Read Online The Perfect Liar by Brenda Novak - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Brenda Novak
Ads: Link
surprised. "No, you weren't."
Her sister's skepticism caused a flash of irritation, but Kalyna tried to shrug it off. She was free of the air force for a few days--and the fake weeping and tortured expressions she'd had to conjure up since June 6.
Why let this get her down? Who cared what Tati thought? "It's true."
Planning to leave it at that, she leaned back and relaxed, but when her sister didn't respond, she couldn't help adding, "He beat me up and everything."
Tati peered at her more closely. "You look okay to me."
"Because it's been a few weeks, stupid! I didn't come home right 63
away."
"That's why they let you out of the air force? Because you were raped?"
"They didn't 'let me out.' My master sergeant wouldn't grant leave and he should have, so I left."
Tati's voice finally showed concern, but not the kind Kalyna had been hoping to elicit. "That means you're AWOL!"
"So? They can't expect me to stick around after such a horrific ordeal." She hadn't given even Ogitani the chance to object to her departure. The prosecutor wanted Kalyna available at all times. But Kalyna had already spent hours and hours with her and, separately, with Ava, chronicling every detail of the supposed rape, and the constant pretending was growing tedious. She needed a break. She was afraid she might slip up under such intense questioning. Why not relax in Arizona?
"Who says they can't expect it?" Tatiana asked.
"I do! Besides, disappearing for a few days wil only prove I was suffering too much to stay."
"Once you sign on the dotted line, you belong to the air force, Kalyna.
They were very clear about that."
"The air force doesn't own you. I have more freedom there than I did here. At least I get to go out at night." She flipped her hair. "Anyway, I'm not worried. It's not a desertion unless I'm gone longer than thirty days."
"You'l stil get in trouble!"
"I'l get an Article 15 for being absent without leave." And, if possible, she'd figure a way out of that.
"What's an Article 15?" Tati said.
"In this case, most likely a forfeiture of pay, but it can be other things."
"Like what?"
"Like a reduction in my rank. But that's not going to happen. It's a few days. No big deal. And it's my first infraction." For being absent without leave. She also had an Article 15 for failing to obey an order to report in before departing work, but that was because her superior officer hated her and went after anything he could.
"Why risk it? Why not stay if you're supposed to stay?"
"Don't worry about it. I'l take care of it." She scowled. "What's your 64
problem, anyway?"
Tati blinked. "I don't know what you mean."
"You're acting like Mom and Dad. And you look like hell. Why'd you let yourself gain so much weight?"
Her sister winced. "I haven't gained that much."
"Yes, you have. You're frumpy. It's disgusting. And your hair!" Her twin's appearance was like gazing into a mirror and seeing the worst possible version of herself. She couldn't imagine Captain Trussell ever being attracted to a woman who looked like Tatiana.
But we're not the same. Kalyna tanned, weight trained and ran. She had her nails done every week. She was assertive and friendly, not shy and unassuming. And she no longer smelled like formaldehyde. Maybe she wasn't as attractive as she'd always dreamed of being; she had to deal with her own limitations. But very few men turned her down. She knew how to make the most of what she had. After weeks of fantasizing about him, she'd gotten Captain Trussell, hadn't she?
"Did they catch the guy who raped you?" Tatiana asked, changing the subject.
"They did. They're bringing him up on charges. We'l be going to court soon."
Suddenly acting self-conscious about her appearance, Tati tugged her skirt down so it covered more of her. "You're not afraid to testify?"
"Not in the least. I'm looking forward to it."
"What if he gets out and comes after you?"
Kalyna examined her recent manicure. "He won't."
"How can you be so
Her sister's skepticism caused a flash of irritation, but Kalyna tried to shrug it off. She was free of the air force for a few days--and the fake weeping and tortured expressions she'd had to conjure up since June 6.
Why let this get her down? Who cared what Tati thought? "It's true."
Planning to leave it at that, she leaned back and relaxed, but when her sister didn't respond, she couldn't help adding, "He beat me up and everything."
Tati peered at her more closely. "You look okay to me."
"Because it's been a few weeks, stupid! I didn't come home right 63
away."
"That's why they let you out of the air force? Because you were raped?"
"They didn't 'let me out.' My master sergeant wouldn't grant leave and he should have, so I left."
Tati's voice finally showed concern, but not the kind Kalyna had been hoping to elicit. "That means you're AWOL!"
"So? They can't expect me to stick around after such a horrific ordeal." She hadn't given even Ogitani the chance to object to her departure. The prosecutor wanted Kalyna available at all times. But Kalyna had already spent hours and hours with her and, separately, with Ava, chronicling every detail of the supposed rape, and the constant pretending was growing tedious. She needed a break. She was afraid she might slip up under such intense questioning. Why not relax in Arizona?
"Who says they can't expect it?" Tatiana asked.
"I do! Besides, disappearing for a few days wil only prove I was suffering too much to stay."
"Once you sign on the dotted line, you belong to the air force, Kalyna.
They were very clear about that."
"The air force doesn't own you. I have more freedom there than I did here. At least I get to go out at night." She flipped her hair. "Anyway, I'm not worried. It's not a desertion unless I'm gone longer than thirty days."
"You'l stil get in trouble!"
"I'l get an Article 15 for being absent without leave." And, if possible, she'd figure a way out of that.
"What's an Article 15?" Tati said.
"In this case, most likely a forfeiture of pay, but it can be other things."
"Like what?"
"Like a reduction in my rank. But that's not going to happen. It's a few days. No big deal. And it's my first infraction." For being absent without leave. She also had an Article 15 for failing to obey an order to report in before departing work, but that was because her superior officer hated her and went after anything he could.
"Why risk it? Why not stay if you're supposed to stay?"
"Don't worry about it. I'l take care of it." She scowled. "What's your 64
problem, anyway?"
Tati blinked. "I don't know what you mean."
"You're acting like Mom and Dad. And you look like hell. Why'd you let yourself gain so much weight?"
Her sister winced. "I haven't gained that much."
"Yes, you have. You're frumpy. It's disgusting. And your hair!" Her twin's appearance was like gazing into a mirror and seeing the worst possible version of herself. She couldn't imagine Captain Trussell ever being attracted to a woman who looked like Tatiana.
But we're not the same. Kalyna tanned, weight trained and ran. She had her nails done every week. She was assertive and friendly, not shy and unassuming. And she no longer smelled like formaldehyde. Maybe she wasn't as attractive as she'd always dreamed of being; she had to deal with her own limitations. But very few men turned her down. She knew how to make the most of what she had. After weeks of fantasizing about him, she'd gotten Captain Trussell, hadn't she?
"Did they catch the guy who raped you?" Tatiana asked, changing the subject.
"They did. They're bringing him up on charges. We'l be going to court soon."
Suddenly acting self-conscious about her appearance, Tati tugged her skirt down so it covered more of her. "You're not afraid to testify?"
"Not in the least. I'm looking forward to it."
"What if he gets out and comes after you?"
Kalyna examined her recent manicure. "He won't."
"How can you be so
Similar Books
