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Back Legacy of Lies Save as PDF
Chapters (88)
  1. TITLE PAGE
  2. COPYRIGHT PAGE
  3. DEDICATION
  4. CONTENTS
  5. PART ONE
  6. 1
  7. 2
  8. 3
  9. 4
  10. 5
  11. 6
  12. 7
  13. 8
  14. 9
  15. 10
  16. 11
  17. PART TWO
  18. 12
  19. 13
  20. 14
  21. 15
  22. 16
  23. 17
  24. 18
  25. 19
  26. 20
  27. 21
  28. 22
  29. 23
  30. 24
  31. 25
  32. 26
  33. 27
  34. 28
  35. 29
  36. 30
  37. 31
  38. 32
  39. 33
  40. 34
  41. 35
  42. 36
  43. 37
  44. 38
  45. PART THREE
  46. 39
  47. 40
  48. 41
  49. 42
  50. 43
  51. 44
  52. 45
  53. 46
  54. 47
  55. 48
  56. 49
  57. 50
  58. 51
  59. 52
  60. 53
  61. 54
  62. 55
  63. 56
  64. 57
  65. 58
  66. 59
  67. PART FOUR
  68. 60
  69. 61
  70. 62
  71. 63
  72. 64
  73. 65
  74. 66
  75. 67
  76. 68
  77. 69
  78. 70
  79. 71
  80. 72
  81. 73
  82. 74
  83. 75
  84. 76
  85. 77
  86. EPILOGUE
  87. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  88. ABOUT THE AUTHOR

She reached forward and snatched the revolver from the table. “Your father was just like you,” she said, checking to see how many rounds were left in the chamber and pointing the weapon at her son.

Zannick’s face went ashen. “You killed Butch,” he said. “I didn’t set you up. You did it. You killed him.”

Helen said nothing and cocked the pistol.

“So . . . ,” Zannick started, struggling to find his voice. “You gonna kill me too?”

Helen stuck out her jaw and gripped tight to the gun. “You raped Mandy Burks and got off scot-free. Exactly like your father did.”

“Go ahead then. Put me out of my misery. But before you do, you should know the Burks girl set me up. She and her boyfriend were the only two high school kids who came to that party, and she was the aggressor.” Zannick paused. “She lied to you and to her momma, and now she’s a millionaire.”

“You raped her, and you should’ve been punished for it.”

“Based on the check I wrote, I’d say she made out pretty good in the deal.”

“You’re a monster,” Helen said, hovering her finger over the trigger.

“I’m your son.”

Helen continued to hover her finger over the trigger. Then, keeping her eyes on Zannick the whole time, she lowered her weapon and returned the revolver to her pocket. Seconds later, she was heading for the door.

“Come on, Momma,” Zannick teased, but his voice was shaking with nervous energy. “Stick around. Shouldn’t we catch up? Don’t you want to know why I tracked you down?”

Helen Evangeline Lewis turned and peered at him. “There’ll be enough time for that in the future.”

Then she walked out the door without looking back.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

My wife, Dixie, is always my first reader, and my stories would have never been published without her help and encouragement.

Our children—Jimmy, Bobby, and Allie—are my inspiration and joy.

My mother, Beth Bailey, is a constant source of love, support, and assistance. She is also one of my earliest readers, and I value her critique.

My agent, Liza Fleissig, has been my wingman on this writing journey, and she continues to help me achieve my dreams. I am eternally grateful for her persistence.

My developmental editor, Clarence Haynes, offered insights, ideas, and advice that improved my story and characters. Clarence is a phenomenal editor, and I’m blessed to have him on my team.

Megha Parekh, my editor with Thomas & Mercer, was a calm and steady presence, and her encouragement and support were much appreciated on this journey.

To my entire editing and marketing team at Thomas & Mercer, thank you for your continued support. I’m so proud and honored to call you my publisher.

My friend and law school classmate, Judge Will Powell, was an early reader, and I leaned on him again for advice with respect to criminal law matters.