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Back The Lying House Save as PDF
Chapters (103)
  1. Cover
  2. Back Cover Text
  3. Praise
  4. Booklist
  5. Dedication
  6. Epigraph
  7. 1
  8. 2
  9. 3
  10. 4
  11. 5
  12. 6
  13. 7
  14. 8
  15. 9
  16. 10
  17. 11
  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. 39
  46. 40
  47. 41
  48. 42
  49. 43
  50. 44
  51. 45
  52. 46
  53. 47
  54. 48
  55. 49
  56. 50
  57. 51
  58. 52
  59. 53
  60. 54
  61. 55
  62. 56
  63. 57
  64. 58
  65. 59
  66. 60
  67. 61
  68. 62
  69. 63
  70. 64
  71. 65
  72. 66
  73. 67
  74. 68
  75. 69
  76. 70
  77. 71
  78. 72
  79. 73
  80. 74
  81. 75
  82. 76
  83. 77
  84. 78
  85. 79
  86. 80
  87. 81
  88. 82
  89. 83
  90. 84
  91. 85
  92. 86
  93. 87
  94. 88
  95. 89
  96. 90
  97. 91
  98. 92
  99. 93
  100. 94
  101. Epilogue
  102. Acknowledgments and a Personal Note
  103. Excerpt

“Now,” Bogan said, placing a stick of Juicy Fruit into his mouth, “this is where it gets real interesting, Clete.” Chewing, he nodded to Cruz, who then cued up a new image that only showed the top of the sheet of stylized message paper from Oceanwave Gardens found in Vida Warren’s shoe—not the words of the note. “This was found with Vida Warren. She resided at Oceanwave a few doors down from you. I bet you know what we found on it.”

No reaction from Loften.

“Because we like to be thorough,” Bogan said, “and because we know you’d like to cooperate, we’d like you to provide us a sample of your handwriting once we’re done here.”

“Mr. Loften,” Morrow said, “we have so many more elements of concern. For example, you broke into the home and attacked the wife of Vida Warren’s former coworker in Palm Mirage Creek. We’d be interested in knowing why you chose to target Jeff and Lisa Taylor. You had condoms, cord and a serrated-blade knife when you were arrested at the bait house. Other elements are consistent with your compulsion to collect women’s underwear and identifications in Florida, as was done in the cases in other states. Your mobility is aligning with the time frame and puts you at or near the locations of most other crimes. There’s your use of online-dating sites.”

The investigators let a long, tense moment pass.

Then Bogan’s chair scraped as he stood, walked around the table and drew his face within inches of Loften’s, invading his space.

“Clete, the noose around you is tightening.” Bogan chomped on his gum. “As sure as the sun will rise tomorrow, you are on the road to Starke and your execution. But, if you help us clear the other cases, admit to your sickness, appeal for help and cooperate, well, maybe the system could somehow find a way to administer justice in a non–death penalty state like Illinois, Michigan or New York where, if you’re lucky, you can die in your sleep.”

Loften stared at the cinder-block walls that felt as if they were closing in. His Adam’s apple rose and fell as he digested his predicament. His chains jingled as his cuffs knocked against the table.

“I want a lawyer. Then I’ll tell you everything.”

75

Jeff’s sleep was thin and interrupted with nightmares.

He got up early, showered, dressed for work and kissed Lisa’s cheek while she was still sleeping.

He didn’t drive to his office.

He needed to think.