Liquid Lies Read online

  Liquid Lies

  Lois Lavrisa

  SunLake Press

  Liquid Lies

  By Lois Lavrisa

  Liquid Lies

  Lavrisa, Lois Marie (9-16-2012). Liquid Lies

  Copyright 2012 Lois Lavrisa

  ISBN 978-1468154269

  Discover other titles by Lois Lavrisa at www.loislavrisa.com

  Amazon Edition, Licensing Notes

  This ebook is licensed for your personal use only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Amazon.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission from the author.

  All Trademarks mentioned herein are respected.

  All quotes are intended as fair use and not intended to abridge copyright.

  This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or to actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.

  www.sunlakepress.com

  What Authors and Reviewers are saying about

  Lois Lavrisa’s debut novel

  Liquid Lies

  “Full of breath-taking twists and turns! Liquid Lies had me whipping through

  the pages, never quite sure whose number was up next. A great whodunit

  mystery laced with suspense.”

  ~ Ann Charles, Award-winning and Bestselling Author

  “Liquid Lies is an imaginative story …if you like a good mystery, put this book on your “must read” list.”

  ~ Nancy Brandon, Bestselling Author of Dunaway’s Crossing.

  “I absolutely loved this book! A dark secret held for years by two friends comes back to haunt them with murderous results. Tension builds throughout this taut mystery right up until the action packed climax. Lois Lavrisa will keep you guessing until the end. I highly recommend Liquid Lies.”

  ~Matthew Rush, Author

  “Lois Lavrisa delivers a fantastic book-five stars! I could not stop reading Liquid Lies once I started. So suspenseful wondering how much more CiCi could take. This is definitely a must read!”

  ~Laura Fortin, Reviewer

  “I really enjoyed this book. I thought I had the bad guy/gal figured out only to be proved wrong more than once! Kept me guessing until the end. I look forward to reading more from this author.”

  ~J. Anderson Avid Reader, Reviewer

  “I loved the heroine of Liquid Lies. CiCi is sympathetic but flawed…a well rounded character. The plot was fast-paced and multi-layered with a mystery that’ll keep you guessing until the last page. A fantastic debut novel by an exciting new author. Bravo.”

  ~ Reading Cat Review

  “My travels with this book began with my fiancé telling me “I sent a book to your Kindle. You’ve got to read it.” I was expecting something similar to what he usually sends me - action thrillers with male main characters who could outshoot John Wayne blindfolded, but instead I found CiCi, a quirky young girl, in a novel with a romantic subplot. Naturally, my curiosity was aroused… I enjoyed this book so much that I gave it to my mother for Mother’s Day, as I thought she would find to be a female lead version of the type of detective novels she usually reads (mostly James Patterson). I’m sure she’s going to love it - now I just have to wait to see what else Lois Lavrisa writes!”

  ~Kristen, Reviewer

  “Liquid Lies is one of those books that when you start it, it’s hard to put down. Secrets can be destructive which CiCi gets to know very well. Well-written, full of action, suspenseful, in fact everything one could ask in a mystery, this was a no-brainer to rate 5 stars!”

  ~ Mimi Barbour, Bestselling Author, He’s Her

  “This is a thrilling fast-paced mystery that whisks you through a whole range of emotions as you read. Told through the point of view of the main character CiCi, we see her life unfold and an old secret come back to haunt her. With a wonderful cast of secondary characters this is a well written engrossing read that kept me in suspense right up to the end. Loved it!”

  ~Loves Romance, Amazon top reviewer

  “Liquid Lies is a mystery thriller that makes you feel anything but cozy. A story as tension charged and as fast moving as a waterslide. Once you’re into Liquid Lies there’s no stopping until you reach the end.” ~ Patricia Mason, Award Winning Bestselling Author, In Deep Shitake

  “Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive. Liquid Lies is a story packed with action, mystery and well developed characters that will capture your imagination and make you grateful when they succeed.”

  ~Romantic Chick, Reviewer

  “I could not put this book down! Liquid Lies is a tightly woven mystery steeped full of quirky characters on an emotion-packed thrill ride. This is one story you’ll want to tell your friends about!”

  ~ Cynthia Cooke, Award Winning Author, Luck and a Prayer

  Acknowledgments

  Any story starts with an idea and then grows from there. Along the way many people helped and supported me as I turned my idea into a finished book. First and foremost, thanks go out to my husband Tom and our children: Sean, Melanie, Tiffany and Ryan.

  To my many writer friends who reviewed, edited and critiqued drafts including those in the Savannah Pen & Ink Writers group, The Annual Women’s Writers’ Retreat gorgeous gals and the Rebel Writers Group-Pat, Nancy, Donna, Tom, Charles, Melissa, Jan and Deirdre. And to all of my friends who listened to me while I plotted out my stories and talked about characters (as though they were real), thank you for letting me bend your ear. Also, thank you to my editor, “The Edit Dude”, and my cover designer, Kate Sterling.

  For providing fresh hot coffee, and a great environment in which to write-a huge that you to the Sentient Bean on Forsyth Park and Cutters Point in Sandfly. Police Sergeant Bobby von Loewenfeldt graciously volunteering to go over page by page of my manuscript-fact checking all police procedurals. Your assistance and expertise were invaluable.

  Thanks to Boy Scout Troop 57 in Savannah, GA, for keeping my husband and sons entertained, thereby allowing me time to write.

  And last but not least a special thank you to Chip and Wendy, who invited my family for summer weekends at their gorgeous Wisconsin lake home. Being at their lovely home gave me inspiration for the setting and location of the fictitious town in Liquid Lies. Thank you.

  However, my biggest gratitude is extended to you, my readers. Without you my stories would never be given life. Thank you, enjoy.

  About the Author

  Lois Lavrisa writes Mystery with a Twist. Her first mystery LIQUID LIES, an Amazon bestseller and Amazon Hot New Release, is set in an affluent lake town in Wisconsin. Fast paced with twists and turns around every corner, it’ll keep you guessing until the end.

  Her women’s fiction, HARMONY HILL asks the question, “What would you do if you found out that your life was a lie?” HARMONY HILL will be available late 2012. Her short story “Picture not Perfect” is in a young adult anthology called ETERNAL SPRING which was released with great reviews in April 2012. Another short story “Turnabout Twist”: is included in The WG2E All-For-Indies Anthologies: Summer Fling Edition. In 2012 she will write short stories for two additional anthologies.

  She’s working on a cozy mystery series, THE CHUBBY CHICKS CLUB about sassy southern sleuths, set in Savannah, Georgia. T
HE CHUBBY CHICKS CLUB is a rag tag group of friends (not all chubby nor all chicks) who find themselves investigating a friend’s mysterious death, with time running out for them to find the killer before the killer finds them. THE CHUBBY CHICKS CLUB, book one, should be completed next year.

  She’s been married to her aerospace husband Tom for over 21 years and they have four children - two boys and two girls. She’s a member of several writing organizations including: Mystery Writers of America (MWA), Romance Writers of America (RWA) and Sisters in Crime (SIC). Currently, she’s serving as vice president of the Low Country RWA. For the past six years she’s been a member of the Savannah Pen & Ink writers group. She’s written for a local newspaper, a magazine, numerous newsletters and posts weekly on a blog. Additionally, Lois has worked as an adjunct instructor and a technical writer.

  If you want to contact her, please go to www.loislavrisa.com, www.liquidlies.com, www.facebook.com/authorloislavrisa, www.thechubbychicksclub.com, www.facebook.com/loislavrisa, twitter.com/loislavrisa or www.goodreads.com/loislavrisa.

  Novels by Lois Lavrisa

  Liquid Lies

  Harmony Hill

  Short Stories in Anthologies

  Eternal Spring

  Her short story titled “Picture not Perfect”

  WG2E Summer Fling

  Her short story titled “Turnabout Twist”

  He Sees You When You’re Sleeping

  Her short story titled “Christmas Corpse Caper”

  WG2E Spooky Shorts

  Her short story titled “Treat or Trick”

  Dedication

  To my husband Tom, who always believed in my dreams, even when I did not. For knowing that I was the one for him the first night we met, and who patiently waited three years for me to figure out that he was the one for me.

  Table of Contents

  Liquid Lies

  Reviews

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  Novels and Short Stories

  Dedication

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  Chapter Forty

  Chapter Forty-One

  Chapter Forty-Two

  Chapter Forty-Three

  Chapter Forty-Four

  Chapter Forty-Five

  Chapter Forty-Six

  Connect with Lois Lavrisa Online

  Five Fun Facts about Lois Lavrisa

  Chapter One

  One night. Two best friends. Two tickets to a sold out concert. One joint. Two bottles of wine. One perfect eighteenth birthday celebration and a memorable last night together.

  Or so we thought.

  “See? My auto repair class was a much better elective than your classic French art class,” I teased Francesca. She held an umbrella over me while I finished putting a full-size spare tire on her red BMW. The buzz from the wine and pot had worn off long ago. At one o’clock in the morning I wanted to be home in bed, not out here. The neon red light flashed and reflected off the rear window 24 Hour Truck Stop & Diner. I added, “Where would that get us now?”

  “But CiCi, if your life depended on your knowledge of Claude Monet or Paul Cézanne.” Francesca wiggled the umbrella, splashing me with water drops. “You’d be dead.”

  “I doubt an answer on French artists would ever be a deal breaker in a life or death situation.” I ducked out from under the umbrella and put the jack and flat tire in her trunk. “Or in any situation for that matter.”

  “It could be. You never know.” She moved next to me. “Anyway, my senior aptitude test said I was artistic and should do something that involves travel. I’m just saying that, while I’m traveling to all the museums in Europe with my aunt, one day someone might offer me a million Euros to answer an art question, you never know.”

  “Yeah, sure. Those tests aren’t always accurate anyway. Mine said I should be in law enforcement.” I smiled. “But then again, if I was a cop, I could get your sorry ass out of jail. Which, by the way, I’m surprised you haven’t been in yet.” She looked like an angel, but all the years I knew her, she acted more naughty than nice. Yet, she had a childlike innocence to her mischief. It was never boring being around her.

  “Ha ha. You’re lucky to have me in your life. I add excitement. Danger.”

  “Don’t know what I’d do without you.”

  “You won’t have to, because you’re going to tell me that you’ve changed your mind and you’re moving to Paris with me.”

  “Two problems with that. One, I don’t have the money to go to Paris, and two, I’m already enrolled at the University for the fall semester.” Then I held my hand to my heart. “And of course, there’s Ken.”

  “Okay, by the way that was three.”

  “Fine, three reasons I can’t go with you.”

  “It’s your lucky day, I have all the solutions to those problems. Firstly, my aunt Vivian is absolutely loaded; her hubby left her with a small fortune. So she’ll take care of both of us. Second, drop out of college. Problems solved.” She closed her eyes as she held her hand to her forehead. “Thirdly…Wait. I can see your future. You’re dumping your high school sweetheart. Another image is coming to me. I see a gorgeous Parisian man feeding you endless bowls of pasta.”

  I held up my grime covered hands. “Oh great psychic one, can you tell me what I’m going to do now?”

  “Scratch your ass,” Francesca said.

  I laughed as I lunged at her with my soiled hands. She screamed and dodged my attempt to wipe my hands on her jacket.

  As we made our way over the potholed gravel parking lot to a wooden sign that read Restrooms, we passed a handful of cars. I noticed a few semi trucks parked in the back. At the gas tanks, a solitary car was filling up as we entered a door that read Ladies.

  On our exit, the cool night air blasted us. It was August 31st, and the slight chill in the air announced that Wisconsin autumn was in full swing. We both put on gloves and zipped up our jackets. A burly man wearing a shabby black leather jacket emerged from the men’s side. A lone light bulb dangling overhead illuminated his tanned face framed with graying on his temples. He smiled at us. Wrinkles set in around his mouth and eyes. Late forties, I thought.

  “Well, hello ladies,” he stepped in front of us. He pointed to a semi truck several yards away, “You looking for some fun?”

  Francesca flipped her blonde hair over her shoulder. At five foot ten, she stood eye to eye with the man. “What kind of fun are you talking about?”

  “I’ve got some cold beer in my truck if you’re interested in a nightcap,” he said.

  “We’re just leaving.” I jumped in.

  Why was she flirting with this guy? It didn’t surprise me that he was flirting with her. I was accustomed to being in her shadow whenever Francesca was around. At five six, w
ith a slim boyish body and shoulder length brunette hair, I felt average to the core. Unmistakably overshadowed by Francesca’s stunning appearance. But Ken thought I was beautiful, and said so the day I met him when he almost knocked me down getting to class. We first met when he was a senior and I was a freshman. We’ve been together ever since.

  I jabbed her in the side. “Let’s go.”

  “Not before I have a drink.” Francesca glided her statuesque figure over next to him and trailed her slender hand over the collar of his tattered jacket. “What the hell. It’s my birthday.”

  He lifted an eyebrow. A smile crept over his face, “Follow me, gorgeous.”

  I grabbed Francesca’s arm. “What are you doing?”

  “Excuse us for a second,” Francesca said to the man as she pulled me a few feet away from him. “CiCi, chill out. It’s an adventure.”

  “Oh so that’s what this is called? Adventure, insanity. Same thing,” I said.

  “Trust me.”

  “Really? What could go wrong going with a stranger to his lair?” I could think of a million things and they all were trouble.

  “C’mon, nothing will happen. We’re tough. To quote from Hugo ‘we’re more strong than time.’ Translation, we’re invincible.” She smiled. “Plus it’ll be fun.”

  “A concert is fun. Being out here in the middle of flipping nowhere is not.” I emphasized by shaking my hands around. “And quoting from a French poet is not helpful. How about this quote, ‘Distrust and caution are the parents of security,’ Ben Franklin. Let’s listen to Ben and go home. No more adventures tonight.”