Without Truth

Pat Kelly is thirty-one, smart, good looking, and well educated; but as a teacher going nowhere, he is looking for some excitement and adventure. One, day, Pat has a serendipitous encounter with Tim Oats, a former student-now a homeless street urchin-and feeling sorry for him, Pat invites Tim into his home. He soon realizes that something isn't quite right about Tim: He can't keep a job, he has clashes with the law, and he's a little too needy. Pat's debts mount up quickly as he tries to help Tim, who flagrantly and destructively flaunts society's norms. Nevertheless, Pat is irresistibly drawn to Tim and tolerates his often reckless and egocentric behavior, but Tim remains emotionless, secretive, and solicitous. Eventually, Pat starts to wonder whether Tim is capable of any emotional attachment to anyone and is plagued by the idea that their first encounter wasn't serendipitous but planned. These doubts gain substance as evidence emerges that Tim has all the traits of a human predator. . .