Read Lie or Die: A Shelby Nichols Adventure for Free Online

came out, and he glanced at us with surprise, but I thought I caught a glimpse of relief from his thoughts. Did that mean it was him?
    “What’s going on?” Doug asked, concentrating on Uncle Joey.
    “Nothing,” I quickly said.
    Doug was confused at my answer. Why was I lying? “Mr. Manetto?” he asked.
    Uncle Joey was trying to figure out what I was doing. He shook his head and gave up. “Do we have surveillance cameras out here in this hall?”
    “No sir. Would you like me to set some up?”
    “Yes, but right now, I want to see the footage from just a few moments ago in the office hall.”
    “Sure,” he said.
    We followed Doug into the security room, and waited for him to rewind the footage of the hallway. He backed it up, and we saw everyone come out of the conference room, including Nick. The hall was empty, but a minute later, it looked like someone came in from the door to the restrooms. That was a blind corner, and the angle of the camera was tilted off just enough so that all we could see was his shoulder. He stood there until I came out of the conference room, and quickly pulled away. It was basically what I’d seen myself.
    Uncle Joey sighed, trying to remember what I’d said to him, and if it was enough to give me away. “Will you please adjust that camera?” he growled, looking pointedly at Doug.
    “Yes sir,” he said, thinking it wouldn’t really make any difference. That corner we were looking at was at an angle the camera couldn’t penetrate, no matter how he adjusted the angle. It was perfect for listening in on any conversation that went on in the conference room. As long as the door was open. Then he thought he’d better do a good job for Manetto, or he’d get sacked, and he couldn’t afford that right now. Not after all his hard work to get hired.
    Hmm…if he was the one spying on us, wouldn’t he be thinking he’d gotten away with it? He did seem to know an awful lot about it, though. Could it be him?
    Doug left to get a ladder, and Uncle Joey motioned for me to follow him to his office. After he closed the door behind him, he sighed. “Remind me to never talk to you unless we are in my office, and the door’s closed. Was it Doug?” he asked.
    “I don’t know,” I said. “His thoughts are hard to read, but he wasn’t thinking that he’d gotten away with it, so I guess not.”
    “Then that means it has to be Nick,” Uncle Joey said.
    “Not necessarily,” I interjected. “It could have been any of them. They were all wearing dark suits.”
    “That’s true,” he conceded. “But out of them all, who would do it?”
    “Nick,” I said. “Because he was the most interested in what I do for you.”
    “I don’t know if he heard enough to tell him what you do.”
    “Even if he did, how could he believe it? I mean, who reads minds for Pete’s sake?” I shrugged. “Whoever it was may not have been close enough to hear that much anyway. We weren’t talking that loud, and the corner isn’t real close to the conference room.”
    “True,” Uncle Joey said. “There’s not much we can do except have you listen to their thoughts next time, and see if you hear anything then.”
    “Right,” I agreed, already dreading my next visit. “I really miss Ramos. If he were here, this wouldn’t have happened.”
    Uncle Joey took that hard. Maybe he shouldn’t have sent Ramos off so quickly. He had friends in Seattle, but he didn’t want them to know Kate had taken his money and gotten away with it. No, Ramos was his best choice, and until he got back, he’d just have to make do. “He’ll be back soon, maybe this weekend if we’re lucky.” He was hoping Ramos would find Kate, and bring her back with him. That would make it all worth it.
    “All right, well…I’ll see you later.” I stepped toward the closed door.
    “If anyone in my organization talks to you, I want to know,” Uncle Joey said. He was thinking it would be a sure sign of guilt.
    “Okay,” I