Page 98 of Everyone’s a Liar

Ignoring the layer of slime coating her from head to toe, Livia pushed her way through the thickening vegetation, barely daring to breathe.

Who was out there shooting? Someone from her family? That seemed the most obvious conclusion. Who else had such easy access to the swamp? No. She would be a fool to leap to conclusions, she silently warned herself. It was most likely a family member who tossed Stella’s belongings into the swamp, but she’d just come from New Orleans. They could have been followed by whoever had killed Larry Sutton.

Trembling with exhaustion and on the edge of panic, Livia at last reached the road behind the Willows.

Crouching in the weeds, she debated her options.

She could run back to the SUV, but she was fairly certain that Bryce had locked it before they’d headed into the swamp. Which meant she’d have to smash the window to get to her phone. Something that was bound to attract the attention of the shooter. Plus, it would add extra time to calling for help.

Or she could sneak into the Willows and contact the sheriff.

She didn’t trust her family. Not a single one of them. And if they caught her, she didn’t know what would happen. But it was a risk she was willing to take.

Keeping the vivid memory of hearing Bryce hit the ground with a pained gasp in the forefront of her mind, Livia squashed the terror thundering through her and grimly straightened. Her friend was hurt. Maybe even dying. The quicker she got help, the better.

Her knees felt weak, but she managed to jog across the narrow path, picking up speed as she pushed open the back gate and headed toward the pool house. She paused long enough to check for movement, her gaze scanning the back terrace before she was once again moving forward.

The house was bathed in darkness, but Livia remained cautious as she closed the gap to climb the shallow steps. Once on the terrace, she pressed herself close to the house and slid her way to the French doors that opened to her uncle’s office. It was one of the few rooms that had a landline she could use to call the sheriff.

Her heart was beating so loud she wouldn’t be able to hear an elephant stomping around the room, but she still pressed her ear against the glass panes.

When she was convinced that there was no one inside, she reached for the handle and shoved against the door. It swung open with surprising ease, something that should have worried her. Unfortunately, she was too focused on getting to the desk to think clearly.

A mistake she instantly regretted as she stepped into the room and the overhead light was abruptly switched on. Livia froze like a deer in the headlights. Narrowing her eyes against the unexpected brightness, she could see the vague outline of a form as it stepped into the office from the library.

Locked in place, Livia released a primal cry of sheer terror.

“Livia?” A familiar female voice cut through her screams. “What are you doing?”

Livia blinked, her eyes at last adjusting enough to make out the older woman’s mussed brown hair and gaunt form covered by a silk robe that fell to her feet.

“Helene?” Livia released a shaky breath, the surge of adrenaline draining to leave her feeling even more weak than before. “Oh, thank God it’s you.”

The older woman moved to the center of the office, her gaze sweeping over Livia, who was caked in mud and visibly trembling.

“What on earth happened?”

Livia turned to shut the French doors behind her, struggling to speak. “In the swamp.”

“What about the swamp?”

“Someone was shooting at us.”

“Shooting? Are you injured?”

Livia turned back, surprised to find Helene standing directly in front of her. “Not me. Bryce.”

Helene looked confused. “Who?”

“Bryce Swift. She’s a local deputy.”

“She was with you in the swamp?” The older woman looked more annoyed than concerned.

“Yes.”

Helene heaved a sigh. “Unfortunate.”

“It’s more than unfortunate,” Livia snapped, stepping around the older woman. “I have to call the sheriff.”