Listen for the Lie
by Amy Tintera
Contents
Chapter Thirty-Eight: Lucy
Overview
Ben tries to press Lucy for more about Nina, but Lucy refuses, torn between what she knows and her fear of wrongly branding Nina a suspect. Her reluctance shows that Nina may matter more to the case than Lucy has admitted, while also exposing Lucy’s growing moral conflict about truth and blame. The chapter ends with a new crisis when Lucy learns her secret identity as Eva Knightley has been exposed online.
Summary
Lucy arrives at Beverly’s house, where Ben is already waiting to record another interview. Their flirtation continues in front of Beverly, and the familiar setting makes clear that Ben prefers talking to Lucy there because she is less guarded.
Ben says he wants to dig further into Lucy’s relationship with Nina. Lucy immediately hesitates because she has not told Ben about her recent conversations with Keaton and Emmett or about the fact that Nina is still seeing Matt.
As Lucy stalls, memories and Savvy’s voice remind her that Nina and Savvy deeply disliked each other. That history makes Nina seem more relevant to Savvy’s death, but Lucy resists saying so because she does not want to do to Nina what others did to Lucy by making suspicions into lasting accusations.
Lucy becomes visibly distressed and tells Ben and Beverly that she does not want to talk about Nina, asking for one more day instead. Before the conversation can continue, Lucy checks a text message and learns that the internet has discovered she is Eva Knightley.
Who Appears
- Lucyprotagonist; resists discussing Nina, fearing unfair accusations, then learns her pen name is exposed
- Ben Owenspodcaster who meets Lucy at Beverly’s house and pushes for more information about Nina
- BeverlyLucy’s grandmother; hosts the interview and notices Lucy’s distress during Ben’s questioning
- Ninasubject Ben wants to discuss; Lucy withholds information about Nina’s history with Savvy
- Savvyappears in Lucy’s mind, reminding Lucy that Savvy and Nina despised each other