Let's Play Make-Believe by James Patterson

Author:James Patterson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Published: 2016-08-02T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 20

I froze every muscle, naked on the lounger, for just a moment, making sure I hadn’t imagined the sound of the key in the dead bolt of the front door. Then I heard the door and I saw the look of panic on Marty’s face. What had I done? His games were fun and involved Disney World, and my games were creepy and could lead to jail time.

We both sprang off the loungers and tried to slip into our clothes as quietly as possible. I could hear someone inside the house, and I didn’t see how this could turn out short of a disaster.

Marty was dressed faster than me and stood, pulling his shirt tight like he was about to have his photograph taken.

I could hear the footsteps on the marble floor. A steady click-clack that could be from hard-soled loafers, the stupid cowboy boots that Brennan occasionally wore, or maybe a policeman’s shoes.

We were screwed.

I heard the footsteps more clearly.

Click-clack.

Just as I was about to make a last-ditch effort to lead Marty through the pool house and out into the backyard, where we could be seen through just about every window on the first floor, the French doors to the patio room opened.

We were caught. There was nothing to do but act casual, so I just stood there with the vodka and cranberry in my right hand. I willed myself to turn slowly and then saw the figure in the doorway.

It was not Brennan. The wide waist and short body with flowing dark hair immediately told me it was Alena, Brennan’s housekeeper for the past ten years. She’d been here before me and would be here long after me. Most important, she had no beef with me. I’d always treated her well and, frankly, considered having her as a housekeeper as opposed to a younger, shapelier woman a major plus. It was one less thing to tempt Brennan.

Alena gasped when she saw us; then she recognized me. She wore a simple white polyester uniform that stretched tight around her hips and bosom. She held her hands to her cheeks, then rushed toward me with her arms out to envelop me in a massive hug.

“Miss Christy, I have missed you so much. Are you well?” She stepped back and a tear ran down her cheek. “Look at you. You look wonderful. Maybe you could eat a little more, but you are still so beautiful.”

That made me shed a tear as I stepped forward and gave Alena my own hug. I’d forgotten how sweet this woman from Guatemala could be. I also knew that not having her phenomenal pastries around was probably one of the reasons I had lost weight quickly after I moved out.

I said, “How are you, Alena?”

She shrugged, and I knew what she meant. She worked for a jerk, but what are you going to do?

I introduced Marty quickly, brushing over our exact relationship.

Alena gave me a sly smile and said, “Very handsome, Miss Christy.”

“He’s an architect, so I wanted to show him the place.

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