Smash Cut

When millionaire Paul Wheeler is murdered, his family retains renowned lawyer Derek Mitchell to defend the victim’s nephew Creighton— although the police have not charged the young man with the crime. Wheeler’s mistress, Julie Rutledge, who is also a suspect, believes that Creighton is the killer, despite his rock-solid alibi, and she’ll do almost anything in her quest to prove his guilt—even ruin Derek’s career. But the more Derek learns of Creighton’s darker side, especially his bizarre fascination with movie murders, the more he comes to believe Julie is right. The clock ticks down to a shocking ending as Derek and Julie join forces to find the truth. Has Creighton begun reenacting cinema’s goriest scenes? And who will be his unwilling costars? They won’t know until the final SMASH CUT.
"A DELICATE PING ANNOUNCED THE ARRIVAL OF THE ELEVATOR. The double doors opened. Inside were three people: two middle-aged women who chatted in the manner of established friends, and a thirty- something man with the stressed-out bearing of a junior executive. He shuffled back to make room for the man and woman waiting to board. They smiled pleasantly as they stepped in, then turned to face forward. The elevator started its descent to the hotel lobby, the five passengers reflected in its brass doors. The couple stood elbow to elbow in companionable silence. One of the two women in the back hadn’t stopped talking, but out of politeness, she was keeping her voice low. Her friend covered her mouth to stifle a laugh and was overheard to say, “Oh, my. And she was so proud of that darned thing.” When the elevator slowed and a chime announced a stop on the eighth floor, the young businessman glanced at his wristwatch and winced as though reconciling himself to running late. The elevator doors opened."