Ep19

LIES OF HOPE   Ep20

Jason felt his skin crawl, looking at this horrid creature with stringy blond hair and Jessie’s hazel eyes.“So, if you wanted to hang on to Welling, why did you do it? Why the faked death? Why come back and kill so many people?”Gloria gave an inelegant grunt. “Adam was going down hard and I wasn’t going to go down with him. Who was going to associate with the wife of someone like him? I had to reinvent myself. I got a new face, a new name, courtesy of a few Swiss bank accounts he knew nothing about.Voila! A whole new me.”“But you didn’t change everything, did you?” Jason asked, his eyes raking over her golden pantsuit. Your signature color suits you. Bet you didn’t know you left a little of it behind with the governor’s body.”“The ME declared you legally dead,” I said. “He had proof that you died in that fire.”

LIES OF HOPE   Ep21

My head was pounding as I swam through the soup of sleep and dreams and into consciousness. The night had been long, and I had spent most of it either crying or shouting into my pillow. God, how I wanted this nightmare to be over! I forced myself to struggle to a sitting position, and it was only then that I realized my head wasn’t the only thing that was pounding. Someone was knocking on my door. Crap! I really wanted to wallow in self-pity right now. I didn’t have the time or the inclination to deal with whoever was out there.I flopped back down onto my bed and burrowed under the covers. The knocking stopped, thank heaven, but then my phone started buzzing. Damn, but someone was persistent! I groped on my side table, swearing as I knocked both the cell and the lamp onto the floor. I scrambled out of bed and snatched up the phone, hitting the answer button without bothering to check to see who was calling.“What?” I barked

LIES OF HOPE   Epilogue

One year later . . .“I look ridiculous,” I said as I stared at my reflection in the full-length mirror. “Why did I let you talk me into this?”“Hush up!” Gail commanded as she fussed with the silky white fabric that flowed like a waterfall over my hips and down my legs in a shimmering cascade. “I didn’t talk you into anything. You look beautiful, and you know it.”I did look beautiful, thanks to my trio of fairy godmothers – Gail, Agnes, and Tess – who had devoted the entire morning to my hair and make-up. I stared at my reflection; I didn’t look anything like myself. My normally stick-straight hair fell about my shoulders in glorious, shiny ringlets, and framed a face that belonged to me, but boasted eyes that appeared huge, luminescent, and more gold than brown. My cheeks were faintly pink, as were my lips.The dress was magnificent. Beautiful c

LIES OF HOPE   CHAPTER1

Lisa stared up the long drive, speechless. She could just make out the outline of a massive building, which was mostly hidden from view by the massive trees that lined the gravel road.Is this all there is to it? She was certain she had the correct address, but she was now seriously doubting herself. She double-checked her phone and couldn't find any errors, but this couldn't be right. How is that possible?Part of her wanted to turn around and go to a coffee shop or somewhere and figure it out from there, but she knew that was her cowardly side. The running part, the part she'd let rule her life for the most part, and where had it gotten her? There is nowhere but misery.But not any longer.

LIES OF HOPE   CHAPTER2

"Traditionally, this wing is reserved for the Lady of the House." I've done my best, but if you notice anything wrong or want to change anything, please let me know." As she pushed open the heavy carved walnut doors, Mary said.Inside, there was an opulently furnished room with two large antique sofas across from each other in the center of the room. A large fireplace dominated the main wall, and large lead-lined windows across from it provided an uninterrupted view of the lawn and forest beyond."I'll bring you some refreshments, and then if you pull this handle when you're ready..." She motioned to what appeared to be a curtain tie suspended from the ceiling. "I'll return to show you around the rest of the house.""I appreciate it." Lisa

LIES OF HOPE   chapter3

“Wellies?”"It's all a bit marshy down there, and the drainage really needs to be worked on." I'll get you a pair of boots from the boot room. Avoid getting your feet wet.""Thank you very much. Is there anything I should stay away from?""Perhaps the woods near the East Wing." It's said to be haunted. Not that I believe such things, but it is quite creepy; even john avoids it."Lisa nodded and made a mental note of it. Put on your wellies. Avoid going into the woods. This was turning out to be far more of an adventure than she had anticipated.***

LIES OF HOPE   chapter4

"Be careful, Sam, she could be a witch." The lanky one grumbled to the other man who was holding her. "You believe that everyone is a witch. Take a look at her. She isn't a witch." "She could be." He insisted on sniffing her as if he could detect a scent. "Take a look at her hair. "Have you ever seen hair like that before?" "Just shackle her." The leader spoke up. "Blindfold her as well..." The Lanky one spoke up. "You're insane. Lisa yelled at them, wondering who the hell they were and why they wanted her in the first place. "Please let me go." "OK,

LIES OF HOPE   Chapter5