I SEE YOU an unputdownable psychological thriller with a breathtaking twist by PATRICIA MACDONALD (bookstand for reading txt) 📗

‘That’s why I didn’t tell you,’ Lisa said drily. ‘I was worried what you might do to him. Not that he didn’t deserve it.’

‘Don’t say that. Even as a joke,’ said Hannah.

The guards from the county jail came over to the defense table. It was time for Lisa to go. She gave her parents a smile and a thumbs up as she was led away. Hannah blew her a kiss. Then Hannah, Jackie and Adam headed for the exit.

‘I can’t wait till this nightmare is over and we can take her home,’ said Hannah.

‘I don’t think it will be long now,’ said Adam.

As they walked through the busy foyer, they were accosted by Troy Petty’s sister.

‘Your daughter is a liar,’ Nadine Melton said. There were tears standing in her eyes. ‘She’s trying to destroy my brother’s good name to save herself.’

Adam’s normally calm temperament suddenly flared. ‘Listen, lady, your brother was a pervert. You heard that witness in court today.’

‘It’s not true,’ said Nadine, tears streaking down her face.

‘Did you know about that incident at the camp?’ Adam demanded.

‘I knew about the kid’s accusation but it turned out to be false. She made it up so that she could go home from that camp . . .’

‘Tell yourself that,’ Adam said bitterly.

Hannah took his arm. ‘Honey, don’t. Don’t get into this. We need to leave our fight in the courtroom. Please, Mrs Melton. We have no quarrel with you. I’m sure you didn’t know about Troy. I always liked your brother. I would never have guessed this either.’

‘Because it isn’t true. He was kind and good. He would never hurt a child.’

‘Excuse me,’ Adam cried. ‘But you say you did know about the camp incident?’

‘Troy was never charged. And never arrested!’ Nadine exclaimed. ‘Never.’

‘The fact that there were no charges doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. It just means that they couldn’t prove it.’

‘Adam, come on,’ Hannah pleaded. ‘Let’s not make this any worse.’

‘How could it be any worse?’ Nadine cried. ‘Troy is dead and now your lying, scheming daughter has destroyed his reputation forever. She’d say anything to save herself. Every word out of her mouth is a lie.’

‘You know, I have put up with about enough . . .’ said Adam.

A reporter who was standing with a knot of other journalists spotted them arguing and began to move in their direction, followed by his colleagues.

‘We need to leave,’ said Hannah. ‘Come on.’ She reached for Adam’s arm but he resisted, wanting to pursue the argument with Nadine. Jackie, who had hung back to this point, listening, now helped Hannah to corral her husband and lead him through the busy foyer and to the sidewalk. ‘Don’t rise to it,’ Hannah insisted. ‘She just can’t deal with the truth.’

The afternoon was steamy, and sweat trickled down them as they rushed down the steps and moved rapidly out of reach of the reporters. At their cars, Hannah turned to the psychologist. ‘Thank you for coming today,’ she said. ‘It really helped to have you there.’

‘I was glad to be there.’

Adam thanked her too and got into the driver’s seat of their car. Hannah went to open the passenger door. Jackie was still standing by her own car, turning her keys over thoughtfully.

‘What is it?’ Hannah asked.

‘I’m just wondering something,’ said Jackie.

Hannah looked at her curiously.

‘You just have to wonder. Maybe Sydney said something.’

Hannah frowned. ‘What do you mean?’

‘Well,’ said Jackie, ‘if Troy was a pedophile, he may have already assaulted Sydney — maybe more than once — before Lisa found out about his . . . tastes. Although I can’t imagine that he spent much time alone with Sydney.’

Hannah’s face flamed, as she instantly remembered Tiffany saying that Troy would occasionally pick up Sydney at Lisa’s behest. That he took Sydney fishing while Lisa studied. ‘Oh my God,’ she said.

Jackie frowned at her. ‘Did he?’

Hannah slumped against the side of the car. The hot metal of the fender seemed to burn through her silky skirt, and her sweat began to streak down her face. ‘How do we find out?’ she asked.

‘You mean, if he assaulted her?’

Hannah nodded, and stared at her friend, her eyes wide with alarm.

Jackie sighed. ‘I could talk to her. I have some experience with this stuff.’

‘Would you?’ Hannah asked. ‘Oh, I can’t believe this. I didn’t even think about that . . .’

‘Informally,’ said Jackie. ‘I could come over.’

‘Tonight?’ Hannah exclaimed.

‘I’ll call you.’

They clasped hands for a moment. ‘Try not to worry,’ said Jackie. Then she turned and got into her car. Hannah opened the passenger door and slipped into the car beside Adam.

All Hannah could think of as she buckled herself into the seat was Lisa giving them a thumbs up as she left the courtroom. Had it never occurred to her to wonder? When she realized what a twisted mind Troy had, why didn’t she call the police? Why, instead, was she focused on going out to his house to get the money he owed her? That should have been the last thing on her mind.

‘Hannah?’ Adam asked.

She looked over at him. ‘Jackie just brought up something terrible. Something we have to think about.’

Adam faced out over the steering wheel, shaking his head. ‘I don’t even want to ask,’ he said. Then he turned to her, steeling himself. ‘OK,’ he said. ‘Tell me.’

FIFTEEN

Cars were coming and going from the Dollards’ house next door, and Hannah wondered absently how long Chet would be in the hospital. She watched the activity in the driveway from the same chair she had been sitting in since they walked into the house. She had done nothing about dinner. Once they had collected Sydney and come home, Hannah had cradled her on her lap, unwilling to let her go. The toddler was