6

When the elevator door closed, Nikki was able to breathe. There was no way she wanted Cassie in the same room as Lucas. The thought made her slightly sick. Good thing he lived in DC.

The elevator door opened.

At fifteen, Cassie was already taller than Nikki. She had none of the Kent coloring. Instead of blonde, her hair was fiery red. Unlike most redheads, her complexion had no freckles. Instead, she had a beautiful ivory skin tone that made most teenage girls envious. And those pale blue eyes.

The exact shade she’d stared into earlier. Beautiful was the only word to describe her daugh—niece. Cassie was her sister’s daughter. They had the birth certificate to prove it. And now that their parents were dead, only three people knew the truth. Nikki, her sister, and her brother-in-law. And it would stay that way.

“Cassie.”

Cassie turned to her with a sunny smile. “Auntie Nikki.” Cassie ran to her.

Nikki hugged her. “How did you get here?”

“Don’t ask questions unless you want to know the answer.”

“Oh, but I do want to know.”

Cassie did a hair flip. “Doesn’t matter. I’m here safe and sound.”

“We’ll talk about it later. You are not off the hook, little miss.” Nikki didn’t want to get into an argument, but she wouldn’t let Cassie think what she’d done was all right either. “Why didn’t you answer my calls?”

“I was so close I wanted to surprise you.”

It was a day full of surprises.

“Your mother’s very worried.”

A little smirk appeared on Cassie’s face.

“That is not nice. Your parents love you very much. There’s no reason to torment them the way you do.” Nikki stabbed the up button.

“I’m not tormenting them.” Cassie shrugged. “Not really.”

They stepped into the elevator.

“One of these days, you’ll go too far and get yourself hurt.” Nikki’s eyes filled with tears. This was ridiculous—she needed to get control over her emotions. She turned towards the elevator panel and hit the number three.

“No need to worry about me, Auntie. I can take care of myself. Just like you can.”

Nikki’s heart skipped a beat. Maybe Bethany was right. Maybe Cassie did suspect. “Oh, really? So, you’ve been trained by the Army in hand-to-hand combat? I didn’t realize that.”

Cassie rolled her eyes. “I just meant—”

“I know what you meant. And you are very wrong. You can’t take care of yourself. It’s way too dangerous for you to have hitchhiked here.”

“I didn’t hitchhike. Do you think I’m that stupid?”

“No, but you’re like most kids—you think bad things can’t happen to you. But they can.” Nikki unlocked her door and motioned with a sweep of her arm in a dramatic fashion. “Welcome to my new apartment, my dear niece.”

Cassie smiled as she skipped past her. “I knew you were glad to see me.”

“Always.” Nikki picked up her home phone off the end table. “Call your mother. Now.”

“I’m really tired. I’ll do it later.”

“You will call her right after you tell me how you got here.”

Cassie walked through the apartment, opening doors and peeking in the rooms. “You should have more faith in me. I didn’t do anything dangerous. There’s no bed in the spare room. Where am I supposed to sleep?”

Nikki ignored her question. “I’ll be the judge of that. How did you get here?”

“My friend’s brother is a truck driver. I asked him for a ride. No big deal.”

“That wasn’t the best of ideas. He may have had other ideas in mind.”

“No way. He’s an old dude. As old as you.”

“Thanks for calling me old.”

“You know what I meant.” She flopped down on the sofa. “I answered your question. Now answer mine.”

“What?”

“Where am I supposed to sleep?”

“The same place all uninvited guests sleep.” Nikki pointed at the sofa.

“No problem. That’s still more comfortable than that crummy truck. You can’t imagine how bumpy the ride was.”

“Serves you right.”

“I’m hungry.”

“We’ll eat after you call your mother.” Nikki pointed at the phone.

Cassie rolled her eyes but picked up the phone. “OK, but I’m starving.”

“You call her while I stick a frozen pizza in the oven.”

“Extra cheese.”

“I know.” Nikki walked back into the living room after she loaded the pizza.

Cassie was lying on the sofa with the phone to her ear. “I know, Mom. I said I was sorry. I just got so mad—no, don’t put Dad…hi, Dad.”

Cassie’s expression said her father’s end of the conversation wasn’t good. With another roll of her eyes, she handed the phone to Nikki and headed off to the kitchen.

“Hi, Ray.”

“I’ll pay for a bus ticket. Put her on the bus tomorrow morning.”

“No need. I’ll drive her home. I have a job in DC, so it’s on my way.”

“What kind of a job?”

“Client privilege, remember?”

“That’s for attorneys and doctors, not for private investigators, Nikki.” A pause. “I can only think of one person we know in Washington, DC. Do you really think that’s wise?”

Ray was way too smart. No wonder he’d become a doctor.

“It’s a long, complicated story, and besides, I gave my word.”

Cassie walked back in.

“I can’t really talk about it now. But I know what I’m doing. Want to say goodbye to your daughter?” She handed the device to Cassie as the girl vehemently shook her head no.

Cassie made a face as she took the phone. She followed Nikki into the kitchen. After Cassie hung up, she took a deep, appreciative sniff. “Pizza smells great. I’m starving. The guy wouldn’t stop for any reason, and all he had in the truck to eat was some stale donuts.”

“Were.”

“Were what?”

“Were some stale donuts. All he had in the truck were some stale donuts. Good English is important. And it serves you right for pulling a stunt like that. You deserved nothing better than stale donuts.”

Nikki plopped a few pieces onto each of their plates. The extra cheese oozed. It did smell wonderful. It had been a long time since she’d eaten.

They moved into the living room.

Once Cassie was settled in, she looked at Nikki. “Do you have a pool?”

“It doesn’t matter. We’re leaving in the morning.”

“Where are we going?”

“Where do you think?”

Cassie glared at her. “I came all this way to have some fun. With my favorite auntie. Not to go straight back home.”

“If you think I’ll reward you for bad behavior, you are very wrong, little miss. But if you promise to be good for the rest of the school year, we can talk to your parents about summer vacation.”

“Really. That would be awesome. The whole summer in Florida. Everyone will be so jealous.”

“I did not say the whole summer. A week or two. I do have to work, you know.”

Cassie swallowed her last bite of pizza and then stood up. “I need more. You want some?”

Nikki shook her head. “I’m good.”

A moment later, Cassie walked back in with another plate full of pizza. She set her plate on the coffee table. Her gaze moved from Nikki and landed on the check—the check with Lucas McMann’s name.

Nikki fought the urge to grab it up, but that would only cause more curiosity. Instead, she took a bite of pizza, praying Cassie wouldn’t pick up the check.

But she did.

“Don’t,” Nikki said. “That’s private. It’s from a client and—”

Cassie unfolded the check. “Wow. That’s a lot of money.”

“Cassie, that is confidential. Give it to me.” She put out her hand and waited.

“I had no idea you made that kind of money from being a private investigator. Who can afford that?”

“None of your business. Give me the check.”

Cassie looked down. “Lucas McMann. That congressman from Maiden? What’s he want with you?” She placed the check in Nikki’s waiting hand.

“None of your business.” She smiled to take the sting out of her words. “It’s private.”

“Come on, you can tell me. I won’t tell anyone. What’s he want you to do? Find some love child from his past?”

“Cassie! Don’t be ridiculous.” Nikki rolled her own eyes for emphasis. “It’s nothing like that. It’s a private matter.”

Cassie picked up her plate. “What fun are you? You probably have a really juicy story.”

“It’s actually something odd, but I respect his privacy. You should do the same.”

“Boring. I didn’t even know you knew him.”

“He was older than me, but you know Maiden. Everyone knows everyone.”

“Isn’t that the truth? Did Mom and Dad know him too?”

“Probably. They were closer in age to him. I don’t know if they were friends or not. Now, don’t think distracting me with work will make me forget what you’ve done. We need to have a serious discussion about you and your choices.”

Cassie sighed. “Boring.”