Dead Ringer by Annelise Ryan

Author:Annelise Ryan [Ryan, Annelise]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington Books
Published: 2020-01-16T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 16

My mind is whirling with questions, excuses, potential explanations, and a sense of fear akin to what I felt as a child when I was caught doing something I wasn’t allowed to do. I sputter for a moment, withering beneath Hurley’s expression, which is a weird mix of hurt, confusion, and distrust.

The tension in the office is tighter than a tourniquet, but it is suddenly released when Matthew hollers, “There it is!” He dashes into the room and drops to his knees, bending over to reach under a side table against the wall. He pulls out one of the toy trucks he’d had tucked into his “futility belt” earlier.

“Hurley, what are you doing here?” I manage to say, realizing that I already know the answer. I know how persistent and annoying Matthew can be if he wants something he’s left behind and, clearly, the toy truck fit that bill.

Hurley doesn’t answer. Instead, he fires my own question back at me. “What are you doing here?”

There is a definite hint of suspicion in his voice and I decide that some semblance of the truth is called for. “I had some things that were bothering me that I thought I could talk over with Maggie, things related to the . . .” I point to my belly. “After I gassed up the car, I popped back over here, since I knew Maggie’s first appointment for the day had canceled and she would have some open time.” This is essentially the truth, though I’ve worded it in such a way as to fudge with the timeline a little and not make it apparent that this had been my plan all along.

“What issues?” Hurley asks, glancing at Matthew, who is still on his knees on the floor, running his truck over the carpet and making vroom-vroom noises. “If you’re having issues related to the . . . situation, shouldn’t we both be involved in any discussions about it?”

I glance back at Maggie, giving her a wide-eyed look that I’m hoping says, “Feel free to jump in and help me anytime here,” but she is smiling serenely and watching our interchange as if it’s a tennis match between friends. Realizing I’m on my own, I turn back to Hurley.

“It’s just some personal stuff,” I tell him, trying to smile, but forcing it so much that I fear I look ghoulish. “Girl stuff,” I add.

Hurley stares at me, frowning, and I let my forced smile fade. I decide to go on the offensive. “Is there a problem with that?” I ask, hoping I sound innocently confused. He is clearly upset by the discovery, though I’m not sure if it’s because I wasn’t totally honest with him in coming back here, or if it’s something more.

Silence stretches between us, every second pulling the band of tension between us tighter. Finally Hurley says, “We can discuss it later.” He breaks the eye contact, strides over to Matthew in two long steps, grabs him around the waist, and hauls him off the floor.

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