The Lies She Told: A psychological suspense thriller by N.L. Hinkens

Author:N.L. Hinkens [Hinkens, N.L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781947890145
Publisher: Dunecadia Publishing
Published: 2019-11-11T16:00:00+00:00

18

Natalie and Haley exited the martial arts studio, somewhat shaken by Haruki’s warning.

“He’s right, you know,” Natalie said. “This isn’t going to stop your stalker.”

“Maybe not, but it can’t do any harm to learn a few techniques to defend myself. Every woman should take a class like this.”

”I hope I don’t make a total fool of myself,” Natalie confided.

”You’ll do fine. Knowing me, I’ll be the dork,” Haley reassured her.

”What will Jake think?”

”I'm not going to tell him. Not yet at least. He already thinks I'm paranoid and taking all this too far.” Haley gave a rueful shrug. “I’ll say I’m taking a fitness class with you. It’s close enough to the truth.”

Natalie nodded thoughtfully. ”That might be for the best. I hate to even go there, but if Detective Tillet’s right and it turns out Jake is behind what’s been happening to you, then he has no business knowing that you’ve been learning how to defend yourself.”

”I'm not taking self-defense classes to protect myself from my husband,” Haley retorted. ”He wasn’t the one prowling around in our house the other night.” She twisted her lips. ”Besides, if he ever laid a hand on me, Katniss would take him down in a heartbeat.” She glanced at her phone to check the time. ”Speaking of which, I need to pick her up. I'll catch you tomorrow.”

When Haley pulled up at the vet’s office a few minutes later, Katniss was overjoyed to see her, and she had a hard time discouraging her from jumping up and bursting her stitches.

”She needs to lay low for a week or two,” the veterinarian assistant explained. ”No chasing madly after balls around the garden or anything of that nature.”

”What about food?” Haley asked. ”Can she eat normally?”

”Yes, she’s doing much better today. She's been eating well so no restrictions on that front.”

After settling the bill, Haley helped Katniss into the back seat of her 4Runner and chatted to her on the way home. Katniss pricked up her ears every so often when they passed a truck, but for the most part, she was content to lay her head on her paws and listen to Haley ramble.

At seven forty-five, she pulled into the driveway and parked behind Jake's car. She helped Katniss out, and then walked her around to the backyard to let her sniff about and take care of business, before unlocking the back door and stepping into the kitchen. The house was bathed in darkness. She set down her purse and frowned. Maybe Jake had gone out for a drink with a friend. After all, she’d told him she was would be home late. ”Jake! Are you here, babe?”

At her side, Katniss emitted a low growl at the back of her throat. Haley threw her an alarmed look. Her heart began to pound with fear. Was there someone in the house again? ”What is it, Katniss?” she whispered. She glanced across at the door leading out of the kitchen into the shadowy hallway. Where was Jake?

Suddenly, all her doubts about him came rushing back.

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