Read Online Lie for Me by Romily Bernard - Free Book Online

Queen?”
    â€œI know you better keep that system I built you away from him. I am not cleaning up the mess he’ll make of it. You’ll be down for weeks, and that’s if you get it up again.”
    The path forks and I go left. “How do you know Red Queen’s a he?”
    â€œI don’t, but really, how many girls you know who can do that sort of work?”
    â€œNone.” Maybe . The path widens and the trees thin, revealing the massive houses—all yellow-lit—behind them.
    â€œWhat if that’s your fault?” I ask, studying an empty living room as I go by. There’s an enormous portrait of the family hung on the closest wall and everyone’s smiling. It tugs something inside me and I turn away. “Maybe if you hung around girls who loved something more than their clothes—”
    â€œI do hang around girls who love something more than their clothes. They love me . There’s a big difference, and I still don’t think Red Queen is a girl.”
    â€œEven with that name?”
    â€œSo the dude has mommy issues. Whatever.”
    Still walking, I turn around, checking behind me. The path is empty, but the hairs on my neck are prickling.
    â€œYou ever seen his work up close?” I ask.
    Milo pauses, and when he finally speaks, his tone’s turned guarded. “I’ve been following along for a couple years now. I’m kind of a fan.”
    â€œDoes he do a signature or something?” I already know the answer, but I’m hoping I’m wrong.
    Milo yawns. “Not usually. When he does leave one, it’s just that symbol—the skull with the red background.”
    And crooked crown . If Wick’s Red Queen, she’s more than just a sometimes bitchy, multicolored-haired high school girl. She’s dangerous, and Carson could very well be right about Wick being instrumental in her father’s crimes. She’s smart, lethal, and embarrassingly better with computers than I am.
    That should not be sexy as hell.
    Milo sighs. “I probably don’t want to know, but why’re you asking?”
    â€œYou’re right. You don’t want to know.” This time, I completely stop and turn around. Light from the houses illuminates patches of grass and pavement, but there are still heavy pockets of shadows. “I gotta go, Mi.”
    â€œSee ya.” He disconnects and I pocket the phone, still scanning the dark. Nothing’s there. I’m alone.
    So why doesn’t it feel like it?
    A buzz. My phone again. I check the screen. It’s a text message from my uncle.
    Â 
    Meet the Man tomorrow. 4:30. Don’t b late.
    Â 
    I take another long look at the path behind me. Don’t worry, Paul, I have no intentions of letting that opportunity pass .

9
    Joe Bender lives in one of our neighborhood’s few houses, a leftover from when the developer thought Twin Creeks was going to be more than trailer rentals and clay orange lawns. There are always four to five cars parked in the front, but I’ve only ever seen Joe drive the faded-red Accord. It’s probably the only one that runs.
    I weave around the cars, watching how the stained curtain in the front window briefly flutters. I’ve been spotted. I hop up the porch stairs and ring the doorbell. No sound. Typical. I knock twice and wait.
    There’s a shuffling on the other side before two dead bolts turn. I have just enough time to wonder who would be stupid enough to break into Bender’s house before the door cracks open, accommodating Joe’s considerable gut, but no more. He looks at me. I look at him.
    â€œGirl Scout Cookie time already?” Joe asks finally.
    â€œNah, Jenny Craig subscriptions.” I dip my eyes to the guy’s stomach. His belly button is pushing through his T-shirt. “Thought you could use it.”
    â€œBoy.” Joe opens the door and lumbers onto the porch. He’s a big dude, no doubt. The