I Know Lucy (The Fugitive Series) (16 page)

“Okay.” I nodded. “I’ll call Luke once school gets out.”

“Cool. Make sure you have a decent picture of her, we’ll flash it around and see if we get any bites.”

“Will do. Thanks, Uncle Al.”

“Anything for you, little bro. Hey before you go…”

I paused, the tension within me knotting even further.

“This girl, she uh, she seems important to you.”

“Yeah, she is.”

“You sure you want to unearth the truth? You might not like what you find.”

With a heavy sigh, I nodded. “I know, but I don’t want to go into this blind, either.”

“I get that. I don’t want you dating a phony, I just wanted to warn you that the truth can sometimes hurt. You take this road, it could destroy whatever you have going on with her.”

Closing my eyes, I banged my head against the wall, hating his words.

“Listen, why don’t you think on it. Give me a call later tonight with a definite yes or no, alright?”

“Yeah, yeah okay. Talk to you later.”

He hung up and I decided to text Luke straight away about Miles’ family. If I did say yes, then I wanted to be prepared. I then quickly scrolled through my phone’s camera roll to see if I had any shots of Dani. Not really, she wasn’t a huge fan of pictures, another thing to make my stomach clench. I did have the yearbook photo though.

Shoving the phone back in my pocket, I leaned my head against the wall, feeling the coil within me spring open. I was doing it. This was happening.

It anyone could unearth the truth, it was Uncle Alex. Letting him into this was a risk. If he found something juicy, he’d run with it. I mean I knew I could trust him, but it would take all my persuasive powers to keep it under wraps if he found out anything worthy of a story.

I just hoped it wasn’t.

I hoped whatever Dani was hiding was harmless.

But somehow I knew it wasn’t. Somehow I knew that whoever I spoke with tomorrow was going to have something more to tell me, something that could rip me apart.

Chapter 18

October 2012

Lucy nibbled the end of her pen as she read the book, her brow furrowed in concentration. She’d been at this new school for almost two months now and was really enjoying it. She’d never thought she’d miss learning, but when they’d moved to San Francisco and Shorty had enrolled her in her first school, she found she loved being back in a classroom. She hadn’t been able to study with every gig. It all depended on the role she was playing, but for this heist, it was all about the studying. This job required her to learn and she was soaking it up like a sponge. When they’d first moved to San Fran, Lucy had freaked out that she’d come across as this stupid idiot having missed basically three years of school, but she’d caught up relatively easily.

It helped that for this job Shorty had hooked her up with a tutor. Lucy was playing the girl who wanted to up her grades and that’s how she’d met Tori, daughter of big time businessman, Theodore Derwin. It was all part of the plan of course. Get in good with the rich kid, find the perfect opening, which she had. Shorty had studied up and was playing all his cards perfectly. Lucy just wished she wasn’t the dealer.

Tori was such a sweet girl and she’d taught her so much with her encouraging little smile and sweet comments. Lucy hated the idea of it coming to an end.

“What you doing then?” Shorty flicked her shoulder as he walked past, snatching the book off the table. “To Kill A Mockingbird.” His lips curled with disinterest as he flung it back onto the table. It nearly toppled off the side, but Lucy grabbed it, finding her place again.

“I’m writing an essay,” she murmured. “What’s it look like?”

“It looks like you’re concentrating too hard on the wrong thing, is what it looks like.”

She drilled an angry glare at her half written essay rather than across at Shorty. It would only get her in trouble.

“I think I can get an A for this. I want to try.”

“You’re not even going to be there to get your results.”

She resisted the urge to slam the book shut and throw her pen at Shorty’s head. “I’m enjoying the learning.”

“Just as long as that learning isn’t getting in the way of your job.”

“It’s not.” She accentuated the t, making her words come off all snippy, but she couldn’t help it. She liked being a student again and she didn’t want it to stop.

The idea of the upcoming weekend made her skin crawl. Dropping her pen, she spun to face the couch. Shorty was draped over one end, while Marlin sat at the opposite, shuffling cards on a coffee table. Shorty had been teaching him a bunch of tricks and Marlin was obsessed with perfecting his sleight of hand. He never went anywhere without a deck of cards now.

“Do we have to do this con? It’s gonna break Tori’s heart.”

“What did you just say?” Shorty leaned forward, looking incredulous. “Break her heart? Her father’s a rich jackass and can afford to shed a few bucks.”

“But she’s not a jackass, she’s nice and I left enough damage at my last school.”

“You don’t know that.” Marlin sat forward.

She looked at him. “Yeah, I do. Howard was a sweet guy, he didn’t deserve to be dumped and humiliated.”

“He’ll get over it.” Shorty flicked his hand. “He’s got his money to comfort him.”

Lucy rolled her eyes. “Money doesn’t fix everything,” she mumbled.

“Nah, it just feeds you, clothes you, gives you a roof over your head.” Shorty’s voice was dark and edgy.

“It’s okay, Shorty.” Marlin nudged the older man’s elbow. “Cyan’s a soft heart, you know that.” Always the peacemaker. He’d do anything to protect her, even from Shorty. She flashed him a quick smile, which only aggravated her boss.

“You better not screw this up again, kid.” Shorty pointed at her. “Eight weeks wasted if you do.”

“I didn’t screw up the last three, I’m not going to screw up this one either.” The hard lump of coal in her belly was turning into a freaking diamond. She nearly cried when she left the last school, knowing the damage she’d left in her wake. This one wasn’t quite as bad. The guy they were conning this time, deserved to go down.

“Look, Shorty, I’m in, okay? Derwin will be putty in my hands.”

His hands. Lucy swallowed back her nausea. She couldn’t believe she’d let Shorty lead her down this road, but it would be a good paycheck for all of them.

“I need you focused for this, Cy. It’s potentially a shit load of cash. Cash we’ve earned.”

Cash she’d earned!

Lucy kept the thought to herself, hating that she’d even earned it in the first place. If Tori ever found out what she was planning, she’d die of humiliation. Tori adored her Daddy, probably because he gave her everything. Her sweet nature stopped her from turning into a spoiled brat. If only she knew what he was really like.

Theodore Derwin’s creepy side was hidden beneath a veil of smiles and do-gooder deeds. Lucy hadn’t even meant to unearth his darkness, but she’d caught a whiff of it when she’d been studying at Tori’s house. The leering smile he gave her, the way his sweaty hand held hers for a beat too long upon introduction. Oh yeah, she’d seen it and Shorty had made her play on it. It hadn’t been his original plan. She was supposed to pull another Balboa High job. Pretend she desperately needed wads of cash from her rich tutor. Play on the girl’s generous spirit and then flee the scene.

The day she’d got home with a disgusted frown and told them Mr Derwin’s creep-factor, she knew she’d made a mistake. Shorty’s eyes had sparked and Lucy’s heart had sunk with the click of his fingers. “That’s our in. Forget Balboa, we’re gonna pull a paparazzi scam.”

And that’s what they were doing on Friday night.

“You’ve dropped the hints, you’ve arranged a sleep over, you’ll go in there on Friday and once Tori’s asleep, you’ll make your move.”

Lucy swallowed.

“We know his routine is a late night cap in the den. You bump into him with the water works already running, he tries to comfort you and we all know he’ll take it too far. Click, click, click and blackmail’s your uncle.” Shorty clapped his hands together with a chuckle and all Lucy could do was cringe.

“Hey.” Marlin rose from the couch and moved to stand beside her. Kneading her shoulders, he told her to relax. “We’ve worked out the security, we’ll be in position. The photos will be taken before things get too far. He’ll be so mortified at being caught with a minor, those pictures won’t see the light of day.” Crouching down at her feet, Marlin looked up at her, his grey eyes determined. “I won’t let him hurt you, Cy. I promise.”

“I know.” She squeezed his shoulder, forcing a grin. It still didn’t stop the shudder. Marlin may take the pictures before things got too far, but she still had to have that man’s grimy hands on her skin. Have his foul tongue in her mouth. Shorty had asked her to at least show a little flesh, she was thinking two buttons, tops. She’d maybe let the guy kiss her neck and then she was out of there.

She closed her eyes, her insides quaking.

“Hey, it’s gonna be okay.” Marlin squeezed her thigh. “You’re gonna do great. We’ll show him the photos on Saturday and by Sunday we’ll be in hiding while Shorty scouts out the next school.”

“I’ve already got a few in mind.” Shorty winked.

“Can we just deal with this one first please,” she spat, trying to rise from her chair. She was ready to storm out of the room, but Marlin stopped her. Pushing her back down into her seat. “Once this is done, we’ll get out of town for a few months, pull some different cons, then come back fresh for the new year. You’ve got nothing to worry about.”

She couldn’t bring herself to smile and tried to rise from her chair again. Marlin stopped her, keeping his hand on her shoulder. “Hey, you’ve got an essay to finish.” His wink and smile warmed her insides.

With a sigh, she gave into a small grin before swiveling in her chair and focusing her energy into dissecting
To Kill A Mockingbird
. She may not be around to get her marks, but she was damn well gonna try for an A.

Chapter 19

May 2014

My cousin Luke texted me just as I was leaving the house. Miles Filmore had a younger brother, James. He was a sophomore this year. I texted Luke back, asking if he knew where he hung out and we went back and forth a few times. Luke was getting pretty curious by the end so I cut the conversation short, saying I was running late.

I had no idea if Dani would show up tonight. I was guessing no. My behavior today had hardly been stellar. She’d probably hole up with her dad all night. Man, he must be a piece of work. I wondered if it was him making her live a double life. Maybe he was some sort of criminal or something.

Clenching the wheel, I turned into Presidio Court and tried to push the thought aside. I didn’t want my friends dissecting me tonight. I just wanted to act like nothing was wrong. I pulled up next to Elliot’s Camaro and jumped out. Liesl’s silver Prius was parked to the left, which meant Jaeda and AJ were already here too.

It would be good to hang with them tonight. I needed to switch off before my world got turned upside down tomorrow. I know, slightly dramatic, but Dani meant a lot to me, more than I wanted her to and finding out the truth was freaking me out a little.

“Why didn’t you tell me she was coming?” I hadn’t even closed the door behind me before Elliot lightly punched my shoulder.

Okay, so Dani was here then. My heart rate tripled.

“I thought I did.” I pushed up my shirt-sleeves, wishing I actually had.

Elliot’s dark glare made me clear my throat and apologize. I threw my hands wide. “I can’t exactly ask her to leave now.”

“I know that, you douche. I just wished you’d told me.”

I gave him a winning smile and earned myself another punch in the arm. I gave it a rub as Jaeda swatted Elliot on my behalf.

“What is your problem?” Jaeda pointed at the kitchen. “She’s a sweetheart.”

“Who asked for a full tour of my house when she arrived. Who does that?”

“She did?” My insides hitched. I don’t know why they did, but the two identities thing was playing havoc with me. I kept coming back to the fact that Dani was somehow a liar. What kind of liar was the part I was uncertain about. Shit, what if she was some kind of con artist, here to rip off my best friend. Maybe she was just using me to get to Elliot.

“She didn’t ask for a tour, numbnuts. I offered her one.” Jaeda rolled her eyes at Elliot. “Mr Paranoia. You’re not going to be like this all evening, are you?” She leaned against Elliot, her red curls resting on his shoulder. “Please, Elly. Be nice. Please.” Jaeda’s cute pout matched her child like voice and Elliot soon caved with a smile.

My coiled stomach unwound a touch as I slid past them towards the kitchen. Having avoided her all day, I knew I wouldn’t get away with it now. Why had she come tonight? I thought for sure she’d bail.

My breath fled as I spotted her in the kitchen. If she wasn’t so beautiful this whole thing would be a hell of a lot easier. She was in tight jean shorts with a loose checkered shirt that covered most of the denim pants. Her long, muscular legs were on full show and damn, they were hot. I started at her bare feet and worked my way up to her fly-away strands of hair. They were tucked up in a messy knot, showing off her angular jaw.