The Perfect Murder: Spine-chilling short stories for long summer nights

About the Publisher (#litres_trial_promo)

The Perfect Murder

Featuring short stories from e-book bestsellers Paul Finch, Jacqui Rose and Mark Sennen and highly anticipated stories from Luca Veste and Michael Russell, this FREE short story collection will have you up all night. Each short story is followed up by exclusive extracts of each of the authors’ upcoming titles.

Before Noon: A nail-biting story that focuses on the events prior to a safe deposit robbery.

Time’s Up: Set in Liverpool a grisly tale of being lost and seeking redemption.

Him!: The darkest things happen at night … A thriller sure to keep you on the edge of your seat from the #1 bestseller Paul Finch.

Wunderland: A chilling story based at a writer’s retreat in the middle of nowhere.

The Puzzle Behind The Istanbul Puzzle: A feature that looks at Laurence’s fascination with conspiracy theories.

An Act Of Contrition: When Donal Kerrigan is found dead and the man who shot him has admitted the murder, it seems likes a closed case. Yet, all is not as it first appears as Inspector David Gillespie soon discovers.

Jacqui Rose: ‘Gritty and gripping – by a star in the making.’ Kimberley Chambers

Luca Veste: ‘Dark, dangerous and complex, Dead Gone is that rare thing – an intelligent serial killer novel that’s both entertaining and thought-provoking. Nick Quantrill

Paul Finch: ‘Avon’s big star … part edge-of-the-seat, part hide-behind-the-sofa!’ The Bookseller

Mark Sennen: ‘A fast-paced serial-killer chiller.’ Alex Marwood

Laurence O’Bryan: ‘A brisk plot … which draws the reader into a conspiratorial rapport … He’s come late to fiction, clearly he means to enjoy it.’ The Telegraph

Michael Russell: ‘Russell weaves a beautifully rich tapestry that shows through the taste and texture of his words.’ www.crimesquad.com (http://www.crimesquad.com)

To find out more, follow Avon on Twitter@AvonBooksUK (http://www.twitter.com/AvonBooksUK) and on Facebook@Avon-BooksUK (http://www.facebook.com/AvonBooksUK) for news, giveaways and exclusive author extras.

A note from Jacqui Rose

Just to tell you about my short story, it’s called, Before Noon. The idea for the title came to me because I’m fascinated with time and the unexpected. The sliding doors of life. How our lives can change in a matter of minutes or hours or even seconds. How only twenty-four hours earlier our lives may have rested on the axle of peace and then we fast-forward a day and things beyond our control have crashed into our lives. Sometimes it truly is a question of expect the unexpected.

Before Noon starts off just before a safe deposit robbery takes place. Simple and straightforward. In and out for Dave Cole, Jay and Mike, but then events take a twist. A turn of the unexpected. A moment in time no one could’ve planned for. I won’t give you any spoilers; I just hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

As always, I’d love to hear from you, so please check out my website www.jacquirose.com (http://www.jacquirose.com) and say hi if you’ve got time. Or you can find me on Twitter @JacPereirauk (http://www.twitter.com/JacPereirauk).

Before Noon

A short story by Jacqui Rose

10.32 a.m.

‘I said are you fucking ready?’

Jay’s fingers hesitated on the silver car door handle as the familiar voice shouted at him. Cold sweat dripped from his forehead; trapped under his balaclava. His green eyes were wide open, terrified, his sight blurred by the film of perspiration on his lashes.

He rubbed his eyes, looking round to the back of the car. One man, known but unrecognisable by his demonic clown mask, sat staring with hostile contempt at him.

‘I said, are you ready?’

Before Jay had time to speak, he felt the cold end of the steel gun under his chin pushing up, snapping his mouth shut and causing him to bite his tongue. He tasted the salty blood and squinted, but his balaclava hid his pain as he trembled.

‘Don’t mess this up Jay. There’s a lot riding on it.’

Jay nodded. A tiny nod. Not wanting to press on the gun any more than he had to.

‘I want to hear the words Jay. Say them.’

The gun was released and Jay’s eyes darted around the dark interior of the car. He attempted to speak but the skin on his lips stuck together. He licked them but his mouth, void of saliva and dry as the long hot summer they were in, gave no relief to his parched lips. It was a hoarse croak that followed. ‘I’m ready.’

The eyes which stared back at him danced with mocking laughter, but the approval in them was fiercely proud.

Dave Cole spoke in a whisper, earnest, encouraging words to his son. ‘That’s it. That’s it son. Let’s go and get them motherfuckers.’

‘Okay.’

‘This is your initiation son. Your granddad would be proud of you. Don’t let him down. God rest his soul.’

Jay’s reply was as dead as his lifeless eyes as he stared at his father. ‘Yeah.’

Dave nodded, pulling down his balaclava over his face before giving the signal they were waiting for. The click of the colt .9mm sub-machine guns echoed round the car. An instant later the doors of the blacked-out SUV flung open and all three occupants ran out, adrenaline packed bodies, shouting and yelling. ‘Get down! Get down! Fucking turn your face away! Get down!’

Jay, last out of the car ran behind, trying desperately to ignore the fear taking hold of his body that was making his knees buckle as he looked round, backing up, pointing his machine gun at the old lady who stared in terror as he headed into the safe deposit bank.

‘Shut the doors! Shut the fucking doors!’

Jay heard his dad calling out the orders as the cool of the air conditioning inside the building hit them.

About half a dozen people milled round and it took them a moment to realise what was happening, but as soon as they saw the masked gunmen they froze. At first no one breathed and no one dared to move, then a second later, panic broke out. A frantic burst of screaming followed as the customers raced to get out; trying to dash for the exit as they ran for their lives. The old man who’d been filling in a form, staggered backwards, tripping over his own fear as he stared into Jay’s eyes

‘Get down on the floor. Nobody move!’ Dave bellowed out the instructions. Most of the people dropped down, automatically putting their hands on their heads; influenced by their years of television watching. A young man ran towards the door but his exit was blocked. Dave growled threateningly.

‘Don’t play the hero, mate.’ With that, the gun Dave was holding smashed across the customer’s face, sending him down on the ground; blood splattering across the clothing of the woman next to him.

Dave turned to the others. ‘Does anyone else want to play superhero? Hey you, get down.’

The brown haired pregnant woman paused, locking eyes before she slowly lowered herself carefully down to the floor.

‘I can’t lie on my front.’ Her voice was quiet but a hint of defiance escaped from it.

Dave spat his words. ‘Then lie on your side. Anyone else got any fucking requests?’

Jay ran towards the cashiers’ windows, watching as the steel shutters began to slowly come down. He placed a small explosive device on the window, yelling at the women on the other side of the glass. ‘Put your arms up. Keep them up or your colleague over there will get it. Do not press anything. When I say “duck”, duck.’

He shouted as he leapt away, running towards the others who stood staring intently, watching for any movement from the terrified men and women lying on the ground.