Lonely Hearts (Jessica Shaw) by Lisa Gray

Author:Lisa Gray [Gray, Lisa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Published: 2021-11-08T16:00:00+00:00

18

VERONICA—2002

Veronica felt like her life was in ruins.

She’d had to quit her job, move out of her apartment, even change her name. Her life had become fodder for the tabloid press. Even worse, the whole city seemed to be obsessed with her little girl, after the photograph of herself and Mia with Travis had appeared in the newspaper.

The daughter of a serial killer, who, himself, was the son of a murderer.

What was the name of the Valley Strangler’s secret daughter? Had she inherited her daddy’s evil genes as well as his blue eyes? How had Travis Dean Ford been able to father a child on Death Row? What kind of woman had a baby with a serial killer?

All those questions and more were being asked and debated every single day. In the newspapers and the trashy magazines. On daytime talk shows.

Yet, sitting across from her now, Travis was the one who was pissed—and all because Veronica had changed her appearance.

“You look different,” he said. “You’ve changed your hair.”

Before, Veronica’s long, center-parted hair had almost reached her elbows. Now it fell just below her chin. She’d also had thick bangs cut above eyes that were brown instead of pale blue thanks to colored contact lenses. She’d considered going brunette or blonde but had stopped short of buying a hair-dye kit.

She nodded. “I had to after the photo appeared in the newspaper. People were recognizing me in the street.”

“I don’t like it.”

“And I don’t like reporters showing up at my home and my workplace,” she snapped, then immediately regretted her tone. He was angry enough with her.

Travis frowned. “Have you put on weight?”

“A few pounds.”

It was closer to ten pounds. The weight gain had been deliberate too.

“I don’t like fat women.”

Veronica ignored the comment. “I’ve had to move to a new apartment. Quit my job. Even change my name.”

“You moved apartment?” Travis’s bright blue eyes bored into her. “When did this happen?”

Veronica swallowed hard. The palms of her hands were damp. “Around a month ago. Soon after the newspaper article was published.”

“You didn’t tell me you’d moved.”

“I’m telling you now.”

“What if I’d tried to write you?”

“I guess the letters would have been returned here. It’s not a big deal.”

“Not a big deal? Do you realize how stupid that would have made me look? Not knowing where my girlfriend—and my own daughter—are living?”

Travis’s voice was low but his hands were clenched, as though he wanted to punch her. But he wouldn’t. He was too smart for that. He didn’t shout when he got mad, didn’t bang his fists on the table, or lash out. Instead, quiet fury oozed out of him like pus from a sore.

Veronica knew she was safe here in the visitation room, surrounded by other prisoners’ family members and watchful guards. Travis had managed to convince the prison authorities a long time ago that a thick, plastic partition between himself and his visitors was no longer necessary. He was the model Death Row prisoner. Charming, humorous, intelligent, obliging.

Travis wouldn’t hurt her—no matter how badly he wanted to.

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