The Final Kill

The Final Kill
Meg O'Brien

Abby Northrup finally has the quiet life she s dreamed of, living in Carmel at the former monastery she purchased and renovated. But The Prayer House is more than a peaceful home for Abby–unofficially it is an underground safe haven for abused women and children.And when an old friend and her daughter appear on Abby's front step looking for safe haven, Abby's tranquil life begins to dissolve.Alicia Gerard is the wife of a wealthy business tycoon with strong connections to the political world. Abby agrees to take Alicia and her daughter in, but when FBI agents swarm the building looking for them, Abby finds herself trapped in a world of murder, conspiracy and threats to national security. On the run from government agents who make their own rules, Abby must decide which of her beliefs are worth dying for–and which ones are not.

An excerpt from

THE

FINAL

KILL

Alicia’s smile was tight, her eyes distraught. Her pale blond hair, ordinarily smooth and shiny, was tangled, as if she’d been nervously running her fingers through it.

As for Jancy? Abby remembered her as a cute kid with a brown ponytail, dressed in Catholic school plaids. Now Allie’s child was dressed all in black, had a short, spiked hairdo with orange and purple streaks, and a strange, staring expression in her eyes—which were so heavily made up Abby wondered how she could hold them open.

Still, Helen’s reference to Hades, whether god of the dead or hell, had been a bit strong. Little Jancy had simply become a teenager.

Alicia grabbed Abby’s hands and held on as if they were her only lifeline. “You’ve got to help us,” she said, her voice shaking. “Please, Abby. I couldn’t think of anywhere else to go.”

Looking into Alicia’s familiar green eyes, Abby knew she should be happy to see her old friend. Not only that, but she owed her so much. If Alicia hadn’t helped her, back when her own world was falling apart—

But something was very, very wrong. And some instinct—the kind that raises hairs on the back of one’s neck—told Abby that Trouble with a capital T had just walked through her door.

“Meg O’Brien is a highly skilled writer who keeps things interesting.”

—The Romance Reader on Sacred Trust

Also by MEG O’BRIEN

THE LAST CHEERLEADER

CRIMSON RAIN

GATHERING LIES

SACRED TRUST

CRASHING DOWN

The Final Kill

Meg O’Brien

www.mirabooks.co.uk (http://www.mirabooks.co.uk)

Dear Reader,

So many people wrote to me about Sacred Trust, saying it was their favorite book of mine, I decided to write a sequel. The Final Kill is that sequel, in that it involves many of the same people and places.

Sacred Trust came out in May 2000 from MIRA Books. It’s not necessary to read Sacred Trust first, but if you’d like to know more about Abby’s life before this story—what happened to her two years ago, her relationship with Ben and with the Prayer House—you can order Sacred Trust by going on my Web site, www.megobrien.com, and clicking on one of the many links to online bookstores on my “Books” page. You can also order any of my books from your local bookstore.

Please also leave a note for me on my Guest Book page. I love to hear from readers, and I answer all Guest Book notes, as well as all e-mail, the address of which is also on my Web site.

With best wishes,

Meg O’Brien

Contents

Prologue (#ub3924625-d562-5fe4-9ab3-971bf95946ec)

Chapter 1 (#u33decc79-6d45-5ab2-a9a0-c5a6bf9afe06)

Chapter 2 (#u85fb1542-5362-5094-bdbf-01b2ceb07dde)

Chapter 3 (#uf5e3f38c-a8d4-5ae6-b488-0ee6ebbbfec9)

Chapter 4 (#u83287a32-2202-5dd3-8ec8-ec82c358873d)

Chapter 5 (#u094b40e5-bdf7-5427-a760-c5ca0fbcfa54)

Chapter 6 (#ufce157a5-eebd-5f7c-b9a7-fb8d2b3e9413)

Chapter 7 (#ubb2d268f-b6d0-5ef1-a229-a4fba0cc205c)

Chapter 8 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 9 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 10 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 11 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 12 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 13 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 14 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 15 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 16 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 17 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 18 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 19 (#litres_trial_promo)