A colossal fortune. A secret reaper. A young woman whose drive for due process makes her the target of dangerous peopleâŚ
Nefi Jenkins dreams of becoming an FBI agent. After outing her parentsâ heartless killer, the Harvard grad focuses on getting into a stellar criminal justice masterâs degree program. But her career goals take a back seat when she inherits a ten-million-dollar trust from her late parentsâŚwith a hefty chunk gone.
Seeking the help of a forensic accountant, Nefi discovers a cunning thief has been stealing from her inheritance. And with her legacy at stake, the hidden enemyâs scheme to swipe her cash could turn deadly.
Can Nefi restore her parentâs wealth before her investigation turns fatal?
East of Evil is the fourth book in the page-turning Compass Crimes suspense series. If you like strong heroines, greed-driven motives, and jaw-dropping twists, then youâll love Joni M Fisherâs hunt for the truth.
Buy East of Evil to see the stunning conclusion of the Compass Crimes series!
A colossal fortune. A secret reaper. A young woman whose drive for due process makes her the target of dangerous peopleâŚ
Nefi Jenkins dreams of becoming an FBI agent. After outing her parentsâ heartless killer, the Harvard grad focuses on getting into a stellar criminal justice masterâs degree program. But her career goals take a back seat when she inherits a ten-million-dollar trust from her late parentsâŚwith a hefty chunk gone.
Seeking the help of a forensic accountant, Nefi discovers a cunning thief has been stealing from her inheritance. And with her legacy at stake, the hidden enemyâs scheme to swipe her cash could turn deadly.
Can Nefi restore her parentâs wealth before her investigation turns fatal?
East of Evil is the fourth book in the page-turning Compass Crimes suspense series. If you like strong heroines, greed-driven motives, and jaw-dropping twists, then youâll love Joni M Fisherâs hunt for the truth.
Buy East of Evil to see the stunning conclusion of the Compass Crimes series!
Monday, April 19, 2010
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Nefiâs life-changing day started ordinary and turned peculiar on the way to morning classes.
The back of her neck tingled. The sensation heightened her senses, akin to hearing a distant scream. While other Harvard students hunched over cell phones, Nefi scanned the shop-lined street at the edge of campus. Two blocks from class, the reflection of a broad-shouldered man on a car window keened her attention.
Half a block behind her, the man took awkwardly long strides. Unlike other students trudging to campus, this man had no backpack straps on his shoulders. With his face shadowed by a ball cap, he kept his hands in his jacket pockets.
Nefi unzipped her raincoat to access her cell phone. April weather in Boston could bring rain, snow, or cold wind, and this morningâs damp breeze in the low forties shot through her open jacket. The wind also carried car exhaust fumes and the hum of traffic. Her thick neck scarf kept her warm enough to prevent shivering.
She pulled her phone from the inner pocket of her coat and flipped it open. After pressing the camera icon, she held the phone up to her ear, stopped, and turned sideways on the sidewalk, aiming the lens at the stranger. She took a few photos. Feigning conversation, she checked her watch, nodded, and glanced at the man.
The stranger immediately looked down, further obscuring his face with his Red Sox cap while he slowed his pace. Clean-shaven, he was about five feet eight inches tall in dark blue jeans, brown hiking boots, and a plain navy-colored zip-up jacket. His athletic gait and posture suggested sports or military training.
Her Advanced Abnormal Psychology class started promptly at 8 a.m. She had overdue homework to turn in and despised being late to class. After turning toward the path to William James Hall, she tucked her phone away and elongated her stride to the stark white boxy fourteen-story building. Of all the buildings on campus, Nefi ranked it the second ugliest structure after the Science Center. William James Hall towered over the surrounding older, stately red brick buildings like a giant cheese grater.
She decided to test if the man was following her. Once inside the building and on familiar ground, she dashed into a recessed doorway where the overhead floodlight had burned out. She remembered it because the shadowy area had spooked her last week. Standing in the darkness, she watched students pass by in groups and couples in animated conversations. Others, absorbed by the small screens of their cell phones, marched at a zombieâs pace while people maneuvered around them.
The stranger charged through the corridor, dodging around slow-moving students, his head pivoting at open doorways. He glanced at the dark doorway where Nefi stood but continued to the elevators. At the elevators, he stopped, removed his hat, and combed his fingers through his short hair. He scowled and tugged his hat on.
Nefiâs curiosity turned to alarm and then anger.
The man was retracing his steps in the hallway when Nefi stepped into the light.
He flinched and halted two paces from her.
The stranger flashed through three emotional reactions--surprise, fear, and disgust. It was his last reaction that piqued Nefiâs curiosity. Why would a stalker feel disgusted? Was he following the wrong person?
âThere you are,â he said.
Nefi loosened her arms, reached into her left sleeve, and grasped her knife handle.
Carrying a weapon on campus violated Harvard University policies. Having a double-edged knife on campus was punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 and two years in prison. Still, Nefi weighed the probable legal punishment for carrying her knife against the permanent consequences of being beaten, raped, or killed and decided in favor of self-defense. With campus violence becoming more common, she believed waiting to be rescued by campus security could be a fatal mistake.
Students passed behind the stranger. If she cried out for help, would they take action to help her or take pictures to share on social media? She assumed she was on her own. At five feet eleven inches tall, Nefi had a height advantage over him, but he looked strong.
His attention shot to Nefiâs hands while he eased his hands from his pockets and spread his fingers in front of his waist. âIâm a friend of Ruis Ramos.â
She recognized his voice, then his face. His hair was slightly longer than at Ruisâs wedding. Ruis was her best friendâs older brother. At the wedding, Ruis had called this man by a nickname. âRepo?â
He smiled and extended his hand. âHello, Miss Jenkins. My real nameâs Arlo.â
Leaving her knife in its sheath, she shook his hand.
In the time it took to blink twice, he had looked her over from hat to boots. Guys often did that. When men looked at Nefiâs best friend Martina, they flirted, and their pupils expanded. When they noticed Nefi, they reacted to her height. He showed no pupil response of arousal or fear.
Nefi sighed. âDid Ruis send you to protect me?â
Arlo smiled at two women passing by, and one smiled back. He chuckled and faced Nefi. âThe way I hear it, Martina finds trouble, and trouble finds you.â
Nefi nodded. âAnd here you are stalking me.â
âI told Ruis I was moving to Boston, and he said I should stop by to see how youâre doing.â His half-shrug and glance away suggested a trace of deception.
âYou could have called.â Nefi stilled her body and studied his face.
He rolled his eyes. âOkay. We had a little wager. I bet I could sneak up close enough to touch your shoulder before you spotted me. He bet I couldnât.â
The male ego mystified her. Was this just a bet, or was Ruisâs friend practicing stealth for another reason? She weighed his ego against his safety and favored his safety. âI spotted you two blocks ago.â
âNo way.â He flashed straight white teeth. The smell of coffee wafted from him when he spoke.
She showed him the photo on her phone. It was worth being late to class to observe his reactionâthe moment expectation collided with reality.
His eyebrows rose. âI saw you stop and answer your phone. Very tricky. What gave me away?â
âNo backpack. Military posture. But the real tell was when I looked at you on the street. You immediately turned away.â
âI didnât want you to see my face.â He raised one shoulder.
Though his behavior made sense to him, Nefi wanted him to understand why it didnât work. âWhich is exactly how a stalker behaves. How do you normally react when a woman catches you looking at her?â Nefi shrugged off her backpack and dangled it by a strap at her side to remind him she needed to go to class.
Arlo blinked a few times then his eyelids closed halfway. He worked his jaw. âI wasnât looking at you like that.â
Funny how being on the receiving end of honesty could hurt. Nefi planted her free hand on her hip.
âI mean, I know youâre engaged.â Sweat beaded on his face.
Ruis had probably told him. Ruis treated Nefi like a spare sister. Had Arlo taken the information about Nefiâs engagement as a warning? She nodded as if accepting his excuse. âWhat do you normally do if a woman catches you watching her?â
His shoulders relaxed. âI smile. But if Iâm shadowing someone, I donât want to interact. I donât want to be noticed.â
Nefi drew from a criminology lesson. âIt doesnât matter if the subject sees you. Did you know eyewitness accounts are the least reliable evidence in court?â
Arloâs eyebrows furrowed as he pulled his head slightly back.
Nefi said, âPeople are generally not observant. Iâll prove it. Close your eyes.â
He did. His eyelashes were dark and long. Heâd missed shaving a spot along his left jawline. Woody, sensual cologne emanated from him in heat waves.
She had been close enough for him to see her at Ruisâs wedding and today. He considered her an acquaintance, a friend of a friend, but did he really see her? Most people stared once they noticed her eyes. Amber is the rarest eye color in humans. During a freshman year party, a drunk frat boy pointed and backed away, calling her a vampire. Hollywood has its standard for monsters, one of which is to mimic the eye color of predators like the eagle, the tiger, and the wolf. âWhat color are my eyes?â
âLight blue.â
âI rest my case.â
Arlo opened his brown eyes. âWhoa. Are those colored contact lenses?â
Nefi shook her head.
He continued to stare. âRuis said youâre the only person who could sneak up on him.â
Nefi smiled. For whatever it was worth, she could sneak up on a Navy SEAL who now worked for the US Marshals Service. âDid you serve with Ruis?â
Arlo leaned closer to Nefi and lowered his voice to a whisper. âI flew a Sikorsky Seahawk. Canât tell you where, when, or why, but thatâs how I met Ruis.â
Nefi nodded. All Ruisâs military friends kept secrets.
âIâm joining my brotherâs business as a private investigator.â He dug a business card from his jacket and handed it to her.
Nefi tucked the card into the top pocket of her backpack. âHow much was the bet?â
âTwo hundred dollars.â He waggled his eyebrows. âIf I give you half, will you say I won?â
âRuis says, âDonât lie to someone who trusts you and donât trust someone who lies to you.ââ
He nodded slowly and smiled without showing his teeth.
Of course, Arlo was testing her. Ruisâs friends shared his honor code.
âThanks for letting me practice.â
Alone in the corridor with Arlo, Nefi said, âYouâre welcome to try again. Donât grab me from behind because that wonât end well.â
His eyes widened. âNoted.â
Nefi carried her backpack to the elevator and pressed the button. When she glanced down the hall, she noticed Arlo had stepped into the shadowed doorway where she had hidden.
âArlo, I can see your hat.â
He pulled off his ball cap.
âPerfect.â
The elevator opened, so Nefi rode it up to her floor and sneaked into the back row of the classroom. After muting her phone and checking for new text messages, she dug out her pen and notebook while the professor spoke.
âNarcissistic personality disorder. One percent of the population exhibits this cluster B personality disorder, often caused by trauma that results in low self-esteem. A narcissist will do almost anything to be the center of attention, including playing the victim, twisting situations through reverse projection, blaming others when caught doing inappropriate or cruel things, and interrupting others' conversations. Naturally, they are attracted to high-profile jobs such as politics and entertainment to feed their egos. Rejection and criticism, in turn, tend to harden them emotionally.â
These characteristics fit an uncomfortable number of politicians Nefi had met through her uncle, Senator Hamilton Jenkins. Fortunately, her uncle had a servantâs heart with a sharp eye for spotting narcissists and liars. He also excelled at handling people diplomatically.
In the margin of her notes during the lecture, Nefi penciled in the initials of celebrities who fit the profile characteristics. She had watched the evening news all semester to identify abnormal personality traits like the ones described in the textbook. The class taught the basics. Watching for people who fit the various abnormal personality traits was simply fieldwork.
Last week, at a friendâs trial, she helped the defense team with her observations.
Her friend, Blake Clayton, had been charged with a capital offense, so Nefi skipped classes to attend the trial. She would have testified as a character witness if asked. After all, Blake was one of three men who had risked their lives to find her in the Amazon jungle after her parents were murdered. She could never fully repay Blake, Ruis, or Vincent for their journey to find her and bring her to the United States.
She longed to use her talents at the FBI, but the bureauâs age requirement meant sheâd have to wait two more years to apply to the agent training program.
This was the last semester of her bachelorâs degree in psychology. She needed to turn in overdue homework and catch up on her studies before final exams.
Her roommates would be no help because Mutt and Cassie were sports fanatics, and April was the busiest sports month of the year.
âMiss Jenkins.â
Nefi looked up from her notebook at her bearded professor. âYes, sir?â
âSee me after class.â
A collective âoooohâ sounded from her seventy classmates.
âMiss Jenkins attended a felony trial last week, and her homework was to write a field report to identify and analyze abnormal behavior in one person.â The professor eyed her over his wire-frame glasses.
âWas it the accused?â one student shouted.
âIt was a witness,â Nefi answered.
âHow many would like to hear her report now?â The professor opened his arms.
All hands shot up. Nefi tugged the report from her notebook. After the professor nodded, Nefi stood and delivered her findings to the psychology majors she had come to know and respect over four years. The class spent the rest of the session debating the report.
East of Evil by Joni M. Fisher is the fourth book in the Compass Crimes series which features a different but linked lead character in each book.
East of Evil focuses on Nefi Jenkins, a want to be FBI agent who was raised in a small village deep in the Amazon rain forest by her hippy parents until their untimely death.
About to graduate, and waiting to begin an FBI internship, Nefiâs world is turned on itâs head when she discovers that her parents set up a trust fund for her with a life changing amount of money.
The trust fund also brings danger as Nefi discovers that some of the money has disappeared and she needs answers from the former trustee.
Whilst each book in the series says it can be read as a stand-alone story, I would recommend reading them in order as some of the plots take place over similar time periods and are referenced here. If you havenât read the previous titles then this can cause the reader to feel that certain parts of the story were somewhat glossed over.
I found the balance between character and relationship development slightly heavy compared to the plot and story and at times the legal detail was unnecessarily complex in relation to the rest of the story.
The plot twists came as no real surprise but fitted well with the story and my expected outcomes.
I enjoyed the overall story and the central characters are clearly defined making it easy to remember who is who. The main villain could have been better utilised but serves their purpose to keep the plot moving on.
In summary, this is an entertaining read but to get the best out of it then Iâd recommend reading the four books in order to allow the characters and semi intertwining plots to develop.
Iâd recommend this to anyone who enjoys character driven light thrillers as long as youâre not expecting a complex action packed plot. Â Â