The Mute and the Liar (20 page)

I
quickly
dial
the
number
to
my
home
phone.
I
clear
my
throat,
not
knowing
how
I
am
going
to
start
talking.
I
haven’t
spoken
in
so
long.
I’m
not
sure
I
even
remember
how
it
works.
I
suppose
I’ll
just
have
to
close
my
eyes
and hope for
the
best.

It
rings
three
times,
but
when
it
is
picked
up,
I
do
not
hear
the
familiar
sound
of
my
father’s
voice.
Instead,
to
my
horror,
I
hear
the
slow,
drawling
voice of
a
young girl.

“
Hello,
you
have
reached
the
Lewis
residence.
This
is
Kaylie
Merrick
speaking,
”
she
pauses
for
a
moment,
and
then
continues
speaking
as
slowly
as
possible.
She
has
quite
a
low-pitched
voice,
and
when
she
elongates
every
letter
like
this,
it
sounds
like
she
is
moving
in
slow
motion.
“
Unfortunately,
Detective
Chief
Inspector
Lewis
is
currently
unavailable
right
now.
Would
this
be
Nicholas
Monroe by
any
chance?
”

Having heard this, he
quickly
snatches
the
phone
from
my hand.
“
Kaylie?
”
he yells, drawing attention
to
us.
“
What
the
hell
are you
doing?
”
Kaylie.
That
name
sounds
familiar.
Oh
yeah,
she
was
the
girl
Jayce
and
Nick
were
discussing
in
the
car
earlier.
But
she’s
in
my
home.
One
of
Jayce’s
friends
is
in my
home!

“
Yay,
it
is
you,
Nicky!
Check
that
out:
I
was
actually
right!
Jayce
told
me
you
would
be
ringing
sometime
soon,
but
I
didn’t
realise
it
would
be
this
soon!
I
mean
like,
seriously,
we’ve
only just
walked
through
the front
door!
”

“
Kaylie?
What
is
going
on?
Where is
Alicia’s
father?
”

“
I
already
told
you;
he’s
unavailable.
He’s
a
very
busy
man
you
know.
”
She
pauses
and
lowers
her
voice,
so
I
have
to
lean
right
in
to
hear
her.
“
And
right
now,
his
hands
are
tied.
”

That sentence
echoes
around
me.
Something
has
happened
to Father. This
just
gets
even
worse!

And
isn’t this
the
girl
Nick
called
'l
ovely?
'

“
Whatever
is
going
on,
you
have
to
stop
it
right
now.
He
is
a
dangerous
man.
He’s
a
policeman
for
God’s
sake!
Why
are
you
doing
this?
I
know
you’re
better
than
this
!
”
Loud
music
started
thumping
on
the
other
end
of
the
line.

“
Jory!
Turn
it
down!
I
am
trying
to
be
threatening!
”

Kaylie
moves
away
from
the
phone.
After
a
pause
and
the
muffled
sound
of
arguing, she
returns
again.
“
Sorry
about
that.
Anyway,
is
that
girl
with
you?
Were
you
trying
to
help
her
escape?
How
sweet…
This
isn't
like
you
at
all.
Why
are
you
being
a
softie
all
of
a
sudden?
What
happened
to
old
Nick?
”

“
Stop it.
”
His
reply
hurtles
out
of
his
mouth
fast
and
lifeless.

“
Is
this
some
form
of
redemption?
”
she
continues,
stretching
every
letter
like
chewing
gum.
“
Have
you
seen
the
light?
…
Do
you
think
that
for
some
messed
up
reason,
taking
pity
on
one
girl
might
make
God
actually
forgive
you?
”

“
Just
stop
it,
”
he
demands,
trying
to
keep
his
wavering
voice
steady.
His face
has
slipped
into
the
colour
of
ash.
I
look at his hands and notice that they are
shaking.

“
See,
I’ve
never
really
associated
you
with
soppiness
…
Anger,
sure.
You’ve
nailed
that
one
hands
down,
”
she
pauses
again,
and
I
can
almost
hear
her smirk.
“
You
gave
Marty
exactly
what
he
deserved,
didn't
you?
”

“
Stop
it!
Stop
it!
Just
stop
it!
”
he
screams,
and
throws
the
phone
on
the
floor.
He
breaks
into
a
run
and
slams
out
of
the
front
doors,
leaving
me
behind.

I
realise
the
phone
hasn’t
broken,
and
that
she
is
still
talking.
Cautiously,
I
bend down, pick
up
the
phone
and lift
it
to
my ear.

“
Not
so
fond
of
the
truth,
are
we
Nick?
God,
you’re
just
like
your
cousin.
You
would
cut
out
the
tongue
of
every
person
walking
this
Earth
if
it
meant
not
having
to
hear
it.
Anyway,
don’t
do
anything
stupid.
I’m
sure
that
girl
doesn’t
want
any
harm
to
come
to
her
father.
Don’t
bother
him
again;
Jayce
has
given
him
a
task
to
do.
”
I
think
she
is
about
to
put
the
phone
down,
when she hurriedly
adds:
“
Oh,
and Nick?
Watch
your
step.
”