Deception in Miami

ESMERALDA KING Deception in Miami is the first book in The Esmeralda King Collection by Kathryn Louise. Esmeralda King is a crime investigator who solves cases on behalf of the rich and famous. Kathryn Louise was one of the most anticipated fiction authors to hit the literary scene in 2022. “Exciting and thrilling, I couldn’t put the book down!” - Becky Meakin “Such a clever plot twist, I had no idea what was coming next.” - Mark Jefferies “Loved it! Can’t wait for the next Esmeralda King case.” - David Cousens ALSO BY KATHRYN LOUISE The Esmeralda King Collection Deception in Miami Disdain in London The Years Young Collection 15 Years Young – Where Love Meets Lust 20 Years Young – Little White Lies 25 Years Young – Till Death Do Us Part 30 Years Young – Looking Back Now 40 Years Young – Guilty Pleasures KATHRYN LOUISE Copyright © Kathryn Louise 2023 www.kathrynlouiseauthor.com @kathrynlouiseauthor on all social media platforms. Kathryn Louise has asserted her right to be identified as the author of this work in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. This is paperback edition 2023 2. This is a work of fiction. All characters and descriptions of events are the products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual persons is entirely coincidental. First published in Great Britain by KLA Books in 2023. A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. Printed and bound in Great Britain by KLA Books. 978-1-7391309-6-1 (paperback) 978-1-7391309-7-8 (eBook) 978-1-7391309-8-5 (hardback) Dedicated to Oliver. Without you, the plot wouldn’t have been written… DECEPTION IN MIAMI ESMERALDA KING KATHRYN LOUISE Contents Prologue 1. The Funeral 2. The Richardsons 3. Friends Forever 4. Undercover 5. Psychosis 6. An Old Acquaintance 7. A Secret Message 8. Smoke And Mirrors 9. Gathering Evidence 10. No Turning Back 11. Miami 12. Deception 13. Two-Faced 14. Check Mate 15. All Tied Up 16. Golden Boy 17. Behind Bars 18. Chaos In Court 19. Pleading Guilty 20. Clever Intentions Acknowledgments About the Author Prologue My name is Esmeralda King, but my friends and family call me ‘Esme’. Born in 1992, I am the daughter of Lynda and James King and the sister of Hunter. I grew up in a small village called Windlesham, Surrey in England until 2010, which is when I moved to study at The University College London. It was at this point that I met my lifelong friends—Casey Hughes, Mollie Frith, Amie Stone and Tilly Baker. We lived, studied and partied together. We also made a pact that we would die for each other, but I will leave that explanation for a little later in the book. Each one of us are smart, gifted and highly intelligent, all in our own specific areas of expertise. Casey studied Law; Mollie studied Medicine; Amie studied Psychology, and Tilly studied Business. Hunter, being four years my senior, joined the police force straight after sixth form and moved into the forensics team for the Metropolitan Police. I adore him, he is my protector, my big brother and my bodyguard. I think that was why, historically, a lot of men feared dating me. No one was ever good enough, not in Hunter’s eyes anyway. I had inherited my mother’s dark brown eyes and hair, olive skin and stunning smile. People often referred to her good looks as that of a Mediterranean beauty, but my drive to work and learn meant that my appearance, more often than not, was somewhat dishevelled, and in my opinion, men just weren’t a priority. Three years after starting university, I gained a first-class degree in Computer Science, where my love of technology took me to my first job in Central London for an IT company. That was my first insight into the world of Cyber Security Forensics and ethical hacking. It gave me the opportunity to work on several top-secret and high-security projects for the British Government. At 26 years old, my work colleagues and senior management soon realised my potential as a forensic analyst. I became security cleared, passed several professional qualifications and learned how to solve complex investigations. I was quickly promoted to a senior specialist. A further five years later, extensive travelling and a lot of learning and experience led me to where I am today. It was not until I started working for the government in association with the intelligence agencies that I started to realise… sometimes things aren’t quite what they seem, but you keep your eyes and ears open, your back to the wall and your mouth firmly shut. A mixture of complex situations, a lot of money and political circumstances can either make you look like a superstar or get you into a lot of trouble. I had been approached on numerous occasions to solve outside cases but declined due to work conflicts. The rich and famous want answers but undercover and under wrap for fear of it leaking into the media and public domain. They are willing to pay to solve their complicated situations, but they want someone who is highly intelligent, quick to solve cases, and can keep a secret. I guess that person is me—Esmeralda Sophia King. With a little help from my nearest and dearest, I have access to highly sensitive files, records and information that most people can’t reach. I soon realised that working for myself, on my own cases, may be a better option. Giving me the freedom to work as and when I please, the financial security to live a more than comfortable life and a career that I know I am good at. Of course, it is completely and highly illegal and I’m walking a very thin line with every case I take on, but I just can’t beat the adrenaline or the curiosity. High-profile individuals approach me with their unsolved crimes and situations that the police can’t or don’t want to get involved in, hence why I’m offered danger money. I’m the