Deceptive Read Online Free PDF

Lucinda’s body was gone. Nowhere in the backyard or the house. Not even a drop of blood on the chaise cushions. I can tell the police think I’m either some odd person bent on getting attention, or someone who needs some medication.”
    Jack watched the traffic, smoothly shifting into the fast lane to pass a car, but Zoe could tell his thoughts were on what she’d said. “Hmm...Yes, that is bad. Not particularly worse than the hit man, but a definite tie.” He shot her a quick smile before sliding into the exit lane, and she felt the knot of anxiety loosen a bit. He hadn’t scoffed or written it off as a side effect of the head injury.
    “So you believe me?”
    “Of course.”
    “Why? I’m beginning to doubt it myself.”
    “Well, you’re not a liar, you’re not prone to psychotic breaks, and,” he hesitated, his voice turning serious as he said, “because when I couldn’t count on anyone else, you were there for me. The last thing I’m going to do is doubt you.”
    “That’s overly generous. I only helped you because I’d been pulled in as deep as you and wanted answers.”
    “That was true in the beginning.” He sent her a piercing look with those silvery blue eyes.
    “Okay, I’ll admit it. I did believe you, especially about the hit man. It wasn’t exactly a leap of faith to believe when someone was taking potshots at you. This is totally different. There’s no proof that I saw Lucinda. There’s no proof that Lucinda was even there.”
    “Why do you fight me, on everything?” He grinned. “Let me believe you, if I want to. Go through everything that happened again for me, will you? I want to get it straight in my head.”
    Zoe blew out a breath. He was right. Why was she trying to talk him out of believing her? She should just be glad he did and go on.
    By the time she’d recounted the series of events, they were turning into their subdivision, Vinewood. The sun had set, but the horizon still glowed orange in the twilight. Their neighborhood was established, and the mature cottonwood trees lining the street blocked out most of the dusky light. Zoe took off her sunglasses as she finished reciting what had happened.
    Jack flicked on the headlights. “There’s one thing that doesn’t fit.”
    “Just one?”
    “The flyers. You said you dropped them.”
    “Yes, they went everywhere.”
    “How many?”
    “Ah, let’s see. There were three houses, so three hundred. One hundred copies for each house.”
    “And they were gone when you went back in the yard?”
    “I didn’t see a single one.”
    “That’s a lot of paper to disappear.” Jack’s mouth quirked down. “I wonder if the police checked Lucinda’s trash?”
    “I don’t know. I’d assume they did. They looked everywhere for her, even under the deck. Hey, who’s at our house?” They were still half a block away, but Zoe could see there were two pickups parked in front of their house. A long trailer was attached to one of the trucks.
    “Looks like a yard service. Maybe for one of the neighbors?” Jack asked.
    Zoe read the magnetic sign attached to the pickup’s driver door as they drove by. “I’ve never noticed Green Lawn Care around here before.” Now that they were closer, Zoe saw a riding lawn mower, a small bobcat, and other lawn maintenance equipment like shovels, rakes, and edgers in the trailer.
    A man in a lime-green shirt with the words GREEN LAWN on the pocket and straw hat with a wide brim came down their driveway, gave them a little two-finger salute, and climbed into the pickup with the trailer. By the time Jack parked the car beside the second pickup, which was in their driveway, the pickup with the trailer was already lumbering down the street.
    Another man closed the gate to their backyard and came across the driveway toward them. He moved with a stiff-legged stride, rocking his shoulders from side to side in a way that reminded Zoe of a penguin. The fact that he wore black pants and had a stripe of a