The Lying House by Rick Mofina

Author:Rick Mofina
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: MIRA Books
Published: 2019-09-13T18:18:44+00:00

42

Stepping from the shower, Lisa picked up her phone and found Roland Dillard’s number and sent him a text.

Hi Roland, this is Lisa Taylor, your neighbor. Sorry to impose, but I’d like to see you about a confidential matter. Are you free?

While waiting for his response, she toweled off, dried her hair and got dressed. She was pulling on a shirt when her phone pinged with Dillard’s response.

I’m free. Come on over.

Fifteen minutes later, she was at his doorstep and rang the bell. Dillard opened the door, wearing khaki shorts and a navy polo shirt.

“Forgive me for disturbing you.”

“Not at all.” He gestured to the living room.

Lisa glanced around before she sat on the sofa. “Where’s Nell?”

“She’s resting in bed. Can I get you something to drink? Coffee?”

“No, thank you.”

“So what did you need to see me about?”

She bit her bottom lip and inhaled.

“This has to be confidential.”

“Absolutely.”

Fully aware she was betraying Jeff’s trust, and because she was desperate and afraid, Lisa began recounting her husband’s history with Vida Warren. Speaking through tears, Lisa told Dillard everything she knew, leaving nothing out. He nodded and asked an occasional question as she clasped and unclasped her fingers in her lap. When she finished, she stared into his craggy face, met his eyes—calm, confident and full of understanding.

“It concerns me that this woman is causing you so much anguish,” he said. “You need her to stop, but it appears nothing will stop her.”

“Yes.” Lisa touched a tissue to her eyes. “This is going to sound crazy, but I was just out running in the park, and I felt like someone was watching me. It may have been kids playing or a bird or something. But... I don’t know.”

“You’re upset, jittery. It’s understandable.”

He sat back and held a poker face for several moments.

“Do you think Vida could be linked to Loften?” Lisa asked.

“It’s unlikely, but you shouldn’t rule anything out.”

“Should I tell Cruz and Reddick?”

“Tell you what. I could talk to them for you, suggest they question her quietly, and at the same time I could float the Warren–Loften link to them. That could be enough to get Vida to back off.”

“That would be such a relief.”

“But I don’t think that should be the first step,” Dillard said.

“Why not?”

“I think we need to let Jeff take his shot, let him handle it.”

“But what if he fails? And he has this violent streak, he blacks out. You saw it yourself.”

“I know. There’s a bit of a risk there, but look, Jeff knows more about this than we do. We’ll give him a little time. We don’t want to make it worse if he can resolve it. Maybe he can find her a job.”

A long moment passed before Lisa reluctantly nodded. She had to trust Dillard’s judgment—she’d come to him for his advice, and he was giving it to her.

“Have you spoken to anyone else about this?”

“Only my sister in Cleveland.”

“It pains me to see you so distressed. Especially in light of all that has happened to you.

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