The Lies That Bind Read Online Free PDF

down an actual true first edition of Oliver Twist . If he was successful, the Covington might consider it good publicity to donate the book to the Twisted festival auction. It went against the grain to help Layla Fontaine, but the last thing I needed was to have her blackball me in the book arts community because, God forbid, I had too many scruples.
    Scruples. How boring!
    I skirted the gallery, dark now except for the few pin spots illuminating the wood-block prints and a faint stream of moonlight seeping through the skylight.
    From across the wide space, I saw a figure silhouetted against the window of the front door. It was probably one of my students making her phone call, but I couldn’t tell which one. I didn’t see any of the others who’d taken a break. They might’ve gone outside or down to the mudroom for some privacy. It seemed awfully quiet in here, even with two classes in session. Naomi’s pop-up book display created odd shadows on the lower gallery wall. I shivered and wondered why they didn’t turn up the heat a little.
    The long north hall leading to Layla’s office was even darker than the gallery. The lights were off, which was odd. Someone from the staff always worked late when classes were held, but both Karalee’s and Marky’s offices were dark. I had to feel my way along the wall as I walked.
    I thought about Ned, who ran and maintained the printing press. He never seemed to leave and often closed up on the nights when classes were in session. Did he live in one of the dark rooms down the hall? Maybe it was the absence of light that made me nervous, but I couldn’t help thinking that Ned was one of those guys you heard about on the news. He was quiet and kept his yard clean. Who knew he’d stored the bodies of six ex-wives in his freezer? You could never be sure about guys like Ned.
    That wasn’t fair. Ned was a nice guy. It was just too dark in here and my thoughts were turning morbid.
    As I got closer to Layla’s office, I could make out a thin line of light under her closed door. I hoped that meant she was still working in there. Maybe she didn’t realize the hall lights were off.
    “Layla?” I called.
    There was no answer. Perhaps she’d already gone home. I took one more step and nearly tumbled over something on the floor.
    I flailed my arms out to balance myself, then found the wall and leaned against it. “Damn. Who leaves stuff in the middle of the hall?”
    I didn’t know what it was, but it was something substantial. A bundle of laundry, maybe? I reached down to try to move it and heard a groan.
    It wasn’t a bundle of anything. It was a body.

Chapter 3
    “Oh, my God.” I grabbed my phone from my pocket and dialed 911. When the dispatcher answered, I cried, “Somebody’s been hurt or—or . . .”
    They’re dead. I didn’t say it out loud. I’d heard a groan. They had to be alive.
    “I need your location, ma’am,” the woman said.
    I gave her the information.
    “Are they breathing?” she asked.
    “So far. I’ll check to make sure.” Duh, good idea. It was still so dark, I could barely see my own hands in front of my face, but my eyes were beginning to adjust. I hunched down and felt an arm, covered by a soft wool sweater, indicating it was probably a woman. Moving my hand up her arm, I felt her shoulder, then her neck. There was a weak pulse. She was still breathing.
    “She’s alive, but very weak,” I said. “Hurry, please.”
    “We have a squad car in the area, ma’am,” the dispatcher said. “Please don’t panic. They’re less than two minutes away.”
    “I’m not panicking,” I said, standing. “I just can’t see anything. Are you sending an ambulance, too?”
    “Yes, ma’am. I’ll stay on the line until the police arrive.”
    “Thanks.”
    The door to another office opened suddenly. Naomi peered into the hall. “What’s going on out here?”
    A sliver of light from her desk lamp cast her in shadow and did nothing to light up the