Vanishing Act (32 page)
As she watched him, she could see his face begin to set like a death mask. He pressed his intercom button. "Tell the officers to come in." He began to write, filling in lines on a form on his desk.
The two police officers swung the door open quickly and walked inside. The man had his right hand resting comfortably on the handle of the club in his belt.
The judge said, "I’ve finally straightened this out. Her real name is Mahoney. Colleen Anne Mahoney. She was attacked by those suspects on the way into the courthouse. Apparently it was a case of mistaken identity, because she had no connection with the Phillips case. I’m giving you a release order now, and I want all records—prints, photographs, and so on—sealed ... no, destroyed. Call me when it’s been done." He handed the female officer the paper. "I want to avoid any possibility of reprisals."
"Will do, Judge," said the policewoman. Kramer’s instinct about her was confirmed. She had a cute little smile.
The policeman opened the door for Jane Whitefield, but this time nobody touched her. She didn’t move. "You should have those teeth checked."
He shrugged. "The system was never meant to rule on every human action. Some things slip through."
She stared at him for a second, then said simply and without irony, "Thank you, Your Honor," turned, and walked out of his office.
DANCE FOR THE DEAD
is available in bookstores everywhere.
Published by Random House.
SHE WILL HELP YOU DISAPPEAR,
IF IT HELPS YOU STAY ALIVE...
The Jane Whitefield Novels
by
Thomas Perry
Published by Ivy Books.
Available in bookstores everywhere.
Jane Whitefield is a name to be whispered
like a prayer. A shadow woman who rescues
the helpless and the hunted when their
enemies leave them no place to hide. Now,
using the bone-deep cunning of her Native
American forebears, she arranges a
vanishing act for Pete Hatcher, a Las Vegas
gambling executive.
SHADOW WOMAN
It should be a piece of cake, but she doesn’t yet know about Earl and Linda—two professional destroyers who will cash in if Hatcher dies, killers who love to kill ... slowly.
SHADOW WOMAN
by Thomas Perry
Available in bookstores everywhere.
Published by Ivy Books.
Jane Whitefield, legendary half-Indian shadow
guide who spirits hunted people away from
certain death, has never had a client like Dr.
Richard Dahlman. A famous plastic surgeon
who has dedicated his life to healing, the good
doctor hasn’t a clue why stalkers are out for
his blood. But he knows Jane Whitefield’s
name—and that she is his only hope.
THE FACE-
CHANGERS
Once again Jane performs her magic, leading
Dahlman in a nightmare flight across
America, only a heartbeat ahead of pursuers
whose leader is a dead ringer for Jane: a
raven-haired beauty who has stolen her
name, reputation, and techniques—not to
save lives, but to destroy them....
THE FACE-CHANGERS
by Thomas Perry
Available in bookstores everywhere.
Published by The Ballantine Publishing Group.
SHE WILL HELP YOU DISAPPEAR,
IF IT HELPS YOU STAY ALIVE...
The Jane Whitefield Novels by Thomas Perry
Published by The Ballantine Publishing Group.
Available in your local bookstore.
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By Thomas Perry:
THE BUTCHER’S BOY
METZGER’S DOG
BIG FISH
ISLAND
SLEEPING DOGS
*
VANISHING ACT
*
DANCE FOR THE DEAD
*
SHADOW WOMAN
*
THE FACE-CHANGERS
*
*Published by The Ballantine Publishing Group
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A Ballantine Book
Published by The Ballantine Publishing Group
Copyright © 1995 by Thomas Perry
Excerpt from Dance for the Dead copyright © 1995 by Thomas Perry
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. Published in the United States by The Ballantine Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc., New York.
Ballantine and colophon are registered trademarks of Random House, Inc.
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 95-95082
This edition published by arrangement with Random House, Inc.
First Ballantine Books Edition: April 1996
eISBN: 978-0-307-41763-3
v3.0
