A career change turns deadly for Julie when she gives up her law practice to be a writer. It might have worked out if her mentor were an ordinary author without serious hangups, and if her law partner hadn't decided being best friends wasn't good enough.
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The last thing Julie wanted to do was to hurt her best friend/law partner, Dade's feelings, but she'd had enough of practicing law just to make money. It was time to break away and do what she wanted for a change.
Having as her mentor, Tyler Jensen, the easy-on-the eyes bestselling author, was an added incentive. His mysteries were certainly realistic, almost as if he were there. If only she could write as well.
Dade's negative reaction toward Tyler was understandable, given the circumstances, but it couldn't be jealousy, since she and Dade were only best friends. Or were they?
Tyler's animosity toward Dade was harmless, or was it?
Excerpt
Julie sighed. Vacation must wait until she waded through the mounds of paperwork which claimed her
attention. Legal descriptions to examine, trials to get ready, new cases to consider, telephone messages to
answer, her duties were endless. Would she ever break loose?
She needed to remind Dade to look for a partner. He seemed to be ignoring the inevitable, as if that would
make her stay longer. He had to accept she couldn’t go on like this. It wasn’t her anymore.
She’d driven downtown early his morning instead of relaxing on the train, since she’d be working late again.
Julie swung the top of the holder closed and took a deep breath. In a few minutes she’d tear herself away
from the office and trek to the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission where she’d fight for her
clients’ rights. Before that, she’d relax a few more minutes, enjoy the loons on the paperclip holder, and
think good thoughts.
Like how in a few days she’d be at the workshop. Delicious anticipation shot through her at the thought.
She loved the learning process and could hardly wait to incorporate some of it in her book. Also, she had to
admit Jensen’s continued interest in her was flattering.
It was fun daydreaming and not thinking of chores. With her mind still in the clouds, she grabbed her
briefcase and told Dee she’d be back around noon.
As she stepped into the dreaded elevator and the doors closed behind her, the familiar helpless feeling
rushed over her, making her feel faint. The slow descent began. Would the torture every stop?
It wouldn’t hurt to adopt Jensen’s advice. Transferring her fears to the typewritten page would be daring,
but ignoring them hadn’t helped. As soon as she got a chance, she’d explore that possibility.
As the doors swung open on the ground floor, she breathed a sigh of relief. She’d made it. She was safe.
* * *
Julie was almost in front of the Thompson Building, when her cell phone rang.
“I’m sorry to bother you, but do you know where Dade is,” Pam, the receptionist asked.
“He didn’t say anything to me. What’s the problem?”
“Mr. Burns says Dade was supposed to meet him an hour ago at the Commission about an offer, but he
hasn’t shown up. I can’t reach him on his cell.”
“The client may have gotten the date wrong. Dade’s good at remembering appointments. Just in case, I’ll
look around for him inside. If I see him, I’ll let you know. Don’t worry, he’ll show up.”
As she replaced the phone in her purse, she smilingly admired the play of sunlight across the glass panes of
the octagonal architecture of the James R. Thompson Center, which housed the Illinois Workers’
Compensation Commission. On such a gorgeous July day, nothing could go wrong. Sure, she had tons of
work and it might take a while to follow her dream, but she’d survive.
Another good thing was her dizzy spells had vanished. They’d probably been caused by overwork. That
situation wouldn’t last forever. Her goal was within reach.
She just knew she’d win all of her cases today.
Stop woolgathering, she told herself, using a favorite phrase of her mother’s.
Upstairs on the eighth floor, she glanced around for Dade but didn’t see him. Just in case he turned up, she
left a message with the receptionist for him to call the office. She called Pam back and told her what she’d
done. After that, she gathered her client, Danny Devers, out of the waiting room. “Let’s go get ‘em,” she
said.
He flashed her a timid smile.
“Don’t be nervous. Just tell the truth.”
The man had a good case. They’d get through in no time.
Her prediction proved correct. It wasn’t long before Julie smilingly sent her client on his way. She sailed
through the next case as well, then strolled across the concourse to look for Dade. She didn’t see him in the
hallway, meeting rooms or the downstairs eating area where the attorneys often met to hash over cases.
He must have already gone back to the office.
She may as well head back too. When she saw him, she’d learn soon enough how the mix-up had occurred.
As soon as Julie stepped into the office, Pam’s frantic voice greeted her. “You didn’t see Dade at all at the
Commission?”
“No. You mean he still hasn’t called?”
Pam shook her head. “He never did. I don’t know where he is. The phones are going crazy. What do I tell
the clients?”
“Just say he’s at an emergency trial and will get back to them.”
Julie frowned. A strange uneasiness gripped her, making her terrific mood evaporate. Dade was meticulous
about advising the office of his whereabouts. Something was wrong.
Her steps quickened. Even before she reached her desk, she grabbed her cell phone from her purse and
punched the quick dial. “Be there,” she said.
It didn’t even ring. Strange. If the telephone were out of range, at least his voice mail should kick in.
Maybe his phone was broken.
Or maybe his mom was sick and he had to rush her to the hospital and didn’t have time to call. No, it couldn’
t be that. Marcia and Avery had gone to Wisconsin. They wouldn’t be back for a week.
Now what to do? Julie glanced at her watch. It was past one. Maybe she was being an alarmist, but she
couldn’t help it. What if Dade had fallen and banged his head in the shower this morning. His life’s blood
could be flowing out of him while he hung on, hoping to be rescued. God forbid, it might already be too late.
She called the operator and asked for his condominium’s office. Once she was connected, she requested a
well being check. Ten minutes of pacing passed. Julie was about to dial back when Dee’s voice rang over
the intercom, “There’s a Linda, from Dade’s building on line nine.”
Julie snatched up the receiver. “Is he all right?”
Professional Reviews
A unique blend of suspense and romance, highly recommended
Success can carry an untold cost. "Killer Career" is the story of aspiring writer Julie McGuire as she finds that her career is taking off through the guidance of one Tyler Jensen. But there seems to be more to the matter as Dade Donovan, Julie's best friend, seems to be sniffing around and finding something not so kosher about Tyler. "Killer Career" is a unique blend of suspense and romance, highly recommended.
Midwest Book Reviews
An intriguing and suspenseful mystery
An intriguing and suspenseful mystery awaits readers in "Killer Career" by Morgan Mandel.
Julie McGuire and Dade Donovan are like brother and sister. Together Dade and Julie have built a succesful law practice and business is booming. But in order to build up their practice, Julie had to push aside her dream of becoming a writer.
When Julie attends the Love to Murder Mystery Conference, she comes face-to-face with New York Times Bestselling Author Tyler Jensen. He's handsome and sexy, and manages to push all Julie's buttons. So when Julie gets the chance to partake in a workshop run by Tyler, she decides to go for it. But Julie gets more than she bargained for. Tyler isn't only interested in her writing ability.
Convinced that she can't be dedicated to the practice and her writing, Julie decides to leave her law career. Dade isn't too thrilled about finding a new partner, especially when he's convinced that he and Julie should never have agreed to remain just friends; and Tyler is fairly certain that Dade is standing in the way of him being able to get all he wants from Julie. How far will Tyler go to get his way?
Once in a while you find a book that forces you to steal moments away from work, the kids and all your other responsibilities just so you can sit down and read it. "Killer Career" is that book. From the very first word, Mandel draws you in and you never want to push this book aside. So captivated are you by Julie and Dade's story that you just have to keep plugging away, even though the dryer buzzed an hour ago and your clothes are probably a wrinkled mess. It's not a totally new type of story, but it's unique in the fact that you're not quite sure what is going on with Tyler Jensen until the very end.
There is so much conflict that moves this story forward. Never once did Mandel slow the pace, it just kept coming at you. Julie and Dade are fighting their feelings for each other--without the other person knowing--and Tyler is pushing for more of a relationship with Julie and she's not sure what to do. Julie's also conflicted over her career choice. She's a darn good lawyer. Can she give that up to follow her dream? And there's so much more going on that I can't share or I would risk giving up something good.
Revenge is Fun series. Millions of dollars are missing from the Venice Canals HOA and so are the Vice President and Treasurer. Were they kidnapped? Where is the money? Twists galore and a surprise ending with humor along the way.
