Heart of Lies by Jill Marie Landis Read Free Book Online Page B

to the kidnapping yet.”
    “What about Lawrence? Is he in jail.”
    “Maybe you should sit down.”
    Maddie took a deep breath. “Say it, mister.”
    “Lawrence is dead.”
    Her mind raced as she tried to grasp it all. Terrance hadn’t confessed to anything and Lawrence was
dead.
    “How? How did he die?”
    “He was shot. By your brother.”
    Terrance
killed
Lawrence? Was it an accident? Or had Terrance made certain his twin held his silence? It was nearly unthinkable, but she wouldn’t put it past him.
    “Do you know anything about a kidnapping, Miss Grande?”
    She nearly blurted everything out until the intensity in his stare stopped her cold.
    “I … they didn’t much tell me what they were up to.” Not a lie. Not the truth. “You’re a policeman?”
    “No. I’m a Pinkerton.” He held up one hand. “If I may …” He carefully opened his jacket to reveal the Pinkerton Agency badge pinned inside.
    “A Pinkerton.” She was still trying to wrap her mind around Lawrence being dead, and now this.
    “A private detective.”
    “I know what a Pinkerton is.” Just as she knew good and well that if she told him about hiding the child for the twins, if she led him to Anita, both of them would be implicated in the crime as accomplices.
    “If you do know anything about a missing child, you could make it easier on yourself by confessing. Your cooperation might help lessen your time in prison.”
    Her ears were ringing, but not so loud that she didn’t hear him mention prison.
    “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Mr. Abbott.”
    Abbott was still watching her closely. She pictured Lawrence, dying of a bullet wound. Had he known Terrance shot him? Lawrence couldn’t abide having as much as a hangnail. If he’d been arrested, the police would have gotten the truth out of him without hardly trying. Terrance hadn’t talked or the law would be here, not just one Pinkerton.
    The minute Abbott found out Penelope Perkins was being held against her will, then she’d be as guilty as her brothers.
    Sweat dampened her hairline and trickled down her temple. The heavy gray sky hung so low it looked close enough to touch the tips of the cypress trees. It was too sultry to think. She wished there was at least a lick of breeze.
    Aware of the detective, she knew she had to pull herself together. If she could just get rid of him, demand a ransom for the child, and then turn her over to her parents, she would have a stake for the future. It wouldn’t have to be much. Just enough to help her start over on her own.
    She nearly jumped out of her skin when Tom Abbott touched her shoulder. She took a step back and wondered how he’d managed to sidle up so close.
    “Miss Grande? Are you all right?”
    “I’m fine. I’m trying to wrap my mind around what you just told me.”
    “I’m sorry about your brother. Mind if I have a drink of water?”
    He didn’t look sorry. She doubted he was really thirsty.
    “You said your piece,” she told him, “and I thank you for bringing word. Help yourself to some water out of that rain barrel at the corner of the cabin and then be on your way.”
    He shrugged and looked around the unkempt yard.
    She wanted him gone. She wanted to go inside and collect herself. To come to grips with Lawrence’s death and the notion that Terrance was in jail. If it wasn’t for Penelope, she’d be free to do whatever she wanted. Her stomach was in knots.
    She turned, forgetting that he was so close, and nearly ran into him. His dark eyes gave away nothing. His stare was completely disarming. She found herself inexplicably drawn to him and took a step back.
    “I’m real sorry I had to bring you bad news,” he told her.
    “I thank you,” she said, “for your trouble.” He had come a long way to deliver it. It was a far piece back to the city too.
    “It’s obvious you’re innocent.” His conclusion surprised her but she tried to relax, to appear as if he was right. She needed to keep