Deadly Reunion (5 page)

“You sound like my father,” he accused.

“Speaking of whom, have you taken him up on his offer?”

Kyle shook his head. “I don’t need his help.
I’m doing fine, all on my own.”

So far Kyle had stubbornly refused his famous father
’s offer to join his magic show currently touring through Europe. Grace wondered how long that would last. “Tell your dad hi for me,” she said, turning back towards the school.

“No, wait
! Why do they think you are a detective, and what are you wearing?” Kyle asked, grabbing a fistful of taffeta, and pulling her back.

“It’s a horrible misunderstanding. Beth overheard my brother talking about the plot to the mystery game we were working on. She thought it was real, and that I was a detective.”

Kyle laughed.

“I don’t know what Jeff was saying, but somehow Beth is convinced I’m a detective. She’s been in there,” she said, pointing towards the school, “desperately trying to convince everyone else. I tried to tell everyone the truth, but I couldn’t get a word in edgewise.”

“Oh, don’t tell them. Let’s have some fun
,” he cajoled, grinning. “It’s harmless fun. No one will know.”

His grin was infectious. Despite her annoyance, Grace felt herself smiling back at him.
“I don’t want to lie to my friends.”

“It’s not really lying. Straker did ask you to find out who killed his wife last year. Which you did.” He looked down at her affectionately. “I think that makes you a detective. A very good one. Besides, we can tell them the truth later. Let’s just have fun for tonight.” He turned around and took a step toward the school
.

Grace reached out and grabbed his jack
et before he could get very far. She still wasn’t convinced that it was a good idea to set him loose among her friends.

Reluctantly turning back, Kyle asked,
“Aren’t you glad to see me?”

“Of course
, I'm glad you showed up,” Grace said, realizing that she was telling the truth. She was glad to see him. She didn't want to admit it, but she had been missing him a little since she left New York this morning. “It’s just, other than Beth, they don’t really think I’m a detective.”

His eyes lit up.
“No problem, by the time I am through, everyone in that gym will believe you are the best detective in the world.”

Well that feeling didn't last long.
“No, no, no! Kyle, please don’t help. I mean, you don’t have to help. I mean, honesty is the best policy. I’ll just go and explain that it was a joke. I’ll tell them that I just wanted to see how far I could go. Something like that. I’m sure they will understand.”

“Grace,” Hope shouted from the door,
“I need your help.”

Kyle gave a low whistle.
“Who’s that?”             

“My twin sister, Hope.”

“Is your sister trying to look like Veronica Lake?”

Grace nodded sadly. “I think it’s because of the last name.”

“You know, you two don’t look alike at all.”

“Yes, I am a
ware, thank you.” Grace briefly touched his arm. “I have to go. Why don’t we get breakfast before you leave for New York? Call me on my cell tomorrow morning,” she said, as she walked back to the school.

CHAPTER
FOUR

“I
f you’re done
playing with your imaginary friend, I could use some help.”

“He’s not imaginary, Hope.
You can see him, can’t you?”

“I can’t believe the amount of work you have
put into this story of yours. First, you get Jeff to plant the idea in Beth’s head. Then you pass the rumor around the school, and you top it off by hiring, what is obviously an actor, and not a very good one by the way, to play the part of—”

“I did not plant any story with Jeff
, pass any rumor, or hire an actor. He is not an actor.” When Grace realized that Hope didn't believe her, she insisted, “I’m telling the truth. He—is—not—an—actor.”

“
Well, where did you find him?” Hope stopped and looked at her sister with growing horror. “Oh no! You didn’t. Please tell me, you didn't. He’s not one of those is he?” Hope whispered aghast.

“One of what?” Grace asked, not knowing what her sister was implying
, but insulted on Kyle's behalf just the same.

Hope's face was a mixture of pity,
disgust, and horror. “You didn’t hire him off the street, did you?”

“No
! Of course not!” Grace shrieked, unable to believe her own sister would accuse her of such a thing.

“Do you know what
Mom and Dad will say when they find out?”

“I did not hire him off of the street
, and what do you mean
when
they find out? They are not going to find anything out, because you are not going to mention this to them,” Grace growled. “Didn’t you say you needed my help, Hope? Well, what do you want?”

Hope pointed towards the gym.
“I want you to go in there and talk to our classmates. I need to know who is voting for me and who is still voting for Crystal. Now, I have managed to change some votes, and I have no doubt that I will win, but I want to make sure it is a bloodbath. Go in there and start canvassing the voters. You help me Grace, and perhaps, I will forget to mention this to Mom and Dad.”

*  *  *  *

Kyle watched Grace walk into the school. He frowned slightly. This wasn't the welcome he was hoping for. He had considered her more than just his supervisor, and if it hadn’t been for that no-fraternization policy, which she held up like a shield between them for the last six months, their relationship might have progressed beyond the employer/employee stage. At the very least, he had hoped Grace would be happy to see him.

Granted, he was partially responsible for her firing
. Which was so unusual. Usually, he was getting her out of trouble, not into it. He still couldn't understand how she survived until he came on the picture. If anyone needed an assistant, it was her, and it had quickly turned out to be a full-time job.

He almost panicked when he went to her apartment this morning
, and was told by her neighbor she had packed up and moved.

He had the devil of a time finding
her. Luckily, he ran into Mina, from personnel, and was able to convince her to have lunch with him. An hour later, he had the address where Grace's final check was to be sent. A few minutes after that, he had her mother’s phone number.

Now here he was
, at her old school, watching her walk away again. Kyle's frown deepened. She didn't seem too happy when he arrived. He didn't like the idea of these people laughing at her. Though, he had to admit, this whole detective thing was pretty funny.

Kyle smiled.
It's so unlike her. She'll never be able to pull it off. At least not by herself, he thought.

Kyle ran his hand
through his hair, considering. How hard would it be to pretend to be a detective? It would just be for the night. In fact, this would be a good way to apologize to her for getting her fired. Decided, Kyle walked up the steps to the school and opened the door.

*  *  *  *

“This is my five-year old, Aaron. Isn't he cute? He’s been accepted into the Caine Academy. That’s for gifted children, you know,” Laura Talbot drawled.

Grace dutifully nodded at the pictures presented to her. For the last thirty minutes
, she had chatted with various classmates, trying to win votes for her sister. So far, all she had succeeded in doing was verifying that almost everyone in her class had brought along their photo albums to offer visual proof to the world that their children were obviously smarter and prettier than anyone else's children.

As far as the R
eunion King and Queen went, Tom Lake had a lock on Reunion King, which, considering his good looks, popularity in school, and success after school wasn't that surprising. Reunion Queen, however, was very much in the air.

There were three contestants: Hope
Holliday, Crystal Lake, and Chloe Bell. The two main contenders, however, were Hope and Crystal. Almost half the class (mostly the men) intended to vote for Hope, simply based on her popularity while in school and her successful modeling career after. The other half (mostly the women) considered her celebrity status negatively, and were planning on voting for Crystal, the ‘home-town girl’, who was actively involved in several local charities.

“Your children are so beautiful. They look like they could be models. Speaking of models,” Grace said
, desperately trying to find a way to steer the conversation into the real reason she was here, “did you know my sister is in the running for Reunion Queen?”

“Oh, yes. I absolutely love
, Hope!”

Grace smiled. Another vote.

“I was planning on voting for her, but I’ve decided to go with Crystal.”

Grace’s smiled falter
ed. “Why, did Hope do something?”

“No, not at all. It just would
n’t be right for Tom to be the King and his wife to lose.”

“Oh, I’
m sure Crystal wouldn’t mind,” Grace lied.

“You’ve met Crystal, haven’t
you?” Laura asked, before taking back her pictures and moving on to another classmate.

Surprisingly enough, there was a
small contingent of voters, who were voting for Crystal simply based on whether they thought her husband would be King.

It was going to be close. To
o close for Grace’s comfort.

Grace just hoped that whatever happened
, Hope would be a gracious winner or loser, as the case may be.

“Hello everyone!
Can I have everyone's attention?” Grace looked up to see her sister standing in the middle of the stage holding a microphone. Grace had forgotten that ‘gracious’ wasn’t in Hope’s vocabulary.

“I hope everyone remembers me
, but just in case you've forgotten, I am Hope Holliday,” she said, as modestly as she could over the crowd's cheers. “I just wanted to say how happy I am to be back home.” More cheers. “I have missed you all. No place I have been, and I have been everywhere, compares to home.”

Grace felt a cold hand touch the small of her back. “How does she say these things with a straight face? I really should have her in my next movie.”

Grace laughed. “Adam, I doubt you could afford her.”

“You’re probably right. So
, where did you disappear to?”

“I didn't disappear. I have been right here getting to know my old classmates.”

“Oh no! I know what you have been up to. Hope roped you into getting her votes.”

“How did you guess?”
she said, looking up into his handsome face. Tilting her head, she noticed the bruise she had seen earlier was now missing.

“She ga
ve me the same marching orders. It's not looking good. I think Crystal has a small majority. What will Hope do to us if we fail?”

“I have no idea
, but I am going to be standing right by the door when they make the announcement.”

“All right, if they announce Crystal's name
, I'll be right behind you.” Adam laughed. “Hey, I'm sorry for all the trouble Steve and the others were giving you at the table. Steve was always a jerk.”

“Let's forget abo
ut what happened at the table.” Grace desperately wished everyone could forget about what happened at the table.

“Your boss is . . . interesti
ng. He seems rather young to be a detective.” Grace nodded, as she tried to think of a way to casually steer the conversation away from Kyle. “He has led a rather fascinating life. You too, apparently. I am still having trouble believing everything he has been saying about you. With all that you’ve done, when did you have time to become an expert in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and cage fighting?”

“Weekends,” she
lied automatically, while thinking Kyle had better pray she never does take up Jiu-Jitsu.

Adam looked
at her doubtfully. “Hmm. I’m still thinking of hiring you two, or actually, just you. I need help.”

Grace quickly shook her head. “Sorry, Adam. I don’t work alone
, and I’m afraid Mr. Drake’s already on his way back to New York.”

“No, he's not.
He’s over there.” Adam pointed to a table, near the entrance, surrounded by people.

Grace turned her head in time to see Kyle pull brightly
colored-scarves out of his coat. Feeling the nerve behind her left eye twitch, Grace reached a hand up to her head.

“
Uh oh. Crystal just got on the stage. This looks interesting. I think I'll go watch. Coming?”

Grace was torn between wanting to support her sister
, and wanting to strangle Kyle. Finally, self-preservation won out over loyalty, as Grace turned towards Kyle and his groupies. “No. I think I should talk to my . . . my . . .” Grace gestured hopelessly, trying to think of what she should call him.

“Your boss?”
Adam supplied helpfully.

“Yeah, my boss. He's going to miss his flight if he doesn't leave
. I’d better get him on his way. See you later,” she said, trying to weave through the crowd.

Everything's going to b
e all right, she thought, trying to console herself. There's nothing to worry about. In a few minutes, Kyle will be out the door, and far far away from her friends. Grace vowed to make sure he would be far far away, even if she had to buy a plane ticket, and personally escort him back to New York tonight. Hopefully, he's just been talking about the school, or the weather, or New York.

“T
hat's when I discovered the murderer was actually the police detective investigating the case,” she overheard Kyle telling the crowd that had gathered around the table. Feeling nauseous, Grace pushed her way past the group to reach Kyle’s side.

“W
hat did you do? How were you able to prove the astronaut was the one who killed the old man?” a man Grace recognized from her eleventh grade science class asked animatedly.

Kyle
, noticing Grace was now standing next to him, smiled up at her. “Well luckily my able assistant, Ms. Holliday, was there. She found the proof and—”

“And that was it. I'm sorry to interrupt
, but could I speak to you? Please, sir?” Grace grabbed one of Kyle's arms. Wrapping her other arm around his waist, she pulled him out of his chair, and back toward the gym doors behind them. She had always heard that fear can cause people to exhibit almost superhuman strength, such as mothers lifting cars off their children. She didn't believe it, but now she felt that if she had to she could have picked Kyle up in her arms and carried him back to New York.

As soon as they were back outside and away f
rom others, she wheeled around. “Have you lost your mind? What are you doing?”

“You should have been t
here. They were eating it up. They loved it.” Kyle leaned back against a lamppost. “You know, your friends are really nice.”

“Go home, Kyle.”

“I can't. My plane doesn't leave for another week. Don't worry,” Kyle added, as Grace paced in front of him, massaging her temples, and talking to herself. “I have this all under control.”

Grace stopped her pacing. “I’m going to kill you.
I have to live here, you know. I’ll be seeing some of these people every day. Hopefully, I’ll find a job soon. What am I going to tell them if they ask me about some of these stories you are telling? I don’t know anything about being a detective.”

“
Shh. Someone's coming,” Kyle hissed.

The
y both watched as Melodie opened the door. “Hey, you guys aren't leaving, are you? Please don't go.” Melodie reached out to grab Grace's hand and drag her back inside.

Grace watched in surprise as
Melodie’s eyes began filling up with tears. “I need your help. We have to keep Hope and Crystal away from each other. I have such a bad feeling about tonight. I worked so hard to make our reunion wonderful, and now it’s being destroyed.”