Page 48 of Lie for a Million

Was Lila going to say no? Crystal began to babble. “It wasn’t like I wasted it. I bought a car—not new but safe and reliable, and I had to get it licensed. I bought maternity clothes and some things for the baby.” That last wasn’t quite true. The clothes weren’t maternity, and the baby could wait. “Then I rented an apartment—it’s a dump, but it was all I could afford on what I had left. That’s it. If you don’t believe me, I can show you the receipts. I still have my job, but it doesn’t pay much, and I won’t get a check for another two weeks.”

Lila sighed. “All right. If you’ll give me your bank account number, I’ll transfer ten thousand.”

Not fifteen?Crystal felt a pang of disappointment, but she knew better than to ask for more.

“Thank you,” she said. “I really appreciate it.”

“Make it last this time,” Lila said. “The money should be in your account by tomorrow. I’ll let you know about the adoption when I make up my mind. And don’t call me. I’ll call you. Any questions?” There was a brief silence on both ends of the call before it ended.

Crystal began to breath normally again. At least Lila wasn’t cutting her loose. But $10,000 was a lot less than the easy million she’d dreamed of getting.

She checked the time on her phone. In less than an hour her shift at work would be starting. She felt sluggish and slightly crampy. All she wanted to do was curl up in bed and sleep. She hadn’t realized how tired pregnancy would make her. But calling in sick, which she’d already done too many times, could get her fired. Until she could be sure of a big cash payment from Lila, she needed that job.

With effort, she pushed off the sofa and stood. She just had time to wash her face, do her hair and makeup, and put on the tight jeans, black tee, and boots she wore to work. Thank goodness she wasn’t really showing yet. But that was due to change. She would get as big as a cow before the baby came.

She was already counting the months—six of them. Then, if all went as planned, she would be free, with enough money to buy the life of her dreams.

She was walking toward the bathroom when a sharp pain, like the stab of a knife, struck low in her body. As she doubled over, her pulse going crazy, something warm and wet began trickling down her legs. “No!” Her mouth formed the word.No! No! No! This couldn’t be happening!

When she raised the hem of her robe, Crystal saw the blood dripping onto the linoleum raining crimson drops that pooled around her bare feet. She knew what it was, but she was powerless to stop it.

A scream of pain, frustration, and rage ripped from her throat. She was losing Frank’s baby.

CHAPTERTWELVE

The next morning, when Crystal went online to check her bank account, the $10,000 payment was there.

She took deep breaths as the panic eased. Last night, after the bleeding and the worst of the pain had stopped, she’d cleaned up the mess and curled into a blanket on the sofa, shaking and whimpering until dawn. Frank’s baby had been her one chance at a new life. Now it was gone.

But the sight of those numbers in her account had boosted her hopes. It wasn’t too late to carry out her plan. All she had to do was convince Lila Culhane that she was still pregnant.

That wouldn’t be easy. First she’d have to account for the changes in her appearance—not just in front of Lila but everywhere, the whole time. No one could be allowed to see her without the padding she’d have to wear. And the disguise would have to be perfect. Maybe there were fake pregnancy kits she could order online, inflatable or made in progressive sizes. Now, while she wasn’t yet showing, she could do some research.

But there would be other challenges. She would have to fake doctor visits. And when the time came, Lila would probably demand to see a sonogram. Surely it would be easy enough to borrow or buy copies of someone else’s.

In time, one of two things would happen. Either her fake pregnancy would become suspect, or she’d be expected to give birth and produce an actual baby. One way or the other, that would be the time to flee—take her money and disappear without a trace. For that, she’d have to be ready on a moment’s notice—plans made, cash on hand, and a bag packed to go.

Could she do it? She had to try. Otherwise she’d be forced to choose between leaving now with the $10,000 or confessing to the miscarriage while returning the money. Faced with those choices, how could she pass up the chance to be rich beyond her dreams?

* * *

Sam sat on the porch of the bungalow, drinking his morning coffee. From the direction of the game ranch, he could hear the whine of heavy power tools. Even from a distance the sound, which had started at first light, was loud enough to be irritating. It didn’t help to imagine that the work had something to do with Charlie’s plans for that poor, miserable elephant.

Staging a hunt for such a creature would involve a high degree of danger. Maddened by fear and rage, perhaps wounded as well, the huge animal could crash through the present fences and rampage across the countryside, destroying property, killing stock, and even taking human lives. A businessman like Charlie Grishman would want to keep that risk to a minimum. He would need to reinforce walls and fences, perhaps build an area of containment for the hunt.

Damn Charlie! The bastard deserved the same fate as his wretched animals. Nobody would miss him, except maybe a few bloodthirsty idiots who’d pay to act out their big game hunter fantasies and post the kills on Instagram.

Believing that Charlie had killed Frank was a stretch. There were higher names on Sam’s mental list. But nothing would give him more satisfaction than cuffing the odious little man and putting him behind bars for life.

From where he sat, Sam could see Lila seated on the patio, sipping her coffee as she gazed across the pastures. She didn’t look as if she wanted company, but he had some forthright questions to ask her. She might not like him for it, but this wasn’t a popularity contest. It was his job. And with Nick needing him back in Abilene, he didn’t have the luxury of waiting. It was time to kick this investigation into high gear.

Leaving his coffee mug on the porch, he crossed the distance to the house and entered the patio by the outside gate. Lila glanced up as he approached. She wasn’t smiling.

“May I join you?” Without waiting for a reply, Sam pulled up a chair.

“It appears you already have,” she said. “But as long as you’re here, what can I do for you?”

“I just need answers to a few questions. Forgive me for intruding on your privacy, but I’m as anxious to wrap this case up as you must be to get rid of me.”

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