J.T. Ellison - Edge of Black

The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides

Dr. Samantha Owens is starting over: new city, new job, new man, new life. She’s trying to put some distance between herself and the devastating loss of her husband and children—but old hurts leave scars.

Before she’s even unpacked her office at Georgetown University’s forensic pathology department, she’s called to consult on a case that’s rocked the capital and the country. An unknown pathogen released into the Washington Metro has caused nationwide panic. Three people died—just three.

A miracle and a puzzle...

Amid the media frenzy and Homeland Security alarm bells, Sam painstakingly dissects the lives of those three victims and makes an unsettling conclusion. This is no textbook terrorist causing mayhem with broad strokes, but an artist wielding a much finer, more pointed instrument of destruction. An assassin, whose motive is deeply personal and far from understandable.

Xander Whitfield, a former Army Ranger and Sam’s new boyfriend, knows about seeing the world in shades of gray. About feeling compelled to do the wrong thing for the right reasons. Only his disturbing kinship with a killer can lead Sam to the truth...and once more into the line of fire.

Praise for J.T. Ellison

‘Scintillating… Suspenseful… Startling…’

Publishers Weekly

‘Mystery fiction has a new name to watch.’

John Connolly, New York Times bestselling author

‘Tennessee has a new dark poet.’

—Julia Spencer-Fleming

‘J.T. Ellison’s debut novel rocks.’

Allison Brennann, New York Times bestselling author of Fear No Evil

‘Creepy thrills from start to finish’

James O. Born, author of Burn Zone

‘Fast-paced and creepily believable…gritty, grisly and a great read’

M.J. Rose, internationally bestselling author of The Reincarnationist

‘A turbo-charged thrill ride of a debut’

Julia Spencer-Fleming, Edgar Award finalist and author of All Mortal Flesh

‘Fans of Sandford, Cornwell and Reichs will relish every page.’

J.A. Konrath, author of Dirty Martini

‘Shocking suspense, compelling characters and fascinating forensic details’

—Lisa Gardner, New York Times bestselling author of Catch Me

‘A Deeper Darkness has everything I love in a thriller: stunning twists and shocks, fascinating forensics and heroines I deeply cared about. J.T. Ellison is one of the best writers in the game.’

—Tess Gerritsen, New York Times bestselling author of The Silent Girl

J.T. ELLISONis a bestselling author based in Nashville, Tennessee. She writes the Taylor Jackson and Samantha Owens series, which have been published in more than twenty countries. Visit her website, www.JTEllison.com, for more information or follow her on Twitter @Thrillerchick.

Also by J.T. EllisonA DEEPER DARKNESS*

ALL THE PRETTY GIRLS

14

JUDAS KISS

THE COLD ROOM

THE IMMORTALS

SO CLOSE THE HAND OF DEATH

WHERE ALL THE DEAD LIE

*A Samantha Owens novel

Edge of Black

J.T. Ellison

www.mirabooks.co.uk

For Sherrie Saint—whose twisted mind is a writer’s delight,

and, as always, for my Randy.

Contents

Praise for J.T. Ellison Praise for J.T. Ellison ‘Scintillating… Suspenseful… Startling…’ Publishers Weekly ‘Mystery fiction has a new name to watch.’ John Connolly, New York Times bestselling author ‘Tennessee has a new dark poet.’ —Julia Spencer-Fleming ‘J.T. Ellison’s debut novel rocks.’ Allison Brennann, New York Times bestselling author of Fear No Evil ‘Creepy thrills from start to finish’ James O. Born, author of Burn Zone ‘Fast-paced and creepily believable…gritty, grisly and a great read’ M.J. Rose, internationally bestselling author of The Reincarnationist ‘A turbo-charged thrill ride of a debut’ Julia Spencer-Fleming, Edgar Award finalist and author of All Mortal Flesh ‘Fans of Sandford, Cornwell and Reichs will relish every page.’ J.A. Konrath, author of Dirty Martini ‘Shocking suspense, compelling characters and fascinating forensic details’ —Lisa Gardner, New York Times bestselling author of Catch Me ‘A Deeper Darkness has everything I love in a thriller: stunning twists and shocks, fascinating forensics and heroines I deeply cared about. J.T. Ellison is one of the best writers in the game.’ —Tess Gerritsen, New York Times bestselling author of The Silent Girl

About the Author J.T. ELLISON is a bestselling author based in Nashville, Tennessee. She writes the Taylor Jackson and Samantha Owens series, which have been published in more than twenty countries. Visit her website, www.JTEllison.com, for more information or follow her on Twitter @Thrillerchick. Also by J.T. Ellison A DEEPER DARKNESS* ALL THE PRETTY GIRLS 14 JUDAS KISS THE COLD ROOM THE IMMORTALS SO CLOSE THE HAND OF DEATH WHERE ALL THE DEAD LIE *A Samantha Owens novel

Title Page Edge of Black J.T. Ellison www.mirabooks.co.uk

Dedication For Sherrie Saint—whose twisted mind is a writer’s delight, and, as always, for my Randy.

Epigraph “In all men is evil sleeping; the good man is he who will not awaken it, in himself or in other men.” —Mary Renault

TUESDAY TUESDAY

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

WEDNESDAY

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

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

THURSDAY

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Chapter 44

Chapter 45

Chapter 46

Chapter 47

Chapter 48

Chapter 49

Chapter 50

FRIDAY

Chapter 51

Chapter 52

Acknowledgments

“In all men is evil sleeping;

the good man is he who will not awaken it,

in himself or in other men.”

—Mary Renault

TUESDAY

Chapter 1

Washington, D.C.

A single beam of light illuminated the path ahead, hovering and bobbing against the concrete walls. The tunnel was narrowing, growing tighter across his shoulder, forcing the joints to compress, pushing on his lungs. His breath came fast. He reminded himself to calm down, inhale through his nose. The mask was making it difficult to see, to smell, anything that might give him a sense of where he was. He paused, counted the number of times his limbs had moved forward. Once, twice, three times, twenty. Roger that. Five more evolutions and he’d be in place.

He squeezed forward, slithering like a snake along on his belly, his legs bunching up behind him, his arms forward, the Maglite in his left hand, his right feeling for the way. Slowly. Slowly.

There. He felt the hinge. Turned it gently, sensed the cooler air blowing up into the vent from below. Reached down into his shirt and pulled out the canister. The gloves made his hands clumsy, but he couldn’t risk contact. He’d die stuck in this shaft, wedged in above the vent, stinking and rotting until someone finally sought the source of the smell.