Never Lie

The narrative provides a transcript of the recording of EJ that Tricia is listening to in the present day, allowing the reader to “listen” along with Tricia. Adrienne is having a therapy session with EJ. Adrienne left out a bottle of red wine for EJ in her waiting room before their session. Minutes into the therapy session, EJ passes out.

The narrative picks up during EJ’s therapy session, but switches to Adrienne’s point of view, in the past. Adrienne reveals that she drugged the wine for EJ with Ativan. Adrienne steals EJ’s keys and texts Luke. Adrienne gives Luke the keys and EJ’s address; while Luke goes to break into EJ’s home, Adrienne plans to keep an eye on EJ. Luke remains reluctant, especially as Adrienne insists that Luke should not watch the video himself before deleting it. Adrienne pushes Luke to do as she asks, even crying—she admits to herself that she is not sure if the tears are fake or not. Adrienne notes: “I believe that any human being is capable of terrible things if you push them hard enough. So is Luke” (212). On this note, Adrienne cites the Milgram experiment, an infamous psychological experiment in which participants were told to deliver electric shocks to another human—and obeyed, despite causing the other person pain (the shocks weren’t real, but the participants didn’t know this).