Deceived (2 page)

“Jennie McGrady, that has got to be the craziest stunt you've ever pulled.” Lisa jabbed a straw into her Coke. “When Gram and your mom find out they're going to kill you.”

Jennie winced and leaned back in her chair. “I had to do something. I know Dad's alive. I don't care what anyone says.”

“But why television?” Lisa asked. “Why couldn't you have just run an ad in the paper?”

“Going on TV was the best way. Maybe he'll see me on the show and recognize his pictures, like that man who was on last week. Or maybe someone else will recognize him. I'm not sorry I did it, we just can't let anyone in our family watch the program tonight.”

Lisa leaned forward, resting her arms on the table. “Why did you have to pick
Missing in America
? It's one of the most popular television programs in the country. Never mind that it's Gram's favorite. She never misses it.”

“I know, but it's out of my hands now. The station called this afternoon and said they're airing it tonight. We just have to keep the family busy from eight to nine.” Lisa pulled on a strand of her copper-colored curls and wove it around her fingers. “Do you realize what this could do to us?”

“What do you mean?”

“The cruise. I can't believe you didn't think about it. If your mom finds out she'll never let you go. And if I help you, I won't be able to go either.”

The cruise was Lisa's sixteenth birthday present from Gram. Gram had taken Jennie to Florida only a couple of weeks earlier for her birthday. Since Gram and J.B. had gotten married, they decided to buy two more tickets—one for J.B. so he and Gram could enjoy a honeymoon and one for Jennie so Lisa would have a companion. “You're wrong. I did think about the cruise. I know how important it is to you. When I called in to ask about being on the show, they told me they'd tape the interview on Friday and air it in a couple weeks. I figured we'd be back by then and it wouldn't matter. Dad would see it and hopefully come home.” She closed her eyes and bit her lip. When she said it out loud it sounded crazy.

“So what went wrong?”

“Nothing. It went really well—too well. The producer loved the show and decided to broadcast it right away.”

“I hate it when you drag me into your nutty schemes. But I guess I can understand why you did it. I just hope it's worth it, Jennie. I hope your dad is alive and sees it and contacts you.”

“Me too.” Jennie picked up her damp napkin and tore it in half. “So you'll help me?”

“Do I have a choice?”

“Yes.” She tore the two halves into fourths. “I'm sorry. I shouldn't have dragged you into this. Never mind. I'll handle it.”

Lisa sighed. “No. I'll help. I guess I owe you that much for helping Allison.”

Allison, one of the Rose Festival Princesses, was a good friend of Lisa's. A shudder ran through Jennie as she remembered the gory details. She'd misjudged one of the players in a deadly game and had nearly gotten herself and Lisa killed.

Jennie pushed the images from her mind, concentrating instead on the task at hand. “Good,” she said. “I was thinking maybe we could invite everyone out for pizza and offer to pay.”

“We?” Lisa pushed her chair back and slipped the straps of her bag onto her shoulder. “I don't think so, Jennie. I don't owe you that much. I'll help, but no way am I going to pick up the tab.”

“Okay, okay. I'll dip into the money Mr. Beaumont gave me for helping the police track down Allison's stalker.”

“Wait,” Lisa interrupted. “Maybe neither of us will have to buy. I've got another idea. First, I need to talk to my mom. Gram and J.B. will be at our house for dinner. I'll see if you guys can come too. She's having pot roast. I could switch off the circuit breaker for a couple of hours so we'd have to eat late.”

Jennie shook her head. “Too complicated. Besides, we need to get them out of the house. With my luck Gram would suggest eating in the living room. Why couldn't we just find something to celebrate and take everyone out for pizza? Then maybe we could suggest a movie.”

“Hmmm. You check that out. I'll call you when I find out what everyone's doing.”

Lisa hurried off, leaving nothing behind but the exotic scent of the hundred-dollar-an-ounce perfume she'd sampled in Nordstrom's. Jennie smiled and finished off her drink. Lisa loved the perfume, but on her allowance she could only afford an occasional whiff. Whenever they went shopping, Lisa sprayed a little on whatever outfit she was wearing.

Jennie cleared off their table and headed for the parking lot. They usually drove places together, but Jennie needed to pick up her mom, who'd been working with a client at the airport. Besides, now that Lisa had her driver's license, she looked for any excuse whatsoever to take her own car.

During the drive, Jennie puzzled over the changes that had taken place in her mother over the past few months. It began, of course, with Mom's engagement to Michael Rhodes. Jennie would never forget the day Michael showed up on their doorstep to help celebrate Nick's fifth birthday. Her little brother still insisted God had sent him a daddy for his birthday.

Just thinking about it made her stomach churn. For a while Mom was so intent on marriage that Jennie feared Nick's wish would come true. Lately, though, Mom had backed off the marriage thing. “Michael's a little too much like your father,” she'd said. “I just don't want another man who's more married to his work than to me.”

In a way Jennie felt sorry for Michael. She was starting to like him—not as a stepfather, of course. As remote as the possibility seemed, Jennie still hoped her father would come home and that he and her mother would be able to work things out. Maybe Dad would try to stay home more. Maybe Mom would stop resenting his work.

Prior to his disappearance, Jason McGrady had worked for the government as a federal agent, like his father, Ian McGrady, and his father before that. Gram used to be a police officer, but after Grandpa Ian was killed, she retired from the force and decided to become a writer. Now she wrote articles for travel magazines, but still kept her connections with the FBI. Jennie intended to carry on the tradition. She planned to study law in college and, in the meantime, learn all she could about law enforcement from Gram.

And that was another change. Gram hardly seemed like Gram anymore. She'd come back from her trip to Europe all bubbly and excited about her new life with ].B.

Disappointed, angry, and hurt over Gram's refusal to search for Dad, Jennie had only half listened to Gram and J.B. tell the story of his proposal at the top of the Eiffel Tower and their makeshift wedding at the US Embassy. Ordinarily it would have sounded romantic and exciting. But Jennie had felt numb.

Not even the invitation to join them on the cruise excited her. On the outside Jennie pretended to be grateful, but inside she couldn't feel much of anything except disappointment.

Jennie pulled up to the airport arrival area where Mom was to meet her. She felt like an actress trying out for her first major role.
Settle down, McGrady
, she told herself.
By the time Mom finds out, the interview and the pictures of Dad will already have aired on national television.

Uneasiness settled around her like a dismal fog.
What if you've made a mistake, McGrady?
a voice in her head cautioned.
What if your dad is dead? Or worse, what if he's alive and doesn't want to be found?

“It worked,” Jennie murmured as she leaned toward her cousin.

“Of course.” Lisa tossed some buttered popcorn into her mouth and offered Jennie some. “They loved the movie idea. Besides, my mom couldn't resist spending some time with me. She's been kind of nervous about my going on this cruise. It's like she's afraid I won't come back.”

“I don't think she's afraid you won't come back,”

Jennie whispered. “I think she's afraid of what—or who—you'll come back with.”

“What are you talking about?” Lisa frowned.

“Lisa, you've been telling everybody that you're going to meet the man of your dreams on this cruise. If I were your mother I'd be nervous too.”

Lisa grinned, her green eyes reflecting the theater's subdued light. “Oh that. She knows I'm not serious.” Lisa examined a kernel of popped corn before putting it in her mouth. “It would be exciting if I did meet him though, wouldn't it?”

“Who?”

“Mr. Right. The man of my dreams.”

“I thought Brad was the man of your dreams.” Jennie slouched in her back-row seat trying to get comfortable.

“Not anymore. We broke up.”

“You're kidding!” Jennie had the feeling the news was more upsetting to her than to Lisa. Either that or Lisa was hiding her hurt feelings awfully well. “What happened?”

“He dumped me for another woman.”

“Oh, Lisa, that's terrible. I'm sorry.”

“Don't be. I'm okay with it. Really.”

“Okay with what, honey?” Aunt Kate plopped into the seat in front of Jennie and twisted around to look at Lisa.

“Nothing, Mom. I was just telling Jennie about Brad.”

Before Aunt Kate could reply, Uncle Kevin, Mom, and Michael filed in and took the empty seats next to her. The lights dimmed.

Gram and J.B. entered the theater and took the seats on the end next to Jennie. She adored Gram, at least she had until a few days ago. Being married to J.B. had changed her so much, Jennie was beginning to wonder if Gram had been invaded by aliens.

Gram took hold of Jennie's hand and squeezed it. “I'm delighted you girls thought of this little outing. I haven't been to a movie in months.”

Jennie smiled, hoping her face wouldn't betray the feelings stirring around inside. She couldn't ever remember being angry with Gram, but then Gram had never seemed so far away—or so totally against her.

The story was beautiful and sad. Between them, they must have gone through a full box of Kleenex. Fortunately, Aunt Kate had read the reviews and came prepared. When they left the theater they looked more like a funeral party than a family out for an evening of entertainment.

“Let's pick up those new grandsons of mine and stop at Ricardo's for dessert,” J.B. suggested. “My treat.” His “new” grandsons were Nick, Jennie's little brother, and Lisa's brother, Kurt. The boys had gone to Toyland, a kind of short-term day-care where parents could leave their kids while they went shopping or out for the evening. Playing suited both boys much more than sitting still for two hours.

“Want to?” Michael asked Mom.

“I don't want anything sweet, but I'll have some coffee while the rest of you eat.”

Mom was always on a diet, and Jennie couldn't resist teasing her. “Don't believe a word she says, Michael. Mom's known in dessert circles as Bite Woman. All she ever orders is the silverware, but when it's all over she's eaten more than all the rest of us combined.”

Aunt Kate laughed and agreed. Mom stifled a grin and pouted. Taking Michael's arm, she asked, “Are you going to let them pick on me like that?”

“I don't know. Are you going to want a bite of my New York cheesecake?”

“Bite Woman has retired,” Mom said in a confident tone, then paused. “Cheesecake?” The way she said it left no room for doubt. Bite Woman was about to strike again.

Michael pulled her close and kissed her nose, as if to let her know she could have all the bites she wanted. The interaction between them created a fluttery sensation in Jennie's stomach. They were acting like an engaged couple again.
Come on, Dad
, Jennie half pleaded and half prayed.
Please come home soon. Time is running out.

“Jennie…” Lisa tugged at her arm. “Are you coming?”

“Yeah.”

Jennie and Lisa had driven together. Since they had room in the car, they offered to collect Nick and Kurt and meet the adults at Ricardo's. The adults piled into Uncle Kevin's van while Jennie and Lisa headed for the car.

When they were out of earshot, Jennie heaved a sigh of relief. “Thanks, Lisa. I owe you one.”

“I know I should say forget it, but I won't.” Lisa slid in behind the driver's seat of her parents' cranberry red Taurus while Jennie got into the passenger side.

“It still seems strange to have you driving.”

“Get used to it. I plan to do a lot of it this summer.” Lisa backed out of her parking place. A horn blared. She slammed on the brakes.

The force yanked Jennie against the seat belt. “Ouch. Not if you keep driving like that you won't.”

“Would you relax? I didn't hit him. Besides, it was his fault. He shouldn't have been driving behind me when I was trying to back out. And he shouldn't be driving a black car.”

“I can't believe you just said that.” Jennie reached for the door. “I think I'll go ride in the van.”

Lisa glanced at Jennie and chuckled. “Don't look so shocked. I'm just kidding.”

“Driving is serious business.” Jennie winced and groaned. “I can't believe
I
said that. I sounded just like my mother.”

“It's okay, I forgive you.” Lisa backed out again and then inched forward, nearly rear-ending the car ahead of her.

Jennie planted her feet on the floor and braced herself.

She'd only ridden with Lisa a couple of times and was about ready to buy a crash helmet and a well-padded driving suit.

Lisa waved at a driver in a silver Honda, who stopped to let them onto the main road. After they'd gone a couple of blocks, Jennie began to relax. She leaned her head against the headrest and closed her eyes.

“Jennie?” Lisa's voice sounded strained.

Jennie straightened. “What's wrong?”

Lisa glanced in the rearview mirror. “Remember the guy who stopped to let us get in front of him at the theater?”

Jennie nodded.

“I think he's still following us.”

Jennie lowered the visor on the passenger side and looked into the mirror, but all she could see was the blinding glare of headlights. “We've only gone a couple of miles. Maybe he just happens to be going in the same direction.”

“You're probably right. It just makes me nervous when someone stays behind me like that.”

“Me too. It might be a coincidence, but if he follows us into the parking lot at Toyland, I'm calling the police.” Adrenaline stirred in Jennie's blood. Another mystery? The idea excited her. When Lisa pulled into the parking lot the car zipped by. Jennie sighed. “False alarm,” she said, feeling relieved and disappointed at the same time.

Even with promises of ice cream, it took ten minutes for Jennie and Lisa to pry their little brothers out of Toyland's tunnel maze. At the restaurant the girls split a chocolate fudge truffle cake drizzled with raspberry sauce. Decadent.

While she ate, Jennie glanced around at her family. She could almost see the aura of love hovering around them. Only one thing marred their family portrait. Dad should have been sitting in Michael's place. She closed her eyes, trying to imagine it. Dad feeding Mom a piece of cheesecake, his eyes full of admiration. The man who appeared behind her closed eyelids, however, wasn't Jennie's father. It was Michael.