3 Lies Read Online Free PDF Page A

that you are.”
    “Why am I here?”
    “You are collateral.”
    Collateral. She sat up and gathered her hair behind her back. “How—”
    “No more questions. You must write a letter.”
    “A letter? To whom?”
    He dropped the satchel from his shoulder and removed a clipboard with writing paper and envelopes. He handed this to her along with a pen.
    “The details for the letter are there.”
    She looked at the page.
    “You are to write the letter exactly as it is printed. You cannot add anything to it nor leave anything from it. Is that clear?”
    She nodded and read the letter to herself.
     
    Dear Clint,
    I have been kidnapped.
     
    Her heartbeat skipped. She looked up at Blue-Mask. His eyes were on the rest of the room. She continued reading.
     
    I do not know where they have taken me. I am in good health and have been treated with care. They want a ransom—
     
    Her stomach churned. Her hand clasped her mouth. “I can’t tell him this.”
    “You can and you must.”
    Her hands rattled the page.
     
    They want a ransom in unmarked bills packaged and delivered as instructed. They will contact you with the details. They are quite serious and dangerous. The kidnappers are heavily armed. You cannot contact the police. You are being watched. If you do not follow their instructions exactly, if you involve anyone else in this, you will be the cause of my death.
     
    Bile burned her throat. “I can’t ask him to do this. We’ve only been dating for a little while.” She choked out her words.
    “You are to write the letter and address an envelope. I will come get the letter from you within an hour. I will inspect it, so please do exactly as instructed.” He positioned the satchel back on his shoulder. “I would hate to see you get hurt.”

Chapter Six
    Clint yanked his hand from her flat stomach as if he’d been scorched. “A what?” His hand felt dirty. He needed to wash. “You can’t be pregnant.”
    “Twelve weeks.” She massaged the spot where he'd touched her. “If you recall—” She stepped toward him.
    “It was entirely memorable.” He took a long pull of air to fuel his anger. “By the end of that same week you filed for divorce.”
    Her head bobbed at the comment. She went back to the table and sipped her water.
    He got a bottle of ibuprofen from the cupboard. The childproof cap gained in significance. It took him longer than usual to navigate. He drowned a pair with a cup of milk.
    “We always wanted kids, Clint.”
    “
I
always wanted kids.” He slapped the counter with his cup. “You didn’t want any extra baggage to slow your climb.”
    “But now we have a child coming. It’s a fact.”
    “Is it?”
    Her shoulders squared. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
    “You know what it means.”
    “How dare—”
    “Save it.” He laid his head back. “We’ve slept together once. In, what? A year?”
    “I’ve always been faithful to you.”
    “Give it a rest, Paige. You moved out. Remember? How does that count as faithful?”
    At the sound of the word “out” Louie bit his leash and trotted over to Clint with it.
    Clint rubbed on a long, black ear. Louie was a smart and obedient young dog. He did exactly what his master trained him to do. Obedience deserved reward. Clint clipped on the leash.
    “I’m taking Louie for a run.”
    “But what about us? What about the baby?”
    Classic Paige. She didn’t just find out. She planned her visit to him, choosing her words and wardrobe with care as if preparing for court. She did not readily bear inconvenience. Any action item on her list required an emergency response from everyone in her trajectory.
    He ignored her and went above deck with Louie. They strolled amid the boats, stopping wherever Louie located an interesting smell, which occurred every few feet on any dock. Clint tried to absorb her words.
    The sun failed to warm his shudder. Paige pregnant. He could be a father in less than a year. He'd expected to have