Crossing Lines: A gripping psychological thriller (Behind Closed Doors Book 3) by Erin Cawood Page B
Authors: Erin Cawood
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exasperation escapes my lips. I don't believe he would be so stupid. “Without everything else that's going on, especially with Lisa, you know the law. You know what will happen if anyone finds out about this. Why would you put her up to this?”
“The law?” he repeats. “What laws are you breaking? She's just a friend.”
A silence falls between us as I look at Krystal, and I’m not surprised when she doesn't volunteer the truth. Caleb might be inside her circle of trust, a friend even, but she keeps him at arms' length just like everyone else.
“I'm sorry, Darryl,” she whispers, placing her untouched drink in my hand. “I didn't know where else to turn.” She steps back, gives Caleb a silent nod, and walks across the hallway into the den. She returns moments later with Macaulay in her arms and then leaves, without another word.
I turn to the window and the street below, watching her lift the sweatshirt hood over her head and place the dark glasses back on her face before she crosses the road. I’m not going to risk everything I have by agreeing to help her. Not like that. “There has to be another way,” I mutter to myself, even though Caleb is still in the room.
“When you think of it, let me know. I've tried everything to get Julia to talk.” He sighs. My mind draws a blank and I turn to him. He shrugs, “You can't save everyone, right? Otherwise, we'd have saved Mom.”
The shot hits me square in my chest, flooding my entire body with a regret so strong it’s difficult to form words for a few seconds. “That was low, Caleb.”
“Did it work?”
I take one last look at Krystal as she turns at the end of the block and out of sight, then turn back toward him. I can’t change what happened to Faith. Her death and John’s are both scars that somehow I’ll have to learn to live with. But Faith said something over and over again, something I’ve tried to live by since she died, but never truly believed her words until now: "For every life you can’t save, there are hundreds more you can.”
I know I can’t let Julia become that one life I don’t save. Not without trying.
Chapter Six
A SHIVER CRAWLS up my spine as a cool breeze chills Krystal’s car like a fridge. A frown creases my brows. Based on the extravagance I’ve been subjected to—a six-hour flight across the country in a private jet and then a chauffeur-driven flash car—I suspect this car must have climate control in perfect working order. So why does she insist on having the window open?
I don’t believe I’m actually in L.A., in Krystal’s car, as we speed down the highway toward Malibu. I can't believe I’m actually going to pretend that Krystal Valentina is my girlfriend. This is absurd! I’ve no idea how I’m going to pull this off, when I don't even find her attractive. And unlike her, I don’t have a lifetime of the practice in fooling people. I’m not an actor. So why am I here?
I left everything up in the air when I left New York, and I haven’t even had the opportunity to explain to Lisa where I’m going or why. She isn't talking to me. She’s also avoiding me. I had to leave a voicemail explaining why Caleb is staying in New York, and I hate it. But it’s only for two weeks.
I’m not the man for this job. I won’t be any more successful at getting Julia to open up than Caleb was. But my nephew believes I can and I will because I’m honest and fair, and Krystal has no control over me. I snort at the thought. I’m deceiving Julia by even attempting this.
“But don't ever let her see your weaknesses,” he warned before I left, “because she'll use it and if Julia sees she has that power over you, you're done.”
I really hope this is: a) a good idea, and b) going to be worth it, because I have a feeling this whole shebang is going to bite me on the ass somehow.
Another chilly gust comes through the window and my irritation spikes. Does she have no consideration for others? It’s almost four
“The law?” he repeats. “What laws are you breaking? She's just a friend.”
A silence falls between us as I look at Krystal, and I’m not surprised when she doesn't volunteer the truth. Caleb might be inside her circle of trust, a friend even, but she keeps him at arms' length just like everyone else.
“I'm sorry, Darryl,” she whispers, placing her untouched drink in my hand. “I didn't know where else to turn.” She steps back, gives Caleb a silent nod, and walks across the hallway into the den. She returns moments later with Macaulay in her arms and then leaves, without another word.
I turn to the window and the street below, watching her lift the sweatshirt hood over her head and place the dark glasses back on her face before she crosses the road. I’m not going to risk everything I have by agreeing to help her. Not like that. “There has to be another way,” I mutter to myself, even though Caleb is still in the room.
“When you think of it, let me know. I've tried everything to get Julia to talk.” He sighs. My mind draws a blank and I turn to him. He shrugs, “You can't save everyone, right? Otherwise, we'd have saved Mom.”
The shot hits me square in my chest, flooding my entire body with a regret so strong it’s difficult to form words for a few seconds. “That was low, Caleb.”
“Did it work?”
I take one last look at Krystal as she turns at the end of the block and out of sight, then turn back toward him. I can’t change what happened to Faith. Her death and John’s are both scars that somehow I’ll have to learn to live with. But Faith said something over and over again, something I’ve tried to live by since she died, but never truly believed her words until now: "For every life you can’t save, there are hundreds more you can.”
I know I can’t let Julia become that one life I don’t save. Not without trying.
Chapter Six
A SHIVER CRAWLS up my spine as a cool breeze chills Krystal’s car like a fridge. A frown creases my brows. Based on the extravagance I’ve been subjected to—a six-hour flight across the country in a private jet and then a chauffeur-driven flash car—I suspect this car must have climate control in perfect working order. So why does she insist on having the window open?
I don’t believe I’m actually in L.A., in Krystal’s car, as we speed down the highway toward Malibu. I can't believe I’m actually going to pretend that Krystal Valentina is my girlfriend. This is absurd! I’ve no idea how I’m going to pull this off, when I don't even find her attractive. And unlike her, I don’t have a lifetime of the practice in fooling people. I’m not an actor. So why am I here?
I left everything up in the air when I left New York, and I haven’t even had the opportunity to explain to Lisa where I’m going or why. She isn't talking to me. She’s also avoiding me. I had to leave a voicemail explaining why Caleb is staying in New York, and I hate it. But it’s only for two weeks.
I’m not the man for this job. I won’t be any more successful at getting Julia to open up than Caleb was. But my nephew believes I can and I will because I’m honest and fair, and Krystal has no control over me. I snort at the thought. I’m deceiving Julia by even attempting this.
“But don't ever let her see your weaknesses,” he warned before I left, “because she'll use it and if Julia sees she has that power over you, you're done.”
I really hope this is: a) a good idea, and b) going to be worth it, because I have a feeling this whole shebang is going to bite me on the ass somehow.
Another chilly gust comes through the window and my irritation spikes. Does she have no consideration for others? It’s almost four
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