She glances at him. “What?”
“That he shot Mike.”
“He didn’t,” she says, steady, now staring at Kyle. “I did.”
“You don’t have to lie, Iris.”
“Grant had the steak knife and wounded Mike. So I took the gun and shot Mike. That’s what happened. Grant and I agree. I feel like you always talking about it is just unnecessary.”
“It’s not Anya all over again. We don’t have to lie.”
She won’t look at him, and then she does, straight-on, staring. “Grant believes Danielle killed his birth mother. Let him believe that. Please.”
Kyle starts to speak and then stops. What is there to say? Nothing.
Grant makes a leaping catch, and Iris sets down her coffee to clap, to yell encouragement, to give her children all the love and attention they need. Her face is flushed with happiness.
She has kept one secret this long. She can keep another.
Never ask her how long she can keep a secret.
Heartfelt thanks to Wes Miller, Lucy Dauman, Peter Ginsberg, Ed Wood, Lindsey Rose, Callum Kenny, Ben Sevier, Karen Kozstolnyik, David Shelley, Beth de Guzman, Matthew Ballast, Holly Frederick, Jordan Rubenstein, Andy Dodds, Millie Seaward, Jeff Holt, Carmel Shaka, Joe Benincase, Morgan Swift, Nidhi Pugalia, Jonathan Lyons, Sarah Perillo, Madeline Tavis, Shirley Stewart, Eliane Benisti, Lieutenant Robert Mills, Juraj Slavik, Nick Slavik, Chip Evans, Sam Richardson, Will Graham, Richard Shaw, Toni McGee Causey, Meg Gardiner, and J. T. Ellison.
Special thanks to Vince and Chele Robinette and Bo and Colleen Brewer, for sharing their adoption experiences with me.
As always, my greatest thanks to Leslie, Charles, and William for their love and support.
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About the Author
@ Leslie Abbott
Jeff Abbott is the New York Times bestselling author of eighteen novels. He is the winner of an International Thriller Writers Award (for the Sam Capra thriller The Last Minute) and is a three-time nominee for the Edgar Award. He lives in Austin with his family. You can visit his website at www.JeffAbbott.com.
ALSO BY JEFF ABBOTT
Adrenaline
The Last Minute
Downfall
Inside Man
The First Order
Whit Mosley Series
A Kiss Gone Bad
Black Jack Point
Cut and Run
Standalones
Fear
Collision
Trust Me
Blame
The Three Beths