It could never last forever, Morgan knew, and he was right: Hooligan’s phone began to ring.
“It’s for you, boss,” he explained, passing it over.
“Jack Morgan.”
Faces peered intently as Morgan received what could only be the briefing of a task newly drop
ped onto Private’s desk. As the one-sided conversation drew on, Knight observed how Morgan’s battered body began to fill with purpose. By the time he hung up the call, Morgan’s back was straight, his eyes alive.
“I’ve got to go,” he told the room.
“Is it a good one?” the newly retired Peter Knight asked.
“It is,” Morgan told him, getting to his feet.
Knight looked from his playing children to the adults in the room. One group were his family, and the other group were his…
“Can I withdraw my—” Knight began.
Morgan cut him off with a smile. “You are Private London, Peter.”
“We are,” Knight insisted, taking in his friends. “We are.”
They embraced. Then, with pride in his step and purpose in his soul, Jack Morgan walked from the room.
He was onto his next mission.
He was alive.
Acknowledgments
First thanks go to my incredible family—patient and supportive as ever. It goes without saying that the team at PRH were brilliant and insightful, and a pleasure to work with. Thanks to Gaz and Kat for allowing me to use their beautiful home when working on this book—truly inspirational. Love, as always, to the team at Furniss Lawton. And last, but most importantly, thank you James. It is a privilege to work alongside a master of the craft.
—Rees Jones
About the Authors
JAMES PATTERSON holds the Guinness World Record for the most #1 New York Times bestsellers, and his books have sold more than 355 million copies worldwide. He has donated more than one million books to students and soldiers and funds over four hundred Teacher Education Scholarships at twenty-four colleges and universities. He has also donated millions to independent bookstores and school libraries.
REES JONES is a former British Army soldier who deployed on three frontline tours of duty to Iraq and Afghanistan. Now a full-time writer, Rees also collaborated with James Patterson on the BookShot Private: The Royals. Rees is also an author of historical fiction and war memoir, under the name Geraint Jones. He can be found across social media at @grjbooks.
JAMES
PATTERSON
RECOMMENDS
COUNT TO TEN
I admit it: I put Private investigator Santosh Wagh through the wringer in his first outing. A combination of personal setbacks and a harrowing case almost did him in. Then I started wondering—is there something that can push him over the edge?
Santosh is ready to quit as the head of Private India. Except Jack Morgan, the global leader of Private, wants to open an office in Delhi, and Santosh is the only person he can trust. Still battling his demons, Santosh accepts and the agency takes on a case that threatens to destroy them. Plastic barrels containing dissolved human remains have been found in the basement of a house. But this isn’t just any house. This property belongs to the state government. With the crime scene in lockdown and information suppressed by the authorities, delving too deep soon makes Santosh a target to be eliminated.
PRIVATE
I’ve always been a curious person. It’s one of the many reasons why I’m a writer. Something I always asked myself was: “What happens if a ‘one percenter’ gets into trouble?” The answer: Jack Morgan and Private. On Jack Morgan’s agenda in his debut outing is investigating a multimillion dollar NFL gambling scandal and solving a series of schoolgirl slayings. Then, the unthinkable—his former lover turned best friend’s wife is murdered. One thing you should know about Jack is that beneath his Lamborghini-driving, red-carpet-event-attending surface, he’s a very smart guy. And he takes no prisoners. Just wait till you get to the end of PRIVATE. You’ll see what I mean.
PRIVATE: # 1 SUSPECT