Dead Giveaway by Brenda Novak Read Free Book Online

Clay wish he could tell her everything would be okay. But he couldn’t. If Chief McCormick left his wife for Irene, the whole town would be out to get her. They’d never liked her much to begin with—thanks to Reverend Barker. He’d isolated her right from the start by refusing to let her go anywhere except church events. He’d also taken every opportunity to imply that he’d made a mistake when he married her, that he was now saddled with a wife who was too flighty, lazy, vain—a cross for him to bear. Occasionally, he’d even criticized her in subtle, demeaning ways from the pulpit. And his parishioners had bought every word. After all, he’d had ahistory in this place—land, family, friends and the illusion of purity. Irene had had nothing, except the hope of a better life.
    A hope the man behind the pious mask had quickly dashed.
    But no one else knew that man. Not like the Montgomerys did.
    â€œI’m sorry,” Clay said softly. “You don’t have a choice. Not really. You know that, don’t you?”
    She swiped at the tears spilling down her cheeks. “Yes.”

3
    â€œM ommy…Mommy…”
    Her daughter’s voice and small hand, jiggling her shoulder, came to Allie as if through a fog, waking her that afternoon. She was still tired—she’d gone to bed only five hours earlier, after getting Whitney off to school—but she struggled to open her eyes. She wanted to be available to her child as much as possible. That was why she’d moved back to Stillwater, taken a cut in pay and accepted the night shift.
    â€œWho’s this?” Whitney asked.
    Squinting to see clearly in the light filtering through a crack in the blinds, Allie focused on the object her daughter was trying to show her. “What do you have there, sweetheart?”
    â€œIt’s a picture,” she said, confusion etching a frown on her soft, round face.
    â€œOf who?”
    â€œA man.”
    The sleepiness Allie had felt a moment ago fell away as she realized her daughter was holding a photo of Clay Montgomery. Allie had brought his file home, hoping to finish her report on last night’s events. Whitney must have been going through the box she used to transfer work back and forth.
    â€œNo one you know,” she said in a careless tone.
    Her daughter wrinkled up her nose. “Why isn’t he wearing any clothes?”
    Allie might’ve smiled at Whitney’s distaste—if she hadn’t been so aware of Clay when she was taking that picture. “He’s wearing pants,” she said.
    Whitney still seemed skeptical. “I can’t see them.”
    Allie searched the bottom of the photograph for any hint of a denim waistband. “I guess they don’t show up, but they’re there.”
    Her daughter continued to stare at Clay. “Why isn’t he smiling?”
    â€œHe’s not the type to smile.” Allie remembered the sexy grin he’d given her when she’d asked him to remove his shirt. After you . “At least not very often.” Which was probably a good thing, she added silently. It was almost intoxicating when he did.
    â€œAre you going to put this on the fridge, beside my picture?”
    Allie could imagine what her parents would think of having a bare-chested Clay Montgomery facing them every time they reached for a gallon of milk. “No, honey. I only have that because I need it for work.”
    Hoping to divert her daughter’s attention from Clay’s photo, Allie asked, “Where’s your grandma?”
    â€œIn the kitchen. She’s getting me a snack. She said I shouldn’t bother you, but I wanted to say hi.”
    She gave her daughter a big hug. “You can say hello to me anytime.”
    As always, Whitney returned the embrace with plenty of enthusiasm. She was so loving that Allie couldn’t believe her ex-husband could feel such animosity for their