Illusions of Evil by Carolyn Keene

Author:Carolyn Keene
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon Pulse

Chapter

Nine

NANCY COULDN’T BELIEVE her eyes. “My father,” she whispered, “and Adriana Polidori!”

“What’s wrong with that?” Ned asked. They both watched as Carson squired Adriana through the restaurant.

Then Nancy turned back to the table. “She’s a client for one thing,” she said, and took a big swallow of ice water.

Ned raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

“You know I don’t mind my father dating.” She toyed with a lock of her hair. “It’s just that things can become confusing when business and—personal relationships get mixed up,” she finished a little weakly.

Ned shot her a look. “Keep it down, Nancy. They’re headed this way.”

Carson stopped dead in his tracks as he passed their table. Nancy could tell from the embarrassed expression on his face that her father wasn’t any more comfortable with the situation than she was. She decided to do her best to make him feel at ease.

“Dad, what a wonderful surprise!” she said, standing up to give her father a peck on the cheek. “You look gorgeous,” she said, turning to Adriana.

The magician smiled and glanced up at Carson. “Thank you. Your father said this was one of the best restaurants in River Heights and that I simply had to try it. I told him that as long as we were conducting business, it might as well be pleasurable, too.”

Carson nervously adjusted his tie, and Nancy’s gaze darted back and forth between them. Maybe it was just a dinner appointment with an important client, she thought. Maybe there wasn’t anything going on between them. Still, Nancy’s instincts were on the alert. If her father got too close to Adriana, he might lose some of his judgment about her case.

“We’d better take our table,” Carson said.

“Have a great time,” Ned put in. “The shrimp cocktail’s terrific!”

For the rest of their meal, Nancy tried to keep her eyes off her father’s table. Every time she looked up, though, it seemed as if Carson and Adriana were laughing and gazing into each other’s eyes.

When it was time for dessert, Ned ordered a slice of Mississippi mud pie. The waiter brought it with two forks.

Nancy took a bite of the moist chocolate dessert. “This is incredible!” she said, but her mind was still focused on her father and Adriana. “I want to ask Adriana about Grigov. But something tells me that now is not the time.”

Ned frowned. “You may be right—especially if there really is something between the two of them.”

“And I’ve got to tell my dad what happened in the car today. The fact that somebody who drives a black sports car wants me off the case could have a bearing on the way he defends Adriana at her hearing,” Nancy said.

“This is pretty sticky,” Ned replied thoughtfully. “Do you think he knows about Grigov?”

“Adriana wouldn’t be dating my dad at the same time she’s involved with her ex-partner—would she?” Nancy asked.

“I don’t get the feeling that she’d do that sort of thing,” Ned responded. “But I don’t know her all that well.”

“Neither do I,” Nancy said.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.