Baldacci, David - The WholeTruth by Baldacci David

Author:Baldacci, David
Language: eng
Format: epub

CHAPTER 48

A WISP OF RISING SUNLIGHT managed to slip by the window blinds, creep across the floor, and end up briefly settling on the bare calf that poked out from under the sheet. Later it traveled ruler-straight across the bed and slid to the floor where it glanced off the empty blue gin bottle lying there, causing

beads of swirling, reflected light to kaleidoscope off the ceiling.

The demons had final y caught up to Katie James. The last few days were lost to her in a drunken binge of such mammoth proportions that the only thing she remembered later was the feeling of deep shame.

And the worst hangover she’d ever had.

In the throes of some nightmare she kicked off the sheet and lay there in a long-sleeved T-shirt and baggy gym shorts, perspiration rising through her pores and moistening her clothes. Her breathing became normal and she final y grew stil , the slight lift of her chest and her pink flesh the only real evidence that she was stil alive.

She never heard the front bel , the accompanying knock, the pounding on the door, or the cal of her name. She never heard the front door open, or the footsteps traversing the smal living room, or the bedroom door swinging wide. She never felt the other person’s presence in the room, never felt anything when the intruder lifted the sheet off the floor and covered her with it.

The slight creak of the bedsprings as the visitor sat down didn’t arouse her either. The quiet cal of her name? Oblivious.

The gentle shake of her shoulder? No response.

However, the glass of water thrown in her face? Now that

got the lady’s attention.

She sat up sputtering, rubbing at her eyes and nose.

“What the—” she began angrily until her eyes focused on Shaw sitting there holding the empty glass and staring at her.

She let out one more gag as the rest of the water that had made its way into her windpipe went down hard. “How did you get in?”

“I rang the bel , pounded on the door, cal ed out your name. I did the same thing when I got in. You never let out a peep. I didn’t think anyone was here until, wel , I actual y saw you lying in this bed.”

She rubbed at her throbbing temples. “I . . . I’m a heavy sleeper.”

Shaw picked up an empty bottle of gin. “You’re a heavy something.” He hooked a second empty bottle and then a third and then a fourth.

“You mix gin, bourbon, and scotch?”

“When in Scotland, you know.”

“We’re in

France

,” he said, frowning.

She ran a hand through her tangles of blonde hair and yawned. “Oh, right, Paris,” she said absently. Then something seemed to strike right through the clouds of alcoholic stupor.

“Oh my God,

right

.” She hastily sat up straighter.

“Shaw, I am so sorry. For everything. For the stupid cel phone, for lying to you.” She paused. “And about Anna.”

Shaw took his time lining up the empty bottles on a bureau set against one wal .

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