Chapters (78)
- Title Page
- Dedication
- Prologue
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Twenty
- Twenty-One
- Twenty-Two
- Twenty-Three
- Twenty-Four
- Twenty-Five
- Twenty-Six
- Twenty-Seven
- Twenty-Eight
- Twenty-Nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-One
- Thirty-Two
- Thirty-Three
- Thirty-Four
- Thirty-Five
- Thirty-Six
- Thirty-Seven
- Thirty-Eight
- Thirty-Nine
- Forty
- Forty-One
- Forty-Two
- Forty-Three
- Forty-Four
- Forty-Five
- Forty-Six
- Forty-Seven
- Forty-Eight
- Forty-Nine
- Fifty
- Fifty-One
- Fifty-Two
- Fifty-Three
- Fifty-Four
- Fifty-Five
- Fifty-Six
- Fifty-Seven
- Fifty-Eight
- Fifty-Nine
- Sixty
- Sixty-One
- Sixty-Two
- Sixty-Three
- Sixty-Four
- Sixty-Five
- Sixty-Six
- Sixty-Seven
- Sixty-Eight
- Sixty-Nine
- Seventy
- Acknowledgments
- About the Author
- Remarkable Praise for Nicci French
- Also by Nicci French
- About the Publisher
“You say there was nothing between the two of you. But you break off your engagement and move out of your home. Now it turns out you’re the executor of his will.”
“It’s just the way you’re framing it,” Jude said.
“Framing it? How would you frame it?”
“I broke up with Nat not because of Liam but because I lied.”
“About Liam.”
“About the arrangement.”
“And you still persist in saying there was nothing between you?”
“I’ve given up saying that,” said Jude, taking a seat and resting her aching head on one hand. “Nobody believes me. I just know it’s true and that’s good enough for me.”
“Don’t you realize the situation you’re in? We’re going to find out who killed Liam Birch and we’re going to find out how you’re involved in his death.”
Jude almost stamped her foot with frustration. “Except I’m not.”
The detective looked at her steadily. “I used to think I could tell when someone was lying to me and when someone was telling me the truth. I learned a long time ago that I couldn’t, but I feel certain that there’s something you aren’t telling me.”
“I don’t know how many times we can do this,” said Jude. “You’re investigating a murder. I was a hundred miles away when it happened. I know it’s weird he asked me to do this for him. Maybe it was for an alibi. Maybe he was going to do something terrible. But I don’t know how you think I can help you.”
Jude looked at Leila but she didn’t reply, just stared back with a kind of curiosity that sent a shiver down Jude’s spine.
“I understand it’s strange that I’m suddenly executor of the will. It’s strange to me as well. But I don’t benefit from it.” She gestured at the wooden bowl. “Except for that. That’s what he left me in his will. I know it’s all bizarre and unsettling, but what are you accusing me of? What’s your theory?”
“Who are you trying to convince with all of this?” said Leila. “Me or yourself?”
“Just because things are odd,” said Jude, “it doesn’t mean that they’re connected with Liam being murdered.”
Leila gazed at her. Jude tried to hold her gaze, but in the end she blinked several times and looked away. Her scalp tightened and her face felt rubbery. She couldn’t be sure what her expression was. For a moment she felt dizzy, the world swimming around her, things dissolving. She felt that the detective could see into her, the secret part of her, see everything that was there, and she wanted to hide from her unblinking scrutiny.