Chapters (97)
- Cover
- Back Cover Text
- Praise
- Booklist
- Dedication
- Epigraph
- 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
- Seventy-One
- Seventy-Two
- Seventy-Three
- Seventy-Four
- Seventy-Five
- Seventy-Six
- Seventy-Seven
- Seventy-Eight
- Seventy-Nine
- Eighty
- Eighty-One
- Eighty-Two
- Eighty-Three
- Eighty-Four
- Eighty-Five
- Eighty-Six
- Eighty-Seven
- Eighty-Eight
- Eighty-Nine
- Acknowledgments & A Personal Note
- Excerpt
“Just a couple more minutes. After the news, they play the birthday contest. If they draw my month and I call in, I could win two hundred and fifty dollars.”
He grumbled something about paying a share of the rent when Nancy’s teenage daughter, Nikki, joined them in the kitchen.
Telforde’s eyes traveled up and down Nikki’s jeans, her tight-fitting T-shirt that accentuated her bust, and her makeup. They stayed on her as she got a can of tomato juice from the fridge.
“You’re looking nice this morning, Nik,” Telforde said.
Her eyes narrowed and she gave him an icy sidelong glance.
“What’re you doing up so early?” Nancy asked.
“Couldn’t sleep and I’m thirsty.”
As Nikki reached for a glass on a high shelf, her shirt rising, exposing her waist, she felt Telforde’s eyes on her.
“I said you look nice, Nik. You’re supposed to say thank you when someone gives you a compliment.”
“You didn’t fix my door,” Nikki said to the cupboard.
“I’ll get round to it. I got a lot of—”
The radio news began with: “RCMP are investigating the murders of four members of an Eternity family…”
“Quiet. Listen.” Nancy turned up the radio.
“…after police responded to reports of bodies found in a home on Old Pioneer Road.
“Sources have told 101 News that bodies of three members of the Tullock family were found in the home. A fourth member of the family found in the home died hours later in hospital in Alden.
“Officers from Eternity and RCMP Major Crimes are conducting an ongoing investigation.
“RCMP said no further information is being provided at this time but that a full news release will be issued later…”
“That’s Roy Tullock, one of the richest people around,” Telforde said.
Tomato juice exploded on the floor as the glass slipped from Nikki’s hand.
“Don’t move!” her mother said. “You’re in bare feet. Let me take care of it.”
“Who would kill Tullock and his family?” Telforde asked no one.
Nikki remained rooted to the floor, tomato juice splattered in globs on her feet and the cuffs of her jeans as her mother swept juice-covered shards into a dustpan, then got Nikki’s shoes and mopped the mess.
“Goodness, Nikki, what’s wrong?” her mother asked. “You’re shivering. It was an accident. It’s just a glass—wait!” Her mother stared at her. “Doesn’t one of your friends watch the Tullock kids?”
Nikki nodded, covering her face with her hands, her eyes brimming. She rushed back to her room, her mother calling after her.
“Leave me alone!” Nikki yelled back.
Closing the door behind her, Nikki cursed because Telforde still hadn’t put a lock on it for privacy, like she asked him to do every day. Like he promised every day.
In addition to being a creep, Telforde Rahynes was a liar. Nikki hated him so much.