The Perfect Husband (A Jessie Hunt Psychological Suspense Thriller—Book Twenty-Two)

By Blake Pierce

Wealthy Beverly Hills couples are being found dead, with seemingly nothing to connect them other than their troubled marriages. Jessie senses a pattern, and knows this killer will strike again. But can she outwit him in time?

“A masterpiece of thriller and mystery.”
—Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos (re Once Gone)

THE PERFECT HUSBAND is book #22 in a new psychological suspense series by bestselling author Blake Pierce, which begins with The Perfect Wife, a #1 bestseller (and free download) with over 5,000 five-star ratings and 1,000 five-star reviews.

Jessie encounters a wall as she pries into the private lives and marriages of the rich. But beneath the seemingly perfect façade, she senses a dark undercurrent—one that lead to all of these couples’ deaths.

But can she enter this killer’s mind fast enough to solve the thread that connects them before he strikes again?

A fast-paced psychological suspense thriller with unforgettable characters and heart-pounding suspense, the JESSIE HUNT series is a riveting new series that will leave you turning pages late into the night.

Books #23 and #24 in the series—THE PERFECT SCANDAL and THE PERFECT MASK—are now also available.

“An edge of your seat thriller in a new series that keeps you turning pages! ...So many twists, turns and red herrings… I can't wait to see what happens next.”
—Reader review (Her Last Wish)

“A strong, complex story about two FBI agents trying to stop a serial killer. If you want an author to capture your attention and have you guessing, yet trying to put the pieces together, Pierce is your author!”
—Reader review (Her Last Wish)

“A typical Blake Pierce twisting, turning, roller coaster ride suspense thriller. Will have you turning the pages to the last sentence of the last chapter!!!”
—Reader review (City of Prey)

“Right from the start we have an unusual protagonist that I haven't seen done in this genre before. The action is nonstop… A very atmospheric novel that will keep you turning pages well into the wee hours.”
—Reader review (City of Prey)

“Everything that I look for in a book… a great plot, interesting characters, and grabs your interest right away. The book moves along at a breakneck pace and stays that way until the end. Now on go I to book two!”
—Reader review (Girl, Alone)

“Exciting, heart pounding, edge of your seat book… a must read for mystery and suspense readers!”
—Reader review (Girl, Alone)

• Language: English
• Publisher: Blake Pierce
• Release date: Jul 19, 2022
• ISBN: 9781094376172

Book preview

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t h e   p e r f e c t

h u s b a n d

(a jessie hunt psychological suspense—book 22)

b l a k e   p i e r c e

Blake Pierce

Blake Pierce is the USA Today bestselling author of the RILEY PAGE mystery series, which includes seventeen books. Blake Pierce is also the author of the MACKENZIE WHITE mystery series, comprising fourteen books; of the AVERY BLACK mystery series, comprising six books; of the KERI LOCKE mystery series, comprising five books; of the MAKING OF RILEY PAIGE mystery series, comprising six books; of the KATE WISE mystery series, comprising seven books; of the CHLOE FINE psychological suspense mystery, comprising six books; of the JESSE HUNT psychological suspense thriller series, comprising twenty four books; of the AU PAIR psychological suspense thriller series, comprising three books; of the ZOE PRIME mystery series, comprising six books; of the ADELE SHARP mystery series, comprising fifteen books, of the EUROPEAN VOYAGE cozy mystery series, comprising four books; of the new LAURA FROST FBI suspense thriller, comprising nine books (and counting); of the new ELLA DARK FBI suspense thriller, comprising eleven books (and counting); of the A YEAR IN EUROPE cozy mystery series, comprising nine books, of the AVA GOLD mystery series, comprising six books (and counting); of the RACHEL GIFT mystery series, comprising eight books (and counting); of the VALERIE LAW mystery series, comprising nine books (and counting); of the PAIGE KING mystery series, comprising six books (and counting); of the MAY MOORE mystery series, comprising six books (and counting); and the CORA SHIELDS mystery series, comprising three books (and counting).

An avid reader and lifelong fan of the mystery and thriller genres, Blake loves to hear from you, so please feel free to visit www.blakepierceauthor.com to learn more and stay in touch.

Copyright © 2022 by Blake Pierce. All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior permission of the author. 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 it and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictionally. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Jacket image Copyright Maksim Toome, used under license from Shutterstock.com.

BOOKS BY BLAKE PIERCE

CORA SHIELDS MYSTERY SERIES

UNDONE (Book #1)

UNWANTED (Book #2)

UNHINGED (Book #3)

MAY MOORE SUSPENSE THRILLER

NEVER RUN (Book #1)

NEVER TELL (Book #2)

NEVER LIVE (Book #3)

NEVER HIDE (Book #4)

NEVER FORGIVE (Book #5)

NEVER AGAIN (Book #6)

PAIGE KING MYSTERY SERIES

THE GIRL HE PINED (Book #1)

THE GIRL HE CHOSE (Book #2)

THE GIRL HE TOOK (Book #3)

THE GIRL HE WISHED (Book #4)

THE GIRL HE CROWNED (Book #5)

THE GIRL HE WATCHED (Book #6)

VALERIE LAW MYSTERY SERIES

NO MERCY (Book #1)

NO PITY (Book #2)

NO FEAR (Book #3)

NO SLEEP (Book #4)

NO QUARTER (Book #5)

NO CHANCE (Book #6)

NO REFUGE (Book #7)

NO GRACE (Book #8)

NO ESCAPE (Book #9)

RACHEL GIFT MYSTERY SERIES

HER LAST WISH (Book #1)

HER LAST CHANCE (Book #2)

HER LAST HOPE (Book #3)

HER LAST FEAR (Book #4)

HER LAST CHOICE (Book #5)

HER LAST BREATH (Book #6)

HER LAST MISTAKE (Book #7)

HER LAST DESIRE (Book #8)

AVA GOLD MYSTERY SERIES

CITY OF PREY (Book #1)

CITY OF FEAR (Book #2)

CITY OF BONES (Book #3)

CITY OF GHOSTS (Book #4)

CITY OF DEATH (Book #5)

CITY OF VICE (Book #6)

A YEAR IN EUROPE

A MURDER IN PARIS (Book #1)

DEATH IN FLORENCE (Book #2)

VENGEANCE IN VIENNA (Book #3)

A FATALITY IN SPAIN (Book #4)

ELLA DARK FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER

GIRL, ALONE (Book #1)

GIRL, TAKEN (Book #2)

GIRL, HUNTED (Book #3)

GIRL, SILENCED (Book #4)

GIRL, VANISHED (Book 5)

GIRL ERASED (Book #6)

GIRL, FORSAKEN (Book #7)

GIRL, TRAPPED (Book #8)

GIRL, EXPENDABLE (Book #9)

GIRL, ESCAPED (Book #10)

GIRL, HIS (Book #11)

LAURA FROST FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER

ALREADY GONE (Book #1)

ALREADY SEEN (Book #2)

ALREADY TRAPPED (Book #3)

ALREADY MISSING (Book #4)

ALREADY DEAD (Book #5)

ALREADY TAKEN (Book #6)

ALREADY CHOSEN (Book #7)

ALREADY LOST (Book #8)

ALREADY HIS (Book #9)

EUROPEAN VOYAGE COZY MYSTERY SERIES

MURDER (AND BAKLAVA) (Book #1)

DEATH (AND APPLE STRUDEL) (Book #2)

CRIME (AND LAGER) (Book #3)

MISFORTUNE (AND GOUDA) (Book #4)

CALAMITY (AND A DANISH) (Book #5)

MAYHEM (AND HERRING) (Book #6)

ADELE SHARP MYSTERY SERIES

LEFT TO DIE (Book #1)

LEFT TO RUN (Book #2)

LEFT TO HIDE (Book #3)

LEFT TO KILL (Book #4)

LEFT TO MURDER (Book #5)

LEFT TO ENVY (Book #6)

LEFT TO LAPSE (Book #7)

LEFT TO VANISH (Book #8)

LEFT TO HUNT (Book #9)

LEFT TO FEAR (Book #10)

LEFT TO PREY (Book #11)

LEFT TO LURE (Book #12)

LEFT TO CRAVE (Book #13)

LEFT TO LOATHE (Book #14)

LEFT TO HARM (Book #15)

THE AU PAIR SERIES

ALMOST GONE (Book#1)

ALMOST LOST (Book #2)

ALMOST DEAD (Book #3)

ZOE PRIME MYSTERY SERIES

FACE OF DEATH (Book#1)

FACE OF MURDER (Book #2)

FACE OF FEAR (Book #3)

FACE OF MADNESS (Book #4)

FACE OF FURY (Book #5)

FACE OF DARKNESS (Book #6)

A JESSIE HUNT PSYCHOLOGICAL SUSPENSE SERIES

THE PERFECT WIFE (Book #1)

THE PERFECT BLOCK (Book #2)

THE PERFECT HOUSE (Book #3)

THE PERFECT SMILE (Book #4)

THE PERFECT LIE (Book #5)

THE PERFECT LOOK (Book #6)

THE PERFECT AFFAIR (Book #7)

THE PERFECT ALIBI (Book #8)

THE PERFECT NEIGHBOR (Book #9)

THE PERFECT DISGUISE (Book #10)

THE PERFECT SECRET (Book #11)

THE PERFECT FAÇADE (Book #12)

THE PERFECT IMPRESSION (Book #13)

THE PERFECT DECEIT (Book #14)

THE PERFECT MISTRESS (Book #15)

THE PERFECT IMAGE (Book #16)

THE PERFECT VEIL (Book #17)

THE PERFECT INDISCRETION (Book #18)

THE PERFECT RUMOR (Book #19)

THE PERFECT COUPLE (Book #20)

THE PERFECT MURDER (Book #21)

THE PERFECT HUSBAND (Book #22)

THE PERFECT SCANDAL (Book #23)

THE PERFECT MASK (Book #24)

CHLOE FINE PSYCHOLOGICAL SUSPENSE SERIES

NEXT DOOR (Book #1)

A NEIGHBOR’S LIE (Book #2)

CUL DE SAC (Book #3)

SILENT NEIGHBOR (Book #4)

HOMECOMING (Book #5)

TINTED WINDOWS (Book #6)

KATE WISE MYSTERY SERIES

IF SHE KNEW (Book #1)

IF SHE SAW (Book #2)

IF SHE RAN (Book #3)

IF SHE HID (Book #4)

IF SHE FLED (Book #5)

IF SHE FEARED (Book #6)

IF SHE HEARD (Book #7)

THE MAKING OF RILEY PAIGE SERIES

WATCHING (Book #1)

WAITING (Book #2)

LURING (Book #3)

TAKING (Book #4)

STALKING (Book #5)

KILLING (Book #6)

RILEY PAIGE MYSTERY SERIES

ONCE GONE (Book #1)

ONCE TAKEN (Book #2)

ONCE CRAVED (Book #3)

ONCE LURED (Book #4)

ONCE HUNTED (Book #5)

ONCE PINED (Book #6)

ONCE FORSAKEN (Book #7)

ONCE COLD (Book #8)

ONCE STALKED (Book #9)

ONCE LOST (Book #10)

ONCE BURIED (Book #11)

ONCE BOUND (Book #12)

ONCE TRAPPED (Book #13)

ONCE DORMANT (Book #14)

ONCE SHUNNED (Book #15)

ONCE MISSED (Book #16)

ONCE CHOSEN (Book #17)

MACKENZIE WHITE MYSTERY SERIES

BEFORE HE KILLS (Book #1)

BEFORE HE SEES (Book #2)

BEFORE HE COVETS (Book #3)

BEFORE HE TAKES (Book #4)

BEFORE HE NEEDS (Book #5)

BEFORE HE FEELS (Book #6)

BEFORE HE SINS (Book #7)

BEFORE HE HUNTS (Book #8)

BEFORE HE PREYS (Book #9)

BEFORE HE LONGS (Book #10)

BEFORE HE LAPSES (Book #11)

BEFORE HE ENVIES (Book #12)

BEFORE HE STALKS (Book #13)

BEFORE HE HARMS (Book #14)

AVERY BLACK MYSTERY SERIES

CAUSE TO KILL (Book #1)

CAUSE TO RUN (Book #2)

CAUSE TO HIDE (Book #3)

CAUSE TO FEAR (Book #4)

CAUSE TO SAVE (Book #5)

CAUSE TO DREAD (Book #6)

KERI LOCKE MYSTERY SERIES

A TRACE OF DEATH (Book #1)

A TRACE OF MURDER (Book #2)

A TRACE OF VICE (Book #3)

A TRACE OF CRIME (Book #4)

A TRACE OF HOPE (Book #5)

CONTENTS

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CHAPTER NINETEEN

CHAPTER TWENTY

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE

CHAPTER THIRTY

CHAPTERTHIRTY ONE

CHAPTER THIRTY TWO

CHAPTER THIRTY THREE

CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR

CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE

EPILOGUE

CHAPTER ONE

Amelia had never looked hotter.

She was loath to say it out loud, but it was true. As she stared at herself in the bathroom mirror, studying her body in the lingerie she’d bought this afternoon for tonight’s activities, she thought she looked better than she had in the heyday of her early twenties.

Back then she’d been a swimsuit and fitness model, jet-setting around the world for shoots on exotic beaches. But sometimes she would partake of the party lifestyle a little too much and her curves got more generous than she liked.

She turned to look at herself in profile as the R&B groove from the bedroom leaked through the door. Now, at thirty-three, she was perfectly toned and tanned. That was partly because, as the founder, face, and body of Fit with Amelia, her fitness wear brand, she had to look the part. But it was also because, with a slowing metabolism, she had to embrace a more holistically healthy lifestyle if she was going to keep up with the young girls nipping at her heels.

That meant going vegan four years ago, giving up alcohol two years ago, and working out with a personal trainer three days a week. Five years ago, she even considered plastic surgery, visiting half a dozen doctors.

The first five of them all made detailed recommendations. It was only the last one, Dr. Jeff Sullivan, who told her that even though it wasn’t good for business, he couldn’t suggest a thing. He said that she was perfect as she was and that any work that she might consider having done would diminish her natural beauty. He told her to come back to see him in a decade and they could reevaluate then. Instead, she asked him out for coffee. They were married ten months later.

Now Jeff was lying on the bed on the other side of that door, waiting to see what she was wearing and what she planned to do to him. It was time to show him. She opened the door and, in the dim bedroom light, struck her favorite runway pose from the old days.

Jeff, hidden under the covers except for his face, stared back at her with what she considered the appropriate level of awe and appreciation.

Like what you see? she asked coquettishly, knowing he did.

He nodded and she strutted over, sliding under the sheets next to him. She saw that he was only wearing his boxers. Though he was a few years older than her, turning forty next year, he still had the lean, athletic frame which, along with his shy smile and warm eyes, had first drawn her to him that day in his office.

You look amazing, he whispered quietly.

Thanks, she whispered back, kissing him gently on the lips. Why don’t you see if I feel amazing too?

She guided his hands to the places she knew he liked the most and when she felt certain he was primed, let her own fingers go searching. She found what she was after but not the response she expected.

How are we doing, sweetie? she asked gently, not wanting to sound accusatory.

Getting there, he answered, his voice tight. I just need a minute.

Let me help you, she said breathily and redoubled her efforts to engage him.

It wasn’t working. After another minute she looked up at him and saw that his face had a pained expression.

It’s okay, she said gently. We don’t have to put so much pressure on ourselves. Let’s just relax and let things come to us.

It’s not going to work, he said, agitated, shaking his head.

Why not?

You know why not, he said fiercely, sitting upright.

Jeff—

Don’t, he said, shoving the sheets off and standing up. I don’t want to hear it.

He went over to his dresser and pulled on sweatpants and a T-shirt, then stormed into the bathroom. Amelia could hear him banging around in there.

What are you doing? she asked, trying to keep her cool.

I need to be alone for a while, he said, coming out with his toiletry bag in tow, to clear my head.

He started for the bedroom door.

So, what now? she demanded, her cool quickly slipping away. Are you going to sleep on the couch tonight? Do you think that’s the solution to our problems, Jeff?

But he didn’t answer. Instead, he slammed the door on his way out. She heard him stomping down the stairs until the R&B music drowned out his footsteps. She got up and went back to the bathroom, where she was tempted to wash off the makeup that she’d put on just for the occasion. She turned on the water, waiting for it to warm up.

I can’t believe I put on makeup at nine thirty at night and this is what I got for it.

She turned off the water, deciding to hold off on the chance that Jeff might cool down and came back up to try again. In fact, maybe she should take the initiative and go after him. It was clear that he needed to feel desired and what was better proof of your desirability than having a former swimsuit model wearing lingerie come looking for you in search of some Thursday night sexy time?

She left the bathroom, put on her see-through robe, and opened the bedroom door. She thought she heard a banging noise downstairs but with the music it was hard to tell if it was Jeff setting up the pull-out couch, the garage door closing because he’d driven off somewhere, or even the hull of a boat in the nearby canal slamming against the dock.

She tiptoed down the stairs and made her way into the extra living room where the pull-out couch was, but it was untouched. She went into the main living room, but Jeff wasn’t there either. She was about to check the garage when she heard a clank from the gym.

As weird as it was, that made sense. If he was that frustrated and needed to blow off some steam, maybe he’d gone in there to pump some iron. She passed through the breakfast room and the kitchen and opened the door to the gym. It was dark.

Jeff? she called out as she turned on the light.

The large room was divided in half. On the left were the free weights and machines. On the right were the mats, which she used for her fitness wear shoots and videos. It was as much a photo studio as a gym. But Jeff didn’t seem to be in here.

She heard a humming sound and wandered over to the back corner, where the treadmills and elliptical machines were. Oddly, one of the treadmills was on, moving at a glacial two miles per hour pace. It wasn’t like Jeff to leave a machine on. He was as meticulous about that stuff as she was. She walked over to turn it off.

Jeff, she called out as she leaned over to hit the Stop button, are you in here?

Her finger was just about to push the button when she felt a searing pain in the left side of her chest. She wanted to cry out but only a soft gasp escaped her lips. All the air seemed to have been sucked out of her.

She glanced down and saw the sharp blade of a long, serrated knife protruding out of her left breast, soaking her lace bra in blood. The pain gave way to shock as she stared at her gutted chest. Her last fully formed thought was that she’d spent $320 on this bra and now it was ruined.

After that, everything got hazy. She sensed herself falling forward and realized that she was going to land face-first on the treadmill belt. She felt the cold metal of the knife slide out of her insides as she dropped, but she was gone before her body landed heavily on the machine. Amelia Sullivan slid slowly back on the belt and tumbled unceremoniously onto the floor, permanently oblivious to the treadmill’s soft whir.

CHAPTER TWO

Jessie Hunt’s brain could barely comprehend the messages her mouth was sending her.

After all, the bite she’d just taken wasn’t Kobe beef or caviar or twenty-year aged cheddar cheese with crystal bits. It was basically eggs.

For a late breakfast, her younger half-sister, Hannah Dorsey, had made a frittata. But it was like none she’d ever had before. Hannah had somehow managed to encase the top in a thin layer of parmesan cheese crust. Once she bit through the delicate shell, she was met with a combination of sun-dried tomatoes, air-fried Cremini mushrooms, chicken-apple sausage morsels, shaved Brussel sprouts, and a garlic-herb seasoning that took the thing to a different level.

This was a vastly preferable way for Jessie to be spending her morning than the alternative. At this hour on most Fridays, she’d be at the LAPD’s downtown Central Police Station, working as a criminal profiling consultant on a high-profile murder case with Ryan Hernandez, who wasn’t just her fiancé but also a top detective with the department.

Instead, she and Ryan took their first bites of frittata as Hannah watched, though with less anxiety than Jessie had expected. She’d been trying to perfect her recipe for most of the last week and this was her first time letting anyone else taste it. Jessie knew that this was her sister’s planned submission for entry into the Culinary Arts Program at the San Francisco School of Cooking. Though Hannah hadn’t said it, it was clear from her regularly conflicted expression over the last few days that she wasn’t super excited about any of her backup recipes. She didn’t need to worry.

This is amazing! Jessie exclaimed once she finally, reluctantly, finished her bite.

It really is, Ryan agreed, his mouth still full.

You think? Hannah asked, her green eyes uncertain and her brow furrowed in consternation. I know the seasoning is a little bold, but I decided that if I was going to fully commit to the savory vibe, I shouldn’t pull my punches at the very end.

It totally works, Jessie assured her. When’s your video submission due?

By May first, Hannah said, along with the portfolio and the rest of my application. If I advance to round two, then I’ll have to go in for the on-site cooking demonstration.

Well, I think you’re in pretty good shape, Jessie assured her.

Hannah nodded and gave a surprisingly half-hearted shrug.

Enjoy the rest, she said with her brow still wrinkled, as she tossed her blonde hair out of her face, grabbed her notebook, and left the kitchen. I’m just going to go make a few notes. Then I have to get ready to go. Remember, I’m helping Kat run all your wedding errands today.

And I love you for that, Jessie called after her. Just make sure not to sneak a taste of the cake. I’ll notice!

Once she’d gone to her room, Ryan turned to Jessie.

It’s really delicious, he said. But I have no idea how good the competition is. Is she reconsidering applying to other culinary schools, just in case?

Not the last time I checked, Jessie said.

She was worried about the same thing that he clearly was—Hannah having no plan B if her first choice didn’t pan out. Was there no such thing as a safety culinary school? She didn’t want to bring it up again for fear of making Hannah think she doubted her abilities. With things going so well lately, she was hesitant to rock the boat.

In the seven days since Hannah had returned home from the residential psychiatric facility where she’d spent the previous month, things had gone shockingly well. Because she’d had regular classes while in the facility, she hadn’t fallen far behind academically and had reintegrated into her high school classes seamlessly. She caught an extra break as there was no school today.