The Perfect Liar Read Online Free

arrangements," his mother insisted. "We're your family. We'l do whatever it takes."
    Luke leaned his head back. He was stil in trouble, but his parents were standing behind him. For now, the moral support was enough. "Don't do it yet. It helps just to have you believe me."
    "Of course we believe you!"
    "I hate the thought of Jenny hearing about this," he grumbled.
    "We won't tell her." It was his mother who made this promise.
    "Someone else could. It'l humiliate all of you."
    "No, it won't."
    "I'm sure some of our friends wil wonder if it's true."
    "The only ones who'l wonder are the ones who don't know you very well," his father said.
    Luke gazed up at the ceiling. "I think most people try to give the woman the benefit of the doubt. I always have."
    "That shows you're a good man," his mother said. "What does this Kalyna look like, anyway?"
    His stomach churned as he pictured her, naked and in bed, glowering 25

    up at him as he dressed. She'd been unhappy in the end. But she'd been very vocal about letting him know she liked everything before that point.
    And he hadn't used her. He'd been sincere in his desire to please her during the time they were together. He'd thought it was a give-and-take, a mutual escape from regular life.
    He closed his eyes as if that might dispel the vision of her screeching obscenities at him. "I suppose some guys would say she's pretty."
    "What do you say?"
    "I can't see it. Especially now."
    His call-waiting beeped. Surprised, he sat up straight and held the handset away from him so he could check caller ID. It read Unknown.
    "I'd better go. I'm getting another call."
    His father caught him before he could hang up. "How are you for money?"
    "I'm fine."
    "The legal fees won't be cheap. Not for something like this."
    No kidding. Luke had already written a ten-thousand-dollar check--
    what his attorney required as a retainer. Fortunately, he earned a decent salary and his expenses were low. He had a nice car, a BMW M3, which felt like a jet on wheels. He had a hefty monthly payment for the pleasure of driving it, but most of what he made went into savings. "I'l let you know if I need anything."
    "Fight for your reputation, son," his father said.
    Luke had every intention of fighting--for his freedom, as well as his reputation.
    After telling his folks goodbye, he switched to the other line. "Hello?"
    "Luke?"
    It was a man. "Yes?"
    "Pledge McCreedy."
    His attorney. But why would McCreedy be calling him so late at night?
    A surge of hope shot through him. Maybe the case had been dropped. He hadn't been violent, hadn't harmed Kalyna in the slightest. He couldn't believe she'd be vengeful enough to keep this going. "Tell me you have good news."
    26

    There was a brief hesitation. "The opposite, I'm afraid."
    Luke braced himself. Was Kalyna pregnant? "What now?" he asked.
    "There's a woman from The Last Stand--"
    "The Last What?" McCreedy hadn't said "pregnant." Yet. Luke jumped to his feet and began to pace in an effort to disperse some of the nervous energy pounding through him.
    "The Last Stand. It's a victims' charity in Sacramento. You haven't heard of it?"
    "No."
    "It's run by three women who investigate various cases, retest evidence, offer counseling, self-defense classes and money for attorney's fees--whatever they feel the victims who come to them might need."
    This wasn't what Luke had expected. He would've been relieved, except that his attorney seemed so concerned. "What does that mean to me?"
    "More than you might think. Sergeant Harter has enlisted their help. I just picked up the messages from my answering service. An Ava Bixby from The Last Stand has been trying to reach me."
    "And?"
    "Let me put it this way. She could go to the media. Any exposure you get there would almost certainly work against you. These women are viewed as champions of the weak and afflicted, which would add to the appearance of guilt on your part. They could dedicate time and resources to helping the prosecution