Page 32 of Master of Lies

It made me feel…hot. Again.

I’m not sure what that said about me, but screw it. I had stuff to do. I could worry about the sorry state of my psychological health later.

I took care of my business in the bathroom, then pulled on my clothes, wishing I had warmer, better ones. My BBBag with my toothbrush was in the other room, so I tried to brush my teeth with a glob of toothpaste and my finger. I had bedhead from hell, so I tried to calm it down with water and a grimy comb from the bathroom cabinet. No success. The hair just had its own unfathomable agenda.

When I crept out of the bathroom, it looked as if Jed had fallen asleep again. Yay, my golden opportunity. I tiptoed to my boots, and silently shoved my feet into them. Wishing I had underwear under my kinky schoolgirl skirt, but my skimpy thong was nowhere to be seen, and hell, it barely qualified as underwear in the best of times.

I didn’t bother buckling my ankle boots. As insubstantial as they were, I might just as well be barefoot. I grabbed my coat, but didn’t put it on yet, since the shiny, quilted nylon was too noisy. It puffed and chuffed with every movement I made.

I crept into the mudroom out front, and very gently opened the many locks and bolts on the door. Tiptoed out, closing it softly as I could. So far, so good.

Whoa, that ice-cold breeze on my bare nether bits under that scanty skirt was quite the sensation. And my shoes were a freaking nightmare for this deep snow. I swiftly pulled on the coat, shivering. I had to make this quick, or else lose some toes.

The storm had stopped, and everything was smooth, white, hushed. The old cabin was battered but sound-looking, perched not far from the edge of a deep, narrow canyon. The snow was still dry, and the wind had been blowing all night, so it had blown most of the snow off a rocky spine of the hillside near the cliff’s edge.

It was a very beautiful place. Too bad I didn’t have the time or bandwidth to enjoy it. I made my way as quickly as I could, putting my feet only where the snow wasn’t, trying not to let the heels catch on the rocks and the roots, making for the nearest trees that could offer me a little cover as I fumbled at the hem, pulling my phone out and snapping in the battery. My fingers were already numb, making it difficult.

I kept the phone carefully on the side of me that couldn’t be seen from the house.

If Jed looked through this phone, the jig would be up. I probably shouldn’t have brought it at all, and just committed to being Sandee for the interim. That would have been the smartest thing. But who would’ve dreamed Jed would break out of prison on the very day I visited? And right after I’d just offered him the moon and stars, sexually speaking. Which I pretty much delivered last night.

It was silly, I knew it, but I just couldn’t let Holly’s birthday go by without calling her. I was such a sap. I crouched, leaning against a big rock that gave me some cover, both visually from the house and from the wind that swept through the canyon.

I pulled up Holly’s number and called. She picked right up. “Auntie Frey?”

“Happy ninth birthday, baby,” I said softly. “I can’t believe you’re so big!”

“I knew you’d call!” Holly crowed. “So where are you? Are you coming home? I hear the wind! Are you in a car with the window open? Are you on your way home?”

I couldn’t help smiling. That’s my girl. Only nine, but just too damn smart for her own good, and curious as hell. “I wish I was,” I told her. “But I’m still pretty far away. Too far to make it back today. I just wanted to wish you a totally fabulous day. I have some birthday presents for you, but they’ll have to wait until I get home.”

Holly was silent for a moment. “Are you out looking for my dad?”

“Always, sweetie,” I said. “Every day of my life.”

Holly harrumphed. “Well, you be careful.” Her voice took on a lecturing tone. “Uncle Ethan is, too. He told me before he left. But he’s mad that you’re not here now. And he was really,reallymad that your phone was off all the times he tried to call.”

I held back the snort of laughter with some effort. Hell, when was Ethan not mad at me? “Don’t worry about it,” I assured her. “It’s cool. I can handle Uncle Ethan.”

“He said he’d be home tonight to have some cake with me,” Holly said pointedly. “So you should really call us then.”

“I’m not sure if I’ll be able to call tonight, sweetheart. I will try, I swear. Have a wonderful birthday, honey.”

“Sandee?” Jed’s furious voice, from the house. “Where thefuckare you?”

“Gotta go,” I said, in a hushed voice. “Later, babe.”

“Why are you whispering?” Holly’s voice sharpened. “I hear somebody yelling. Who’s that yelling? Are they yelling at you?”

“Tell you when I see you. Love you.” I pried the phone open. Shoved the phone and battery into my hidden hem pocket, zipping it up with clumsy, trembling fingers.

I stumbled out came out from behind the rocks, waving my arms. “Hi!” I waved at him. “Over here!”

“What in the holy fuck are you doing out here?” He looked terrifyingly angry.

I put on an innocently bewildered expression. “Um…nothing much? I just wanted a little air. And, you know, to look at the view.”

“The view? Yesterday a pack of fucking assassins tried to put a bag over your head! And today you waltz out into the open to make snow angels? The fuck, Sandee?”

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