Hide and Seek (23 page)

Time stood still as Becky’s car slowly rolled through the parking lot. I stared into those hollow eyes, into that pit of a mouth, trying to recognize something of me in her, but all I saw was an unhinged woman. Someone troubled. Someone who definitely had issues.

And major secrets.

Suddenly, as Becky hit the gas pedal so violently the tires made a shrill squeaking sound, something clicked in my mind. That memory I’d had of my grandmother and my dad talking, the one where I’d lurked at the top of the stairs, surfaced once more, and I remembered what they’d been saying. They’d been whispering, but I definitely heard Grandma say the words
She’s mentally disturbed
and
She’s violent.
My father seemed
frustrated, saying,
We have to help her. Before it’s too late.
Had I crossed paths with her the night I died? Because if she was as mentally disturbed as they seemed to think, who knew what kind of reaction she would have had when she saw me.

I groped for the rest of that memory from the night I died, anything past the moment I’d yelled at my father and then turned away in a rage. But it was just a huge, gaping hole. And yet I knew something was there. Something that would scare me to no end. Something that would break both Emma’s and my hearts.

Because the only thing more devastating than my adoptive father killing me and threatening Emma was if our real mother had done it all.

Many thanks to Lanie Davis—without all of your hard work, this book wouldn’t be here! You are truly amazing. Also thanks to Sara Shandler, Josh Bank, Les Morgenstein, Kristin Marang, Kari Sutherland, and Farrin Jacobs—thanks for keeping the mystery juicy! And huge thanks to Katie Sise, who helped bring this book into the world.

Much love to my parents, who are so amazing and strong, and love to Ali, Caron, Colleen McGarry, Kristen and Julia Murdy, and Barb Lorence. Special love to Kristian, and a huge hug to Samantha Cairl. All of you are awesome! Kisses!

SARA SHEPARD is the author of the #1
New York Times
bestselling series Pretty Little Liars. She graduated from New York University and has an MFA from Brooklyn College. Sara recently moved back to Philadelphia’s Main Line from Arizona, where the Lying Game series is set.

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