Page 66 of Justified Lies

Diane snatched it away, hanging up and then pocketing it.

“Please, tell me what is going on!” Lianna pleaded, not caring that she sounded desperate. She was desperate.

“Diane, the kids. I’m all they have. I need to get them from school.”

“Oh, the kids are just fine. Trust me, I learned that the hard way.”

Lianna’s mind reeled. “Excuse me?”

“You’re pretty, but you’re dumb.” Diane laughed without a trace of humor in her voice. She focused her narrowed eyes on Lianna. “I attempted to get your attention a hundred different ways. I figured they wouldn’t let me leave with Annie, but I knew you’d pay attention if I tried that.”

“It was you?”

“Wow, maybe you aren’t so dumb after all,” the woman retorted dryly and Lianna felt a surge of anger course through her.

“Why do you have a knife pointed at me?” Lianna spat out.

“Because I have to!” Taking a deep breath, Diane went on. “I tried everything, everything to get you to leave.”

“Why wouldyouwant me to leave?”

Diane lowered her voice to a harsh whisper. “You know, Tim used to look at me the same way he looks at you now.”

“Tim has never looked at me any way other than friendly.”

Diane tilted her head, giving Lianna a disbelieving look. She held the knife so tightly, that her knuckles were a shade whiter than the rest of her pale skin.

“When your husband died you figured you could just poach mine?”

“Whoa, I think you’re missing something.”

“I’m not missing anything. You stupid slut. He says your name when we’re in bed.”

The way she took a step backward and the flush that crept up Diane’s pale cheeks, led Lianna to believe she hadn’t meant to admit that.

“Did you know that? Did he tell you? Did you two have a laugh about it? He used to sayhername … not anymore.”

The icy tone sent panic coursing through Lianna. She almost wished they were yelling again. Anger she could handle, but this was more, this was hatred.

“Whose name?”

Diane merely gave her a cold smile.

“My God, there’s no way you could really believe I’m sleeping with Tim.”

Diane moved towards her, shifting the knife haphazardly as she spoke.

“Men that aren’t screwing their neighbors don’t say their name in bed. When I catch him over at your property, he turns red, starts stuttering like a fool.”

“I swear, nothing ever happened between Tim and I.”

The woman went on as if Lianna wasn’t talking.

“Tim won’t touch me, he barely speaks to me. You’re not the first woman who has wanted my man. But they were easier to deal with. I couldn’t get you to leave and now he wants a divorce.”

“I’m sorry he wants a divorce, but that’s not my fault. I have never been with Tim.”

Lianna was trying hard to wrap her mind around the anger and desperation coming from her usually quiet neighbor. She did her best to sympathize through the vile language being thrown around.

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