Fool Me Once Read Online Free PDF Page A

between the sofa cushions for the portable phone. For some reason she always stuck it between the cushion and the arm. Most times the battery was dead, and she had to recharge it or use her cell phone. She took a mighty, deep breath and dialed her father’s cell phone. She wasn’t surprised when Lea answered, sounding happy and relaxed. Well, why the hell shouldn’t she sound happy and relaxed, with her father and all that warm sunshine?
    â€œLea, it’s Ollie,” she said, using her father’s favorite nickname for her. “Is he there?”
    â€œHoney, you sound…funny. Are you all right? Do you have a cold or something? If you do, you need to start taking care of it. I saw on the news that it’s very cold and snowing in Winchester.”
    â€œOr something,” Olivia responded. “Is Dad there?”
    â€œHe was until about ten minutes ago. He’s down on the pier watching some fisherman haul in a huge marlin. Can I have him return your call, or would you like me to go get him? I don’t think he’ll be too long. Let’s face it, how long can you stare at a dead fish?”
    Olivia knew she was supposed to laugh at Lea’s little joke. She didn’t. She wondered if she would ever laugh again about anything. “No, that’s okay. Tell him to call me when he gets in. It’s important, Lea.”
    â€œIs there anything I can do, honey?”
    â€œNo. But thanks for asking.” Olivia clicked the OFF button and replaced the phone in its stand instead of letting it slide down between the cushions. She walked back to the fire, carrying an armful of pillows. She was so cold she ached. The dogs curled up next to her, and she fed them the crunchy cereal, one morsel at a time.
    Just you and me, kid.

Chapter 3
    T hree hours later, the dogs sound asleep on the pillows, Olivia’s phone finally rang. She looked at it through narrowed green eyes that were little more than slits. The rage she’d felt earlier was still with her. Getting up carefully so as not to wake the sleeping dogs, she barked a greeting into the phone.
    â€œOllie, Ollie, how are you? I’m sorry I missed your call. Daimon brought in this glorious marlin, and we all had to stand around and watch him gloat. Then we had to go to Finnegan’s to make a toast. What’s up, honey? Lea said you sounded funny and wasn’t sure if you were sick or something was wrong.”
    There’s something wrong all right . “A lawyer came to see me this afternoon.”
    â€œGood Lord, don’t tell me someone is suing you! When are people going to understand the camera doesn’t lie? They look the way they look. Call up our attorney, offer to redo the photos, then touch them up. That should work. You aren’t upset over this, are you, Ollie? You know it goes with the territory. It happened so many times to me, I lost count.”
    How cheerful and upbeat his voice sounds , Olivia thought, when my own is so chilly and hateful. Just you and me, kid. “It wasn’t about a disgruntled client, Dad. It was about my deceased mother—your deceased wife. The woman whose picture is not on the mantel. It seems she rose from the dead and died all over again two weeks ago. Well, Daaadd , what do you have to say about that? ”
    The silence on the other end of the phone was so total, Olivia had to prompt her father for a response. “Well?”
    â€œI’ll get the first plane out in the morning. I should be there by midafternoon. This is not something to discuss over the phone.”
    â€œWhy the hell not, Daaadd? ” Olivia wailed. “How could you? More to the point, how dare you not tell me? How dare you let me think that woman in the picture was my mother? How dare you, Dad?” With shaking hands, Olivia pitched the phone across the room. She watched as the small cover that held the batteries bounced off, and the batteries rolled across the