The Ghost - A Novel

Informationen zum Autor Marc Olden, the bestselling author of Fear's Justice and Poe Must Die, is one of today's most highly regarded crime writers. He lives in New York City. Klappentext Marc Olden's crime novels are "as brutally effective as a .44 Magnum and just as powerful" (Flint Journal, MI). Now Olden takes the safety off, pointing a New York City cop down a bottomless barrel of murder, blackmail, drugs, and betrayal.Detective Rosalind "Ross" Magellan lives for the adrenaline rush of undercover work, and she's riding her ultimate high -- setting up a dope-peddling judge. Working after-hours, often without badge or gun, her only backup is her ghost -- the detective whose sole responsibility is to stay hidden until intervention becomes vital. But Ross is also haunted, and hunted, by a different ghost -- a stalker just as artfully cunning as herself. Now with all eyes on her every move, she's about to enter a labyrinth of deadly deception where her first false step will be her last. Chapter 1 The Watcher He followed her for two days. Waited in the shadows across from her Manhattan apartment. Tailed her to Central Park on a cool June morning then watched her jog around Sheep Meadow. Tracked her car to Queens, to an empty Italian restaurant where she sat alone in a back booth for forty minutes. She seemed jumpy. His guess: She'd been stood up. He watched through the restaurant window and made entries in his journal. She used a cell phone -- two calls -- then ordered a salad that she ignored. He kept a journal on each woman, his personal record of occurrences, reflections, and experiences. She was the only one still alive. He returned to his car. Waiting didn't bother him; he was a tenacious man, born with forceful willpower and a bulldog tenacity. He deliberately gave the impression of being indifferent and unconcerned, but his mind never stopped plotting. He switched on the tape deck, sipped his black coffee, then slumped in the front seat. Head back, eyes closed. Listening to Pavarotti. Fat Lucy, if you will. His love for the woman was like opera. Reckless and intense; all or nothing. He couldn't bear to have her out of his sight. He'd done some reflecting and decided a bowlegged Dominican riding a mountain bike along Columbus Avenue was also following the woman. The "Domo" sipping Evian water; pretending he's only window-shopping. Cute. He knew why the guy was dogging her. She'd put people in prison, and now someone wanted to get even. The Dominican could have been a purse snatcher. A crack dealer making his rounds. He could have decided he liked the lady's butt and craved a closer look. Latinos, bless 'em, enjoyed going on booty patrol. Maybe the Domo was looking for a pickup basketball game: half court, five bucks a man. He could have several reasons for riding his little black bike from Columbus Avenue to Central Park West and back again. The Dominican was actually a contract killer with seven, eight bodies on him. The Watcher had been in the station house when the Domo was being booked. Not for murder but for setting a dog on fire and throwing it from a roof in Washington Heights. She was still in the restaurant. Sipping a cappuccino and looking at her watch. The Watcher couldn't protect her against all of her enemies. She had too many. He had a plan. It couldn't miss. Leave New York. Just the two of them. With enough money to live comfortably for the rest of their lives. He was confident and composed. Credit Tai Chi and origami. Tai Chi for conditioning and cool nerves; origami for patience and a sense of beauty. Fold a thousand origami cranes and your wish will be granted. He couldn't fold a crane without thinking of her. She left the restaurant and drove to the Queens Public Library where she examined back issues of New York newspapers. She photocopied a few pages, arousing his curiosity. He wanted a cl...

Product details

• Authors: Marc Olden, Olden Marc
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster USA
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 18.12.2009
• EAN: 9781439193785
• ISBN: 978-1-4391-9378-5
• No. of pages: 320
• Subjects: Fiction > Suspense; Modern & contemporary fiction (post c 1945), FICTION / Literary, Modern and contemporary fiction: literary and general