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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

“Well, he’s probably dealing with the aftereffects of Loften.”

“What do you mean?”

“Jeff did quite a number on him.” Dillard gave her a little sideways grin. “Not only did he put him in jail, he would’ve put him in his grave if I hadn’t stopped him.”

“He told me.”

“In my time on the job, I’ve seen a lot of things, but Jeff was a little unnerving. He sure has an animal inside, doesn’t he?”

“Evidently.”

“I don’t blame him for going nuts on Loften for what he did.” Dillard looked hard at her. “You know what I mean?”

Not sure that she understood, an awkward moment passed with Lisa grappling to find the best way to respond.

“I should let you get back to your flowers,” she said. “Give my best to Nell.”

“I will. And, Lisa?” Dillard pulled on his gloves. “You keep a close watch on Jeff.”

“Why?”

“His violent streak and that eye-for-an-eye thing can be dangerous. Never know where it could lead.”

“Okay, I’ll do that. Thanks, Roland.”

Lisa resumed walking around the block trying to fathom what Dillard meant about Jeff’s violent streak and where it could lead.

32

Staring at Vida’s last message, Jeff’s breathing quickened.

Okay, okay. Lisa’s gone to cool off. Use this time to think.

Kneading the tension knotting in his lower neck, he tried to remain calm. But how could he? Vida knew where they lived, had been by the house, knew about the break-in and had taken pictures of Lisa.

That pissed him off so much.

Vida had accused him of stealing her work, wanted him to get her a job, then suggested they had done something together, something that could hurt him. I know all about you. What you’re really like.

Jeff stared at himself in the mirror.

Admit it. There is truth in Vida’s lies.

All the saliva in his mouth evaporated.

If this gets out, it could destroy everything I’ve worked for.

Anger rolled over him, and he cursed into the mirror.

He had to keep it together. There had to be a way to get through this. He had to find it.

Time was working against him.

First things first.

He went to his office, sat at his desk and unlocked his drawer with the false bottom. He pressed the hidden spring-release latch, slid open the top of the secret compartment. His fingers probed his memory cards and flash drives. Each bore tiny labels with dates. Throughout his life, he had saved everything he’d ever created. Everything he did in college, his internship, all of his work in Cleveland and his most guarded, private things.

His fingers brushed against one drive he’d labeled Pain.

No one knew the horrible truths he’d stored in there.

Jeff stared at it. Considered what it contained, could feel its pull but resisted.

Not now. Focus on the Vida issue.