Smoke, Mirrors, and Murder

Praise for “America’s Best
True-Crime Writer” ( Kirkus Reviews ) and
her #1 New York Times Bestselling Series
ANN RULE’S CRIME FILES
    Twelve riveting volumes of true-crime stories
drawn from her personal collection
    “Chilling cases…. A frightening, fascinating rogue’s gallery of mercenary murderers.”
    — Mystery Guild
    “Prolific and talented Rule proves her warranted reputation as one of true crime’s leading lights…. With a novelist’s skill, Rule brings to life a rich case.”
    — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
    “Spine-tingling…could win a place in any insomniac’s heart.”
    —Barnesandnoble.com
    “Fascinating, unsettling tales…. Among the very small group of top-notch true-crime writers, Rule just may be the best of the bunch.”
    — Booklist
    “Rule’s ability to depict both criminals and victims as believable human beings is perfectly embodied in this sad, fascinating account.”
    — Library Journal
    “Gripping tales…. Fans of true crime know they can rely on Ann Rule to deliver the dead-level best.”
    — The Hartford Courant (CT)
MORE MUST-READ TRUE CRIME FROM ANN RULE—DON’T MISS THESE CELEBRATED BESTSELLERS
GREEN RIVER, RUNNING RED
    “[Rule] conveys the emotional truth of the Green River case.”
    — Los Angeles Times
    “Riveting…. Rule infuses her case study with a personally felt sense of urgency.”
    — People
    “Perhaps Rule’s finest work…holds the reader in a firm grip.”
    — Statesman Journal (Salem, OR)
    “Rule gives full, heartbreaking emotional weight to what America’s most notorious serial killer truly wrought. A must for the author’s legions of fans.”
    — Booklist
HEART FULL OF LIES
    “A convincing portrait of a meticulous criminal mind.”
    — The Washington Post
    “Rule knows a good drama when she finds one…. A real-life soap opera.”
    — Publishers Weekly
    “Fascinating and strange…. The sheer weight of [Ann Rule’s] investigative technique places her at the forefront of true-crime writers.”
    — Booklist
EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE
    “Affecting, tense, and smart true crime…. A case study of the classic American con man crossed with the more exotic strains of the sociopath.”
    — Washington Post Book World
    “Ann Rule has outdone herself.”
    — The Orlando Sentinel (FL)
    “Absolutely riveting…psychologically perceptive.”
    — Booklist
…AND NEVER LET HER GO
    “Truly creepy…. This portrait of an evil prince needs no embellishment.”
    — People
    “[Rule] might have created her masterpiece.”
    — The Plain Dealer (Cleveland)
    “Even crime buffs who followed the case closely [will] gain new insights.”
    — The Orlando Sentinel (FL)
    “[Rule] tell[s] the sad story with authority, flair, and pace.”
    — The Washington Post
BITTER HARVEST
    “A must-read story of the ’90s American dream turned, tragically, to self-absorbed ashes.”
    — People
    “Impossible to put down…. A tour de force.”
    — Kirkus Reviews

Books by Ann Rule
    Too Late to Say Goodbye
    Green River, Running Red
    Heart Full of Lies
    Every Breath You Take
    …And Never Let Her Go
    Bitter Harvest
    Dead by Sunset
    Everything She Ever Wanted
    If You Really Loved Me
    The Stranger Beside Me
    Possession
    Small Sacrifices
    Ann Rule’s Crime Files
    Vol. 12: Smoke, Mirrors, and Murder and Other True Cases
    Vol. 11: No Regrets and Other True Cases
    Vol. 10: Worth More Dead and Other True Cases
    Vol. 9: Kiss Me, Kill Me and Other True Cases
    Vol. 8: Last Dance, Last Chance and Other True Cases
    Vol. 7: Empty Promises and Other True Cases
    Vol. 6: A Rage to Kill and Other True Cases
    Vol. 5: The End of the Dream and Other True Cases
    Vol. 4: In the Name of Love and Other True Cases
    Vol. 3: A Fever in the Heart and Other True Cases
    Vol. 2: You Belong to Me and Other True Cases
    Vol. 1: A Rose for Her Grave and Other True Cases
    Without Pity: Ann Rule’s Most Dangerous Killers
    The I-5 Killer
    The Want-Ad Killer
    Lust Killer



Copyright © 2008 by Ann Rule
    All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever.
For information address Pocket Books Subsidiary Rights Department, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
    POCKET and colophon are registered trademarks of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
    ISBN-10: 1-4165-7741-6
    ISBN-13: 978-1-4165-7741-6
    Visit us on the World Wide Web:
    http://www.SimonandSchuster.com

I am dedicating this book to two people who took a chance on me—a