Page 27 of Alex Cross Must Die

Lucy put her weight on the ball of her right foot and did a quick pirouette. At least that stupid ballet class had been good for something.

“And smile,” said Betsy.

Lucy knew the trick. Do it with a little laugh. More natural. She still wasn’t used to being looked at this way. But she knew it waspart of the game. And, after all, here she was, a ranch girl from the Texas Panhandle, standing in front of one of the most famous models in the world—now running one of the hottest boutique modeling agencies in New York.

“Lovely,” said Betsy. She gestured toward a chair. “Nowsit.”

“Thanks,” said Lucy. She eased herself onto the seat gracefully, back straight, instead of just flopping down, which was her usual style. Betsy sat down across from her and leaned forward.

“I loved the samples you sent,” said Betsy. “Sometimes it’s hard to tell with local photographers, but you shine. You really do. Even in the catalog work. And you just turned …?”

“Nineteen,” said Lucy. “Last week.”

“So here’s the good news,” said Betsy. “You’ve got an interesting face. Very commercial but different. You’ve got the height for runway work. And your figure is terrific.”

Lucy shifted awkwardly in her seat. She felt like she was being scored like an Angus heifer.

Betsy plucked two business cards from a table. “Here’s what I need you to do. First, get a decent haircut. Second, get that chip on your front tooth fixed.”

Lucy took the cards. “These people are the best,” said Betsy. “Tell them I sent you. They’ll know what to do. I’ll see what I can find for you in the meantime. Sound good?”

“Sounds …great!” Lucy broke into a huge grin, chip and all.

Betsy stood up. Lucy did too. She realized that the interview was over. Short but sweet.

“You have real potential,” said Betsy, “but you’ll have to put in the work.”

“Oh, don’t you worry,” said Lucy. “I will! I promise!”

Betsy walked Lucy toward the door, then stopped. “Now that I think of it—do you have a middle name?”

“I do. It’s Lynn.”

“Lucy Lynn Ferry,”said Betsy, turning the sound over in her head. “Better. We’ll use that.” She smiled her stunning model smile. “And keep the drawl. It worked for Jerry Hall.”

“Sorry, who?”

Betsy sighed. “Google her, sweetheart.”

There were two businessmen and a FedEx guy in the down elevator. Otherwise, Lucy Lynn Ferry would have screamed for joy at the top of her lungs. By the time she stepped back out onto the street, she was practically floating.

It had been hard leaving home. Naturally, she missed her parents, her friends, her horses. Her boyfriend hadn’t wanted to let her go. But they wanted different things. He was content in small-town Texas, for one thing, and Lucy definitely wanted more than that. But all that drama was behind her now. She’d taken a big chance by coming all the way to New York on her own. Now it looked like exactly the right choice.

Her life was about to begin. Hernewlife. And there was nobody holding her back.

CHAPTER 26

“HE LOOKS LIKEan upstanding citizen,” said Holmes.

“Behaves like one too,” said Poe, “at least on the surface.”

After returning from their heated visit with Huntley Bain, Poe was flicking through the file he’d assembled on fifty-five-year-old Eton Charles, bringing up photos and documents on a large screen for his partners in the middle of the office.

“He’s been a principal at Burns and Manning Architects for the past fifteen years. Big firm. International clients. Big money,” said Poe. The pictures, an assortment of profile pics and candids, showed a handsome man with greying temples. He wore fashionable, black-framed glasses and well-tailored suits.

“Looks TED Talk ready,” said Marple, watching intently from a side chair.

“Any girlfriends?” asked Holmes.

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