“Well, his PR tour is working,” Laurie said. “A publishing friend told me there’s a bidding war for the memoir he’s pitching. Madison and Frank Parker are using the case as publicity, too. Variety reported yesterday that Frank has given Madison a small but ‘comeback-worthy’ role in his next film. She’ll be playing a ruthless businesswoman willing to do anything to get ahead.”
“Talk about typecasting!” Leo said.
When Rosemary went to leave, she gave Laurie a long hug at the door. “I think you and Susan would have been such good friends. Please, stay in touch. It would mean so much to me.”
“Absolutely,” Laurie assured her. Rosemary’s approval meant more to her than any ratings or awards her show might earn.
Alex was the last to leave. At the door he said, “Congratulations, Laurie. The show was spectacular.” He started to kiss her cheek, then involuntarily reached out his arms, and she stepped into them. His lips found hers and, for a long minute, they clung to each other.
Then as they stepped apart, he said, “Laurie, get something straight. I’m not a man about town. I’m a guy who’s desperately in love with you and willing to wait.”
“I don’t deserve that,” Laurie said.
“Yes, you do. And you’ll know when the time is right.”
They smiled at each other. “Not too much time,” Laurie whispered, “I promise.”
They both became aware of a small figure in the hallway to the bedrooms. Timmy was smiling happily. “Awesome!”
MARY HIGGINS CLARK, #1 international and New York Times bestselling author, has written thirty-four suspense novels; three collections of short stories; a historical novel, Mount Vernon Love Story; two children’s books, including The Magical Christmas Horse; and a memoir, Kitchen Privileges. She is also the co-author, with Carol Higgins Clark, of five holiday suspense novels. Her books have sold more than 100 million copies in the United States alone.
ALAFAIR BURKE is the bestselling author of ten novels, including the thrillers Long Gone, If You Were Here, and the latest in the Ellie Hatcher series, All Day and a Night. A former prosecutor, she now teaches criminal law and lives in Manhattan.
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BY MARY HIGGINS CLARK
I’ve Got You Under My Skin
Daddy’s Gone A Hunting
The Lost Years
The Magical Christmas Horse (illustrated by Wendell Minor)
I’ll Walk Alone
The Shadow of Your Smile
Just Take My Heart
Where Are You Now?
Ghost Ship (illustrated by Wendell Minor)
I Heard That Song Before
Two Little Girls in Blue
Nighttime Is My Time
The Second Time Around
Kitchen Privileges
Mount Vernon Love Story
Silent Night/All Through the Night
Daddy’s Little Girl
On the Street Where You Live
Before I Say Good-bye
We’ll Meet Again
All Through the Night
You Belong to Me
Pretend You Don’t See Her
My Gal Sunday
Moonlight Becomes You
Silent Night
Let Me Call You Sweetheart
The Lottery Winner
Remember Me
I’ll Be Seeing You
All Around Town
Loves Music, Loves to Dance
The Anastasia Syndrome and Other Stories
While My Pretty One Sleeps
Weep No More, My Lady
Stillwatch
A Cry in the Night
The Cradle Will Fall
Where Are the Children?
BY MARY HIGGINS CLARK AND CAROL HIGGINS CLARK
Dashing Through the Snow
Santa Cruise
The Christmas Thief
He Sees You When You’re Sleeping
Deck the Halls
BY ALAFAIR BURKE
If You Were Here
Long Gone
THE ELLIE HATCHER SERIES
All Day and a Night
Never Tell
212
Angel’s Tip
Dead Connection
THE SAMANTHA KINCAID SERIES
Close Case
Missing Justice
Judgment Calls
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This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2014 by Mary Higgins Clark
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information address Simon & Schuster Subsidiary Rights Department, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020.
First Simon & Schuster hardcover edition November 2014
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Interior design by Jill Putorti
Jacket design by Jackie Seow and Shasti O’Leary-Soudant
Jacket photograph by Shasti O’Leary-Soudant
Author photograph by Bernard Vidal for Simon & Schuster
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Clark, Mary Higgins.
The Cinderella murder : an under suspicion novel / Mary Higgins Clark, Alafair Burke. — First Simon & Schuster hardcover edition.
pages ; cm. — (Under suspicion ; 1)
ISBN 978-1-4767-6312-5 (hardcover) — ISBN 978-1-4767-6369-9 (softcover) — ISBN 978-1-4767-6370-5 (ebook) 1. Television programs—Fiction. 2. Murder—Investigation—Fiction. I. Burke, Alafair. II. Title.
PS3553.L287C56 2014
813'.54—dc23
2014030863
ISBN 978-1-4767-6312-5
ISBN 978-1-4767-6370-5 (ebook)