The Chase: A Novel (56 page)

“I need you to take my place for two days, Kait,” Lana said tersely.

Kait gasped. “What?”

“You need to cover for me. The way we did when we were little kids. It’s all in the letter, Kait.” Her blue gaze was searing. “I
have
to go!”

Kait gripped her arm. “You want to switch places? For two days? I don’t understand!”

“Will you help me?” Lana demanded.

Kait looked into her eyes and saw steely desperation. “Of course I’ll help you,” she began.

“Good!” Lana slid Kait’s purse off her shoulder, handing her own Gucci handbag to her. Then she took a garment bag from the booth and shoved it into her arms. “Tell everyone I cut my hair,” she said tersely. “Here in the city, at Bergdorf’s.”

“Wait!” Kait grabbed her wrist, realizing she was about to leave. “I need to know what’s going on. I need to know when I’ll see you again!” Panic claimed her, and it had less to do with trading places than it did with losing her twin sister all over again.

“Two days from tomorrow,” Lana said with a brief, reassuring smile. “It’s all in the letter, Kait. I have to go. I have a car waiting. There’s no time.”

With Kait’s bag on her shoulder, Lana hugged her hard and started through the coffee shop for the door. Kait came to life and ran after her. This could not be happening this way! And the severity of the trouble her sister was in struck her now. Something terrible had to be happening, otherwise Lana would not have called as she had, and she would not be rushing away like this.

“What kind of trouble are you in?” she cried, chasing her out the door and into the cool New York City night.

A Lincoln Town Car with a driver was idling at the curb. Lana swung open the door and turned. “The killing kind,” she said.

Experience love at its most dangerous,
and pleasure at its deadliest.

The FRANCESCA CAHILL Novels

DEADLY LOVE

DEADLY PLEASURE

DEADLY AFFAIRS

DEADLY DESIRE

New York Times
Bestselling Author

BRENDA JOYCE

Brenda Joyce has enthralled millions of readers with her
New York Times
bestselling novels. Now, join us in the next chapter of her unforgettable storytelling:the Francesca Cahill novels.Travel back in time to turn-of-the-century New York City, where a metropolis booming with life also masks a dark world of danger, death, and daring desire...

“Joyce excels at creating twists and turns in her characters’ personal lives.”  —
Publishers Weekly

“Joyce carefully crafted a wonderful mystery with twists and turns and red herrings galore, then added two marvelous, witty protagonists who will appeal to romance readers...Add to this a charming cast of secondary characters and a meticulously researched picture of society life in the early I 900s. I can hardly wait to see what Francesca and Rick will be up to next.”  —
Romantic Times

“A delight!”  —
Reader to Reader

AVAILABLE WHEREVER BOOKS ARE SOLD
FROM ST. MARTIN’S PAPERBACKS

DEAD 2/02

TITLES BY BRENDA JOYCE

Deadly Love

Deadly Pleasure

Deadly Affairs

Deadly Desire

The Chase

House of Dreams

The Third Heiress

The Rival

Splendor

The Finer Things

Captive

Beyond Scandal

The Game

After Innocence

Promise of the Rose
Secrets

Scandalous Love

The Fires of Paradise

Dark Fires

The Conqueror

The Darkest Heart

Lovers and Liars

Violent Fire

Firestorm

Innocent Fire

NOVELLAS BY BRENDA JOYCE

Perfect Secrets

Scandalous Weddings

Outlaw Love

Heart of the Home

A Gift of Joy

AVAILABLE FROM

S
T.
M
ARTIN’S
P
APERBACKS

THE CHASE

Copyright © 2002 Brenda Joyce Dreams Unlimited, Inc.

Excerpt from
Double Take
copyright © 2003 by Brenda Joyce Dreams Unlimited, Inc.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. For information address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010.

Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2001048648

eISBN: 978-1-429-90589-3

St. Martin’s Press hardcover edition / July 2002

St. Martin’s Paperbacks edition / July 2003

St. Martin’s Paperbacks are published by St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010.