Silent Victim

Loud Praise for C. E. Lawrence and SILENT SCREAMS

“Criminally compelling,
Silent Screams
by C. E. Lawrence nails you to your seat with a fascinating NYPD profiler who’s hurled into the case of his lifetime. This journey into violence and the soul is unforgettable.”

—Gayle Lynds,
New York Times
bestselling author of
The Coil
and
The Book of Spies

“Pulse-racing, compelling, first rate. Lawrence knows how to build and hold suspense with the best of them. Once you get into this one, you can’t get out.”

—John Lutz,
New York Times
bestselling author of
Mister X

“C. E. Lawrence delivers finely honed suspense, with unique twists, and accurately captures the logic and intuition of a profiler under pressure.”

—Katherine Ramsland,
professor of forensic psychology, and author of
The Forensic Psychology of Criminal Minds

“C. E. Lawrence’s
Silent Screams
is so compulsively readable, you won’t just tear through the pages, you’ll scream through them.”

—Chris Grabenstein,
Anthony and Agatha awards winner, and author of
Rolling Thunder

“Authentic, realistic. If you want to read a serial-killer thriller that’s solidly based on frightening reality, this is the one.”

—Louis B Schlesinger,
PhD, Professor of Forensic Psychology, John Jay college of Criminal Justice

“Lawrence assembles a quirky group of detectives and experts, all strong characters who can support future books in the series. Fans of Keith Ablow will enjoy this dark, intriguing thriller.”

—Publishers Weekly

“Wickedly brilliant … where the roles of hunter and hunted are skillfully blurred … an escalating torrent of murder you won"t soon forget.”

—Gregg McCrary,
author of
The Unknown Darkness: Profiling the Predators Among Us

“A sophisticated knowledge of forensic investigations …
Silent Screams
beckons C. E. Lawrence to become a repeat offender in the thriller genre.”

—Marina Stajic,
PhD, DABFT, president of the American Board of Forensic Toxicology

ALSO BY C. E. LAWRENCE

Silent Screams

SILENT
VICTIM

C. E.
     LAWRENCE

PINNACLE BOOKS are published by

Kensington Publishing Corp.
119 West 40th Street
New York, NY 10018

Copyright © 2010 C. E. Lawrence

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.

If you purchased this book without a cover, you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as “unsold and destroyed” to the publisher, and neither the author nor the publisher has received any payment for this “stripped book.”

All Kensington titles, imprints, and distributed lines are available at special quantity discounts for bulk purchases for sales promotions, premiums, fund-raising, educational, or institutional use. Special book excerpts or customized printings can also be created to fit specific needs. For details, write or phone the office of the Kensington special sales manager: Kensington Publishing Corp., 119 West 40th Street, New York, NY 10018, attn: Special Sales Department; phone 1-800-221-2647.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

PINNACLE BOOKS and the Pinnacle logo are Reg, U.S. Pat. & TM Off.

eISBN-13: 978-0-7860-2591-6
eISBN-10: 0-7860-2149-7

First printing: December 2010

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Printed in the United States of America

For Joan and Rusty,
who are so dear to me

Once again, thanks first and foremost to my editor, Michaela Hamilton, a.k.a. Fearless Leader, whose continuing support, wisdom, and insight keep me going on cold winter nights—and thanks to Marvin Kaye for introducing me to her. Special thanks to my dear friend Gisela Rose, for her superb editing skills and invaluable perspective. Thanks also to my agent, Paige Wheeler, for her professional advice, good cheer, and support. Special thanks once again to Robert (“Beau-bear”) Murphy and Rachel Fallon for their generosity in providing ideal retreats in which to work—large parts of this book were written in Long Eddy, New York, and Toot Baldon, U.K. Thanks also to Bev and P. G. Gardner for their generosity in putting me up at “Chalet Gardner,” where I worked out some key plot points with the help of delicious chocolates and the Vermont countryside. Also thanks to Kat Houghton and Coco for sharing their charming Chatham retreat with me, to Mike for pulling me out of the mud, and to Kathy Szaj for looking after the home fires for me. My deepest gratitude to the Byrdcliffe Arts Colony in Woodstock, New York, which has become my second home. Thanks too to Hawthornden Castle International Writers Retreat for providing a wonderful month in the most idyllic setting I can imagine—and to Martin, Angie, Mary, and Doris for letting me stay up late. Thanks to my mother, Margaret Simmons (a.k.a. Title Maven), and Joan Lawrence for their insightful feedback and continued support, to Anthony Moore for setting up my website, and to my sisters, Katie and Suzie, who are always in my heart.

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.

—W
ILLIAM
C
ONGREVE,
The Mourning Bride,
1697