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The Two Masks of Vendetta by Tony Lee Moral – Extract

Caught between love, lies, and the Italian mafia – Catriona Benedict’s life is about to take a deadly turn.

Catriona, a struggling actress in New York City, finds herself trapped in a dangerous web of secrets. Approached by the wealthy and charismatic Miles Kingston, she’s offered an incredible sum of money to pose as his wife – an arrangement that will help Miles secure his enormous inheritance. Eager to escape her financial woes, and her boyfriend’s debts to a violent loan shark, Catriona reluctantly agrees.

But as they toast to their union, there is a shocking murder, and a slew of suspects. The glamorous world of the Kingston family soon reveals its darker side. Now Catriona must race against time to clear her name and outwit a killer before she becomes the next target.

A stylish murder mystery filled with unexpected twists and unforgettable characters, this is a thriller that will keep you guessing until the very end.

Extract

Catriona noticed the man the moment she walked up onto the stage that rainy New York evening. He was sitting in the front row of the almost empty theatre, incongruously dressed in a Bergdorf Goodman dark navy suit and wearing the satisfied smile of a man who was accustomed to getting what he wanted. All through the performance his dark eyes watched her with a thoughtful intensity that made her very uncomfortable. She was anxious for the curtain to fall so that she could escape his impenetrable gaze.

“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players,” Catriona said. With tremendous relief, she eventually reached the end of her performance with a two-page monologue.

When the curtain fell, Catriona took a bow and glanced over to the man in the front row who was applauding with a smug smile on his face. For a brief moment, she caught his eye and suddenly felt very naked and bare, as if he had exposed her very soul.

She rushed off the stage, breathless, to where her manager, Lowry, was waiting to greet her. He was a short, fat, balding man, who resembled a hard-boiled egg with beads of perspiration on his round face. Oval spectacles, a bow tie, and a brown pinstriped wool flannel suit completed his costume.

“Bravo, a great performance,” said Lowry. “I think I counted two more in the audience tonight.”

“Who’s that man sitting in the front row?” Catriona immediately whispered, nodding her head towards the audience.

Lowry peered through the black curtain. “What man?”

When Catriona looked again, the row was empty. Strange. She glanced down the aisle but could see no sign of him. She shrugged. Oh well, maybe just some curious fan. New York was full of lonely people. Many came to the tiny theatre off Broadway to escape their troubles or even just to get out of the rain and the biting wind.

“Well, I’m afraid that’s it,” Lowry said. “We’re not opening next week.”

Catriona wanted to argue, but didn’t have the heart to do so, even though she desperately depended on the small wage the role afforded her. She nodded with resigned acceptance. Lowry had taken a considerable financial risk to run the play and it hadn’t worked out. They had gambled and lost.

“Well, let’s at least have a drink to cheer us up,” she said.

In the dressing room, Lowry poured a generous measure of bourbon for Catriona and then one for himself into two glass tumblers. The year was almost coming to an end, and it hadn’t been a very good year for either of them.

“What will you do?” he asked.

Catriona shrugged. “Look in the trades and try to find a job. Maybe some temporary work. How about you Lowry, any plans?”

“I’d like to start a drama school for aspiring board walkers,” said Lowry. “I’ve been giving it thought for some time and that’s what I want to do with the rest of my life.”

“Here’s to that,” said Catriona and they toasted.

After the drink she bade Lowry goodnight and started to walkthe twenty blocks home. Her thoughts were with Mario. She wondered what they would do to pay the rent. There was no option; she would have to go back to being a waitress or a secretary, which she hated doing. She really wanted to stay in the theatre.

So preoccupied was Catriona, that she failed to notice the black town car that was following her until it had pulled up directly alongside. The back seat window wound down and a voice called out.

“Ms. Benedict do you have a minute?” The voice was thick and luxuriant. It was the man in the audience who had been staring at her. Catriona was on her guard instantly.

“Who are you? What do you want?”

“I have a business proposition I’d like to make to you.”

Catriona sighed. She thought so, a pickup.

“Sorry I’m not interested,” she said and started to walk faster in the direction of Waverly. The car followed her slowly.

“Ms. Benedict,” the man called again.

“Hey, you’ve got the wrong gal. If you and your driver don’t beat it, I’m calling the cops.”

“Without hearing what I have to say? I know a public place not far from here. Will you join me for one drink? I’m quite safe, honest. My driver will vouch for me.”

His voice was matter of fact and well spoken. Catriona hesitated again and then she nodded out of curiosity more than anything.

“OK, one drink. Who are you?”

“Miles Kingston,” came the reply.

Many thanks to the author for a gifted copy. Review to follow soon.

About the Author

Tony Lee Moral is a mystery and suspense writer who has previously published three novels, and four non-fiction books about the works of Alfred Hitchcock in both the UK and US. Find out more via his website: www.tonyleemoralbooks.com

Tony explains: “Alfred Hitchcock always wanted to begin the opening of a thriller in an Opera House and a murder takes place when the Soprano hits the high C. I start my novel with exactly that and the story is very much a homage to Hitchcock’s films with classic use of suspense, characters and Macguffins.”