title: The Mystery Of An Old Murder
author: Laura Brett
description: Laura Brett was born and raised on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. With an American dad, winters were spent in uptown New York, while the British ancestry of her mother secured wonderful summers in the English countryside. Educated at Oxford and Stanford Universities, Laura spent most of her adult life travelling the world as a personal assistant to a well-known actor. During the long waits on film-sets Laura started writing short stories and poems, some of which were published to high acclaim. After writing several full-length novels Laura was confident enough to share one with the world. The Mystery Of An Old Murder is her first published novel. Although Laura currently hasn't got a website, any questions or comments can be directed to: authorlaurabrett@gmail.com.
zlib_text:   
    
    
    
  
  **THE FINAL JUDGEMENT**
  
    
  
  Richard North Patterson  
  
   ___FOR ALISON PORTER THOMAS_ __
  
    
    
    
    
  
  **PART ONE**
  
   **TWO WOMEN**
  
    
  
  **CHAPTER ONE**
  
  Two days after the murder, listening to Brett Allen's tale of innocence and
  confusion, the lawyer wavered between disbelief and wonder at its richness, so
  vivid that she could almost picture it as truth.
  
  The lawyer looked at Brett in silence, taking in the oval face, the delicate
  cleft chin, the curly ungroomed hair, the small breasts and almost too slim
  body of a late bloomer who, at first glance, looked younger than twenty-two.
  But what struck her was the bright greenness of the eyes, a gaze so intuitive
  and direct that it unnerved her.
  
  As Brett described it, the night had been crisp, windless. Moonlight refracted
  on the still, obsidian waters of the lake and traced the pines and birches and
  elms surrounding it. The only sound Brett heard was the rise and fall of
  James's breathing.
  
  They were naked. Brett straddled hi