Last Chance (Liar Liar #3) by C.A. Mason Read Free Book Online

That sexual chemistry was still there, simmering beneath the surface, but I also sensed an underlying wariness. She wasn’t able to trust me completely yet.
    “I guess we’ve put it off long enough,” she said as she reached for her coffee. “We came here to talk about what happened that night, so let’s talk about it.”
    “Okay.” I wrapped my hands around my mug. “Do you want to start by telling me what happened when you left my place?”
    She sighed. “You know the story. I ran outside to get away from you. I was looking up and down the street, hoping to find a taxi, when someone covered my mouth with a gloved hand and whispered that they would cut my throat if I didn’t get into the back of their van.”
    “The van that looked just like my work van?”
    “It looked exactly like yours.”
    “What happened next?”
    “I told this story in court.” She sighed. “It happened just the way I said it did. Honestly, I don’t know if rehashing this will get us anywhere.”
    “I think it might.” I wished I could touch her, try to comfort her in some small way. “I wouldn’t put you through this if I didn’t think it might help us figure out who really did this.”
    “Fine,” she said, setting her cup down carefully. “What do you want to know?”
    “Did he say anything to you on the way there?”
    “No.”
    “Was there anything specific about the van that you remember?”
    “It was dark,” she said slowly. “I couldn’t see much, but no, I don’t remember anything about it.”
    “Were there tools inside? Something with a company logo, maybe?”
    “I don’t think so.” She released a shaky breath. “There may have been, but I was too terrified to notice. My mind was racing, wondering what he was going to do to me, whether he was going to kill me. I was just trying to figure out how to get away.”
    “I understand, angel.” The soft endearment caught her attention, and when she lifted her head, I smiled, letting her know that I didn’t want this to hurt any more than it had to. “Was there music playing?”
    “No, it was quiet.” She squeezed her eyes shut. “The only thing I remember was the sound of his breathing. It was ragged, like he’d been running or something.”
    “Hmm.” I painted a picture in my mind with the words she offered. “You said he was dressed in black, with a ski mask and leather gloves?”
    “I think he may have been wearing dark jeans,” she said. “But he was wearing a black leather jacket, and a black T-shirt maybe?”
    “Not what I was wearing that night,” I mumbled.
    Her eyes snapped up. “What?”
    “Do you think I would have had time to put on that get-up before you reached the street? I was naked when you left me, remember?”
    She sucked in a breath. “I… guess I never thought of that.”
    “How long do you think it would have taken me to get dressed like that? And how would I have made it downstairs before you did? You would have seen me come out of the building, right? There was only one entrance.”
    She jumped out of the iron chair so fast she upended it. The sound of metal hitting stone reverberated through the quiet.
    “I’m sorry,” I said, standing slowly. “I didn’t mean to come at you like that.”
    She was pacing across the patio, breathing hard, her eyes wide and frantic. “I guess I didn’t think about the logistics. Why didn’t I?” She laced her fingers through her hair at the back of her neck. “Why didn’t I ask myself all the questions you’re asking me now?”
    My lawyer had presented the same argument in his closing statement, but Maura had left right after her testimony. I couldn’t blame her for not wanting to be there any longer than she had to. She was a wreck, often sobbing and shaking, unable to make eye contact with anyone.
    “Why would you?” I asked. “The police thought they had their man. So did your parents. It wasn’t your job to defend me.”
    “But I knew you,” she cried. “They