She looked a tad uncomfortable. “I can’t. The last three guys I asked said no.”
Caroline was good looking in a girl next door turned sexy teacher sort of way. I couldn’t imagine that many guys turning her down. One maybe, but three?
“You acted like you were doing them a favor didn’t you?” I accused.
She had a way of speaking sometimes that made you want to rip her hair out by the root. Especially when she was doing something she didn’t really want to. She’d start speaking as if the other person was a few cards short of a full deck. Then she’d make assumptions. Next thing you knew the person she was asking the favor of responded with extreme hostility. Even if they would have been perfectly happy giving her what she wanted in other circumstances.
I’d seen it happen when her mom told her she would either have a date to the prom or not be able to attend a summer space camp. She drove off four guys, two of whom planned to ask her out before she opened her mouth.
She gave a grimace. “Ok, yes. I did. In my defense, they should be flattered I even offered to go to the gala with them.”
“I’m sure they appreciated that sentiment.”
She shrugged. “I don’t know why they wouldn’t.”
Of course she didn’t.
“The answer is no.”
I wasn’t going to that gala.
She gave me a Cheshire cat smile. “I think you are.”
I frowned at her. I did not like being on the receiving side of that smile. It usually meant I wasn’t getting my way.
“Nope, I don’t think so.”
“I had an interesting conversation with your mom.”
I stiffened. No. She wouldn’t.
“I was kind of surprised when she said you agreed to go to a clinic where they helped people with addictions and PTSD. Imagine my surprise. Especially when I met you after you supposedly agreed to go.”
Bitch.
“You wouldn’t.”
She arched an eyebrow. “Wouldn’t I? You know how I dislike lying to parents.”
Bullshit.
Of the two of us, she was the one who’d gotten away with the wildest of deceits. She used that innocent face to fool people into thinking she wasn’t capable. I, for some reason, always aroused their suspicion. That’s why she was always in charge of lying to our parents when we decided to stay out late or do something they wouldn’t approve of.
She gave me a grin that said ‘I’ve got you.’
“I, for one, think it’s a great idea,” Peter said, giving me a meaningful look.
I didn’t understand. Did he have an itch on his face? What was he trying to signal? I gave him my lost in the sauce expression, the one I perfected on officers when they gave an order that made absolutely no sense.
He stomped on my foot and drove an elbow into my side.
Little brat. Fine. I got it. Not like I had a choice anyway. Not if I wanted to stay off my mom’s radar.
“Guess we’ve got a deal. Your contact had better get me the information I need,” I said, rubbing my side. The brat had sharp elbows.
Chapter Eight
I gave Caroline everything I dug up last night, including some of my thoughts on where to look next.
