Split Second
CHAPTER ONE
Georgetown, Washington, D.C.
Tuesday night
Nonfat milk, Fritos, and bananas, Savich repeated to himself as he
pulled into the parking lot of Mr. Patil’s Shop ’n Go. It was after eight o’clock, and Savich was on his way home from a hard workout at the gym. He felt good, his muscles relaxed and warm, and he looked forward to playing with Sean, maybe with his new video game, Wonky Wizards. He breathed in deeply, enjoying the bite of fall in the air. He looked up at the low-lying clouds that promised to bring a shower in the next couple of hours. Nonfat milk and Fritos and—what else?
There was only one car in the parking lot, which wasn’t unusual at this time of the evening. A strange play of rapid movement behind the store’s large glass window caught his eye. He pulled the Porsche to the far side of the parking lot, out of the line of sight, got out, quietly closed the car door, and walked to the edge of the window.
He could see a man inside, his face flattened in a leg of panty
hose, standing in front of the counter, pointing a Saturday night
special at Mr. Patil’s chest. Mr. Patil, who wasn’t more than five-five with lifts in his shoes and was at least seventy-five years old, looked petrified. Savich watched his hands shoot into the air above his head. He could hear the man yelling at him, but couldn’t make out what he was saying. Then he saw a customer. At the end of the
counter stood a man about his own age, wearing a bright red Red-
skins sweatshirt, jeans, and glasses.
Savich felt his heart seize.
Pressed against the man’s legs were two small children, a boy and a girl. His hands were wrapped around their shoulders, hugging them tightly against him. Each child held an ice-cream bar, now forgotten.
Keep it together. He couldn’t call 911, and take the chance of sirens freaking the guy out, not with the kids still in the line of fire.
He quickly ran around to the back of the Shop ’n Go and heard the
engine running before he saw the Chevy Impala, tucked in the shadows off the parking asphalt. He saw a woman in the driver’s seat, leaning in toward the passenger’s side to get a partial view inside the store. Since she wasn’t wearing panty hose on her head, she obviously wasn’t slated to join the actual robbery; she was just there to drive the man in the store out of here. Savich couldn’t see the license plate. No matter. She hadn’t seen him. Good.
Forget her, let her get away. He crouched down and ran back around to the front of the store. He held his SIG at his side and began whistling. He opened the door and called out, “Good vening,
Mr. Patil,” and the man in the panty hose whirled around, his gun leading, as the little girl yelled, “He’ll hurt you!”
Copyright © 2011 by Catherine Coulter
Split Second
In Catherine Coulter’s Split Second, FBI superstars Dillon Savich and Lacey Sherlock face their most formidable foe to date, a serial killer with a secret more shocking than the vicious crime scenes he leaves behind.
He kills with a psychopathic instinct inherited from a bloodline that includes the notorious Ted Bundy. Not exactly comforting news for Savich and Sherlock, whose job it is to track him down…and take him out. While the married operatives plot their course of action, Special Agent Lucy Carlisle learns her family tree may also have a few rotten branches. At least, that’s how it appears when Lucy finds a skeleton in the attic of her grandmother’s mansion. Could it be true that her grandfather, believed to have deserted the family 22 years ago, was actually murdered by his wife? The discovery of a ring sewn into the body’s trouser cuff leads to revelations about her grandmother’s obsession with the ornament—and a mysterious group called The Protectors.
All this makes little sense to Lucy, but one thing is clear: Somehow her discovery is tied to the killer who has Savich and Sherlock in his crosshairs. And only Lucy can save them….
Hardcover Book : 432 pages
Publisher: Putnam Berkley Pub. Group ( July 19, 2011 )
Item #: 13-335064
ISBN: 9780399157431
Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 8.25 x 0.97inches
Product Weight: 15.0 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
disappointed 
September 05, 2012
I never read this author before and was enjoying this book until it got to the part of the "magic" ring. At that point, I was completely turned off and didn't bother to finish it. I personally don't like paranormal stories and thought it was dumb to throw the ring into the story at the mid-way point.
Reviewer: laura
Split Second
December 28, 2011
I just love these FBI series books. Once I started reading it I could not put it down. Love the fact the agents have a life besides solving crimes. I look forward to more.
Reviewer: Diane T
Excellent read!
December 25, 2011
After reading 'The Cove' I've read everything she has written. The FBI series are excellent. I couldn't put 'Split Second' down from the first page until I reached the end.
Reviewer: Dolores S
Easy Read
October 19, 2011
This is my first Coulter mystery and after all the hype I was disappointed. I like her tasteful romance and balanced inclusion of the cops' personal lives. The story is interesting and she has a naturally suspenseful writing style. It is a simple, easy read. The characters are too perfect and shallow and the writing is not interesting. She is a good storyteller--I'm just not wowed by her writing.
Reviewer: Sara
great read
October 11, 2011
Thought this was a great book. Kept you riveted to the very end. Look forward to more of her books.
Reviewer: Deb W
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