Promises to Keep by Kathryn Shay

Author:Kathryn Shay
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: romantic suspense, contemporary romance, high school violence, contemporary womens fiction, undercover agents, contemporary romance contemporary womens fiction secret service book high school violence undercover agents in books teacher and student romance romantic suspense, secret service book, teacher and student romance

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

LUKE pounded up the steps to the Smurfellas’ porch, carrying Smurf’s assignments in his backpack. He’d volunteered to bring the kid homework—it would be a perfect opening to get into Smurf’s personal life. After he left here, Luke was off to Max’s to play on the computer, maybe get into that web site Duchamp boasted about. When Stonehouse first heard about these plans, he’d been pleased that Luke was making progress in diagnosing which kids were dangerous. Then yesterday happened. God knew what Joe would do after Suzanna’s information about Kelsey’s confession. A confession, if Luke was honest with himself, he savored sweetly in his heart. God, he wanted to tell her who he really was.

The wind picked up, and Luke raised the collar of his bomber jacket against the chill. Ringing the doorbell, he let thoughts of Kelsey’s sleeping face and delicious body warm him. His hand flexed as he recalled touching her. Geez, he had to stop thinking about this. He had to get a grip if he was to finish this operation and get away unscathed.

Once again, he pushed on the doorbell and concentrated on Smurf. The house was huge, a brick Colonial in an exclusive area at the edge of town. Smurf’s father was a VP at the local IBM plant, and they were definitely upper crust.

An older woman wearing a chic dress and enough gold to set off a metal detector answered the door. “Hello. Luke, is it?”

“Yeah, I got Smur—Jimmy’s homework.”

“Please, come in.” A vein-lined hand fluttered to her neck. “I’m Mrs. Smurfella.”

So this was Smurf’s mother. Luke thought about his own down-to-earth Matka, always dressed in plain cotton house dresses and sensible shoes, smelling like vanilla.

“He’s got cabin fever from being cooped up here,” Mrs. Smurfella said. “He’d like to see a friend.”

Once again, Luke felt sorry for Smurf, the guy everybody picked on. Nobody, except maybe Franzi, wanted to spend time with him.

“I’m sorry you had to come way out here,” the woman continued. “My daughter was supposed to get his work, but she kept forgetting.”

Mrs. Smurfella’s face reddened. Her daughter was a first-class snob who ignored Smurf’s existence. Though Luke’s own sisters interfered in his love life all the time and were a general pain in the butt, the thought of the girls treating him like Ms. Valedictorian treated Smurf made Luke wince inwardly.

“He’s not contagious.” Mrs. Smurfella led Luke around a corner to a wing of the house. “He had the flu, but he’s over it. The doctor said he can go back to school soon.” She frowned. “He doesn’t seem particularly anxious to return, though.”

“Hmm” was all Luke said, but he was thinking, Why? Because of the bullying? They made their way to Smurf’s room, through winding corridors, over thick carpet, under a gazillion skylights. Smurf’s door was locked when his mother knocked and tried to open it.

On the second knock, Smurf pulled it open. “Damn it, Ma, could you—” The boy’s face lit when he saw his mother had company.

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