Target of a Killer (A Crime Thriller Short)

By R. Barri Flowers

TARGET OF A KILLER is a crime thriller short by bestselling and prolific author R. Barri Flowers.

When a journalist is targeted for death by a drug kingpin whose operation she had exposed, trying to stay alive becomes a real challenge when not knowing who to trust, with a ruthless killer taking aim.

Included is a bonus short story, THE JURY HAS SPOKEN, in which a dedicated group of criminal justice professionals wager on the outcome of a case, with deadly results.

Also includes excerpts from the bestselling legal thriller and police procedural, PERSUASIVE EVIDENCE by R. Barri Flowers. When a prosecutor’s son is charged with a double homicide, she pulls out all the stops to prove his innocence, even while trying a murder case that could make or break or career.

PRAISE FOR MYSTERY AND THRILLER FICTION BY R. BARRI FLOWERS:

“A heart-thumping thriller, this is that rare novel that is downright scary. Pick it up at your peril, because you won't put it down until you've read the last word." -- John Lutz, Edgar winner and bestselling author of Twist on BEFORE HE KILLS AGAIN

“A masterful thriller set in the dark underbelly of Maui, with lots of fine action, down and dirty characters, and the vivid details of police procedure one would expect from an author who is also a top criminologist. A terrific read!" -- Douglas Preston, co-creator of the bestselling Pendergast series of novels on MURDER IN MAUI

"An exquisitely rich and masterfully constructed mystery.... A savvy, smooth, and sumptuous read that's as hot as Waikiki beach sand." -- Jon Land, bestselling author of Strong Vengeance on MURDER IN HONOLULU

"It gets no better than this! R. Barri Flowers has written another thriller guaranteed to hold onto its readers!" -- Huntress Reviews on DARK STREETS OF WHITECHAPEL

“A gripping and tightly woven tale you won't want to put down. Author Flowers neatly contrasts the natural beauty of a tropical paradise with the ugliness of murder and its aftermath." -- John Lutz, Edgar Winner and bestselling author of Pulse on MURDER IN MAUI

"R. Barri Flowers writes with the passion and knowledge of someone who truly knows his craft. A steamy, non-stop thrill-ride through the seamy underbelly of Hawaii." -- Allison Leotta, former federal prosecutor and author of Discretion on MURDER IN MAUI

“Flowers once again has written a page-turner legal thriller that begins with a bang and rapidly moves along to its final page.” -- Midwest Book Review on STATE’S EVIDENCE

“A model of crime fiction.... Flowers may be a new voice in modern mystery writing, but he is already one of its best voices.” -- Statesman Journal on JUSTICE SERVED

"An excellent look at the jurisprudence system...will appeal to fans of John Grisham and Linda Fairstein." -- Harriet Klausner on PERSUASIVE EVIDENCE

• Language: English
• Publisher: R. Barri Flowers
• Release date: Jul 27, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301313921

R. Barri Flowers

R. Barri Flowers is the award winning, bestselling author of mystery and thriller novels, true crime books, relationship fiction, young adult mysteries, and children's books. Follow R. Barri Flowers on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Goodreads, LibraryThing, and YouTube. Learn more about the author on Wikipedia and www.rbarriflowers.com.

Book preview

TARGET OF A KILLER

A Crime Thriller Short

By R. Barri Flowers

Copyright 2013 by R. Barri Flowers at Smashwords. All rights reserved.

Cover Image Copyright 2013 by Leah-Anne Thompson

Used under license from http://www.shutterstock.com

TARGET OF A KILLER is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, business establishments, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

OTHER BOOKS BY R. BARRI FLOWERS

FICTION

Before He Kills Again (A Veronica Vasquez Thriller)

Dark Streets of Whitechapel (A Jack the Ripper Mystery)

Dead in the Rose City (A Dean Drake Mystery)

Forever Sweethearts (A Love Story)

Justice Served (A Barkley and Parker Mystery)

Killer in The Woods (A Psychological Thriller)

Murder in Honolulu (A Skye Delaney Mystery)

Murder in Maui (A Leila Kahana Mystery)

Persuasive Evidence (A Jordan La Fontaine Legal Thriller)

Seduced to Kill in Kauai (An Exotic Thriller)

State's Evidence (A Beverly Mendoza Legal Thriller)

TEEN FICTION

Christmas Wishes: Laura's Story (A Young Adult Holiday Fantasy)

Count Dracula's Teenage Daughter (A Transylvanica High Novel)

Danger in Time (A Young Adult Time Travel Mystery)

Ghost Girl in Shadow Bay (A Young Adult Haunted House Mystery)

TRUE CRIME

Dead at the Saddleworth Moor: The Crimes of Serial Killers Ian Brady & Myra Hindley (true crime short)

Killers of the Lonely Hearts: The Tale of Serial Killers Raymond Fernandez & Martha Beck (true crime short)

Mass Murder in the Sky: The Bombing of Flight 629 (historical short)

Masters of True Crime

Murder at the Pencil Factory: The Killing of Mary Phagan 100 Years Later (historical short)

Murders in the United States

Serial Killer Couples: Bonded by Sexual Depravity, Abduction, & Murder

The Pickaxe Killers: Karla Faye Tucker & Daniel Garrett (true crime short)

The Sex Slave Murders: The True Story of Serial Killers Gerald & Charlene Gallego

The Sex Slave Murders 2: The Chilling Story of Serial Killers Fred & Rosemary West (true crime short)

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Target of a Killer

The Jury Has Spoken – Bonus Story

Persuasive Evidence: A Jordan La Fontaine Legal Thriller – Bonus Excerpt

About the Author

TARGET OF A KILLER

I've got your back, man, Javier Whitman said into his cell phone while motoring down the busy freeway in a BMW.

You'd damn well better have it! the man shouted back. If I go down, we all go down. Understand?

Yeah, I hear you. Javier tried to hide his uneasiness at the mere prospect. Don't worry. They don't have a case. It's nothing but hot air. You ask me, the D.A.'s gonna drop it any time now and we can all get back to business.

I don't think so, the man said. They won't stop till they nail my ass. Unless I beat them at their own game.

Javier tensed. Meaning?

Meaning I'm sure as hell not gonna sit back and wait for them to throw the book at me!

Javier realized it was too late to stop the wheels that were already in