out in the end,” Jessie retorted, more defensively than she intended.

  “And it’s a good thing you did too,” Crutchfield said. “Had you not, I might have been forced to chastise you.”

  “I feel like you do that all the time anyway, Mr. Crutchfield.”

  “Oh, not verbally, Miss Jessie,” he corrected. “I would have had to teach you a lesson, to show you that you were wrong.”

  “How would you have done that?” she asked uneasily.

  “Most likely by having your friend Lacy, the one you’re currently slightly estranged from, gutted like a pig.”

  Jessie’s jaw dropped open despite her effort to hide her shock. She couldn’t speak. Behind her, Kat shifted uncomfortably in the corner where she stood but said nothing. Crutchfield was more than happy to continue.

  “It would have been a hard lesson, I admit,” he continued mildly, as if he were discussing restaurant menu options. “But you needed to be made aware that you were on the wrong track with that whole maid business. And sometimes lessons are difficult.”

  “But you changed your mind?” Jessie asked, finally finding her voice again.

  “Yes. I’d say you were about twenty-four hours from losing Ms. Cartwright. But you righted the ship and as a result, her innards are intact. By solving the case, you saved your friend’s life. Well done!”

  Jessie sat quietly for a moment with her head down. When she raised it to look at him, she fixed him with a hard stare.

  “How are you getting your information, Mr. Crutchfield? I can’t help but feel like you’re cheating.”

  “Cheating, my dear Miss Jessie? How could I possibly be cheating? You are the one who can walk out into the big bright world when you leave this cell. I’m the one trapped here, with cameras monitoring my every move, microphones recording every word I say, every snore, every gaseous exhalation. And all of it set up by your best buddy over there in the corner. I’m at a tremendous disadvantage in our interactions, don’t you agree?”

  “And yet,” Jessie noted, “I feel like you’re about to reveal that’s not the case. It’s quite clear that you’re holding something back. Whatever it is you’re dying to tell me, it’s taking everything in your power not to shout it out right this second.”

  “Oh my dear Miss Jessie,” Crutchfield said, chuckling softly to himself. “I do have such affection for you. It’s true, of course. I do have a tidbit to share. I just wanted to remind you how far my reach extends before I shared it with you, so you wouldn’t doubt my words when I say them. Please remember, I’m the one who ordered the apartment break-in. I’m the one who knew the exact time you’d be in danger from Josiah Burress, the vagrant in that abandoned apartment building. Please keep those facts in mind when I share my next revelation with you.”

  “Noted,” Jessie said, certain from the gleam in Crutchfield’s eyes that he couldn’t hold off much longer. “You’ve proven that what you say isn’t to be taken lightly.”

  “Thank you for acknowledging that,” he replied. “Then let’s get to it. You recall, of course, that I met with your father a few years ago, in this very facility, for a conversation that proved most enlightening.”

  “I recall vividly,” Jessie said, thinking back to the video of the two men talking.

  “Well, Miss Jessie, I just wanted you to be the first to know that we’ve scheduled a follow-up.”

  “What?”

  “I’ll be having a little chat with your father,” he repeated. “I won’t spoil things by saying when. But it’s going to be lovely, I’m quite certain.”

  “How?” Jessie croaked, her throat suddenly dry.

  “Oh, don’t you worry about that, Miss Jessie. Just know that when we do talk, I’ll be sure to give him your regards.”

  NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER!

  THE PERFECT HOUSE

  (A Jessie Hunt Psychological Suspense Thriller—Book Three)

  In THE PERFECT HOUSE (Book #3), criminal profiler Jessie Hunt, 29, fresh from the FBI Academy, returns to find herself hunted by her murderous father, locked in a dangerous game of cat and mouse. Meanwhile, she must race to stop a killer in a new case that leads her deep into suburbia—and to the brink of her own psyche. The key to her survival, she realizes, lies in deciphering her past—a past she never wanted to face again.

  A fast-paced psychological suspense thriller with unforgettable characters and heart-pounding suspense, THE PERFECT HOUSE is book #3 in a riveting new series that will leave you turning pages late into the night.

  Book #4 in the Jessie Hunt series will be available soon.

  THE PERFECT HOUSE

  (A Jessie Hunt Psychological Suspense Thriller—Book Three)

  Did you know that I've written multiple novels in the mystery genre? If you haven't read all my series, click the image below to download a series starter!

  Blake Pierce

  Blake Pierce is author of the bestselling RILEY PAGE mystery series, which includes fifteen books (and counting). Blake Pierce is also the author of the MACKENZIE WHITE mystery series, comprising nine books (and counting); of the AVERY BLACK mystery series, comprising six books; of the KERI LOCKE mystery series, comprising five books; of the MAKING OF RILEY PAIGE mystery series, comprising three books (and counting); of the KATE WISE mystery series, comprising two books (and counting); of the CHLOE FINE psychological suspense mystery, comprising three books (and counting); and of the JESSE HUNT psychological suspense thriller series, comprising three books (and counting).

  ONCE GONE (a Riley Paige Mystery--Book #1), BEFORE HE KILLS (A Mackenzie White Mystery—Book 1), CAUSE TO KILL (An Avery Black Mystery—Book 1), A TRACE OF DEATH (A Keri Locke Mystery—Book 1), and WATCHING (The Making of Riley Paige—Book 1) are each available as a free download on Kobo!

  An avid reader and lifelong fan of the mystery and thriller genres, Blake loves to hear from you, so please feel free to visit www.blakepierceauthor.com to learn more and stay in touch.

  BOOKS BY BLAKE PIERCE

  A JESSIE HUNT PSYCHOLOGICAL SUSPENSE SERIES

  THE PERFECT WIFE (Book #1)

  THE PERFECT BLOCK (Book #2)

  THE PERFECT HOUSE (Book #3)

  CHLOE FINE PSYCHOLOGICAL SUSPENSE SERIES

  NEXT DOOR (Book #1)

  A NEIGHBOR’S LIE (Book #2)

  CUL DE SAC (Book #3)

  KATE WISE MYSTERY SERIES

  IF SHE KNEW (Book #1)

  IF SHE SAW (Book #2)

  IF SHE RAN (Book #3)

  THE MAKING OF RILEY PAIGE SERIES

  WATCHING (Book #1)

  WAITING (Book #2)

  LURING (Book #3)

  RILEY PAIGE MYSTERY SERIES

  ONCE GONE (Book #1)

  ONCE TAKEN (Book #2)

  ONCE CRAVED (Book #3)

  ONCE LURED (Book #4)

  ONCE HUNTED (Book #5)

  ONCE PINED (Book #6)

  ONCE FORSAKEN (Book #7)

  ONCE COLD (Book #8)

  ONCE STALKED (Book #9)

  ONCE LOST (Book #10)

  ONCE BURIED (Book #11)

  ONCE BOUND (Book #12)

  ONCE TRAPPED (Book #13)

  ONCE DORMANT (book #14)

  ONCE SHUNNED (Book #15)

  MACKENZIE WHITE MYSTERY SERIES

  BEFORE HE KILLS (Book #1)

  BEFORE HE SEES (Book #2)

  BEFORE HE COVETS (Book #3)

  BEFORE HE TAKES (Book #4)

  BEFORE HE NEEDS (Book #5)

  BEFORE HE FEELS (Book #6)

  BEFORE HE SINS (Book #7)

  BEFORE HE HUNTS (Book #8)

  BEFORE HE PREYS (Book #9)

  BEFORE HE LONGS (Book #10)

  BEFORE HE LAPSES (Book #11)

  AVERY BLACK MYSTERY SERIES

  CAUSE TO KILL (Book #1)

  CAUSE TO RUN (Book #2)

  CAUSE TO HIDE (Book #3)

  CAUSE TO FEAR (Book #4)

  CAUSE TO SAVE (Book #5)

  CAUSE TO DRE
AD (Book #6)

  KERI LOCKE MYSTERY SERIES

  A TRACE OF DEATH (Book #1)

  A TRACE OF MUDER (Book #2)

  A TRACE OF VICE (Book #3)

  A TRACE OF CRIME (Book #4)

  A TRACE OF HOPE (Book #5)