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Back Her White Lie Save as PDF
Chapters (72)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. Chapter One
  4. Chapter Two
  5. Chapter Three
  6. Chapter Four
  7. Chapter Five
  8. Chapter Six
  9. Chapter Seven
  10. Chapter Eight
  11. Chapter Nine
  12. Chapter Ten
  13. Chapter Eleven
  14. Chapter Twelve
  15. Chapter Thirteen
  16. Chapter Fourteen
  17. Chapter Fifteen
  18. Chapter Sixteen
  19. Chapter Seventeen
  20. Chapter Eighteen
  21. Chapter Nineteen
  22. Chapter Twenty
  23. Chapter Twenty-One
  24. Chapter Twenty-Two
  25. Chapter Twenty-Three
  26. Chapter Twenty-Four
  27. Chapter Twenty-Five
  28. Chapter Twenty-Six
  29. Chapter Twenty-Seven
  30. Chapter Twenty-Eight
  31. Chapter Twenty-Nine
  32. Chapter Thirty
  33. Chapter Thirty-One
  34. Chapter Thirty-Two
  35. Chapter Thirty-Three
  36. Chapter Thirty-Four
  37. Chapter Thirty-Five
  38. Chapter Thirty-Six
  39. Chapter Thirty-Seven
  40. Chapter Thirty-Eight
  41. Chapter Thirty-Nine
  42. Chapter Forty
  43. Chapter Forty-One
  44. Chapter Forty-Two
  45. Chapter Forty-Three
  46. Chapter Forty-Four
  47. Chapter Forty-Five
  48. Chapter Forty-Six
  49. Chapter Forty-Seven
  50. Chapter Forty-Eight
  51. Chapter Forty-Nine
  52. Chapter Fifty
  53. Chapter Fifty-One
  54. Chapter Fifty-Two
  55. Chapter Fifty-Three
  56. Chapter Fifty-Four
  57. Chapter Fifty-Five
  58. Chapter Fifty-Six
  59. Chapter Fifty-Seven
  60. Chapter Fifty-Eight
  61. Chapter Fifty-Nine
  62. Chapter Sixty
  63. Chapter Sixty-One
  64. Chapter Sixty-Two
  65. Chapter Sixty-Three
  66. Chapter Sixty-Four
  67. Chapter Sixty-Five
  68. Chapter Sixty-Six
  69. Chapter Sixty-Seven
  70. A letter from Jackie
  71. About the Author
  72. Also by Jackie Walsh

There are no words to describe how I feel. I have been wrong all along. How could I have believed that about Tara? But Andriu must have known I would think he was talking about Tara. She was lying on the sofa when I came home that day, conked out, half-dressed. They had both been drinking. I saw the empty glasses. The box of condoms on his bedside cabinet. No one mentioned Emily. What has this man done to me?

And now he thinks I killed Avril Ryan. He thinks I’m mad. Andriu doesn’t love me. Did he ever love me?

‘No,’ I whisper before ending the call.

I drop my head onto the pillow. What the hell is going on? Why did Andriu ask me if I killed Avril Ryan? Is it because I lied to the detective about Tara knowing Avril Ryan? Does he think I’m trying to shift the blame to her?

Fear washes over me, bigger than the fear that has been washing over me for years. It’s heavier. To lift it, I’m going to have to be stronger.

I sit up on the bed and let reality sink in. Andriu Fitzpatrick does not love me. He might even hate me. He will tell people I killed Avril Ryan. He will tell the cops.

I can’t let that happen.

Chapter Forty-Eight

Tara

I’m watching the commuters get off the bus at the 22a stop for the last time. They’ll do it again tomorrow, but I won’t be here to see them. My journey is changing course. This is my final day working for Muriel in the café and while I’m sad to be leaving because I’ll miss Muriel – she has always been very good to me – I’m also happy. Happy to be moving on to new exciting things.

Telling Lucas about my mam’s passing has helped me see more clearly. We spent most of the day yesterday just lying around, talking, spending time on our own. Lucas assured me I had done the right thing, and though I didn’t need his reassurance and never doubted my decision, it was nice to hear.

I don’t know why I delayed telling him and maybe if it hadn’t been for the discovery of Avril Ryan’s body at Huntley Lodge bringing it all up again, I wouldn’t have. But I’m glad I did. It’s over now. Lucas has seen the darkest side of me and he still loves me.