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Back Love and Other Lies Save as PDF
Chapters (61)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. Imagine a girl
  4. Prologue
  5. The Foreigner
  6. One
  7. Two
  8. Three
  9. Four
  10. Five
  11. The Skeptic
  12. Six
  13. Seven
  14. Eight
  15. Nine
  16. Ten
  17. Eleven
  18. Twelve
  19. Thirteen
  20. Fourteen
  21. Fifteen
  22. Sixteen
  23. Seventeen
  24. Eighteen
  25. Nineteen
  26. Twenty
  27. Twenty-One
  28. Twenty-Two
  29. Twenty-Three
  30. The Spectator
  31. Twenty-Four
  32. Twenty-Five
  33. Twenty-Six
  34. Twenty-Seven
  35. Twenty-Eight
  36. Twenty-Nine
  37. The Assassin
  38. Thirty
  39. Thirty-One
  40. Thirty-Two
  41. Thirty-Three
  42. Thirty-Four
  43. Thirty-Five
  44. Thirty-Six
  45. Thirty-Seven
  46. Thirty-Eight
  47. Thirty-Nine
  48. Forty
  49. Forty-One
  50. The Hunter
  51. Forty-Two
  52. Forty-Three
  53. Forty-Four
  54. Forty-Five
  55. Forty-Six
  56. Forty-Seven
  57. Imagine a girl
  58. Acknowledgments
  59. About the Author
  60. Also by Ben McPherson
  61. About the Publisher

I checked the alignment of the bags on the floor. I zipped the side pockets shut. Everything as I had found it, except for a single missing microSD card, now in my phone.

I stepped out into the hall. From the kitchen I heard Bror’s footsteps scuffing toward me across the flagstones. I pulled the door toward me, felt the lock begin to engage, stepped cleanly away. I turned, checked that it was as it had been, then took two long steps toward the front door, quiet as I could. I turned. I saw a shadow cross the kitchen doorframe. I leaned my left side against the wall, brought the phone to my ear.

“That’s a shame, love,” I said. “A great shame.”

Bror appeared in the doorway to the kitchen. He sent me a quizzical look.

Elsa’s voice in my ear. “Cal, are you all right?”

“I will give him your best. I love you so much.”

I ended the call.

Bror simply standing there, watching me from the other end of the hall. Did his eyes glance at the door I had opened?

“I’m really sorry,” I said. “Licia isn’t up to seeing anyone right now. Even you.”

“You’re right. That is a great shame.” The warmest smile. The most unwavering gaze. “Perhaps you will join us. On your own? There is much to tell.”

“I . . .” I turned apologetically toward the front door. I blinked hard, gathering my thoughts. I knew now. I knew. I turned toward him, returned his gaze with the sincerest smile I could manage. “I’m sorry.”

“You feel the need to be with your family. I understand.”

“We are so grateful.” I stepped on to the porch.

“Go in peace, Cal Curtis,” he called after me.

“Go in peace, Bror,” I called back.

I could hear the dogs in their low wooden building, their growls dark and melancholy, though the day was still bright. I stepped into my shoes, walked as casually as I could across the gravel of the courtyard, certain with every step that I was giving myself away.

When I reached the car I drove slowly away. If Bror or Milla were to follow me, I wanted to know.

I stopped at the first gas station I came to.

I bought a coffee to calm my nerves.

I sat in my car, shaking.

On the microSD card was a single video file. I put my headphones on and pressed play.

Thirty-Nine

It began with a simple caption:

TRUE HEROISM

Then a girl’s right eye, filling the frame. Licia. My Licia, all concentration. So close you felt you could touch her.

Another caption:

MIDSUMMER’S EVE, A YEAR AGO