The Deception (13 page)

"It's like I already told you, I went to college and then I went to law school."

"Where?"

"I went to law school down in Tucson, at the University of Arizona."

"I see. So did you meet anyone interesting while you were there?"

"You mean did I have any girlfriends?" He glanced at her as she nodded. "Yes, Carrie, I've had plenty of girlfriends. The first significant one was back in college, about the time we lost touch with one another. I met Mattie when you first started going out with Doug. I went out with her for about a year or so. Others came along after her. Some I kept around for awhile, others were just short-term flings, like you and Scott. For the most part, I've had a good time, but there was never anyone I wanted to make any kind of long-term commitment to. Except for one, sort of."

"What do you mean?"

"I got engaged a few years ago," he explained. "Her name was Casey. I met her at the U of A. She was an economics major. I was in love, or so I thought, but as the wedding date drew closer I kept having more and more second thoughts. Then one morning I woke up and realized I couldn't go through with it. It's hard to explain. It's like I loved her, as a person, but I was never truly in love with her. The passion just wasn't there, at least not for me. That's when I knew it would never work, so I called it off."

"What happened after that?"

"Well, she wasn't too happy with me, to say the least, so it didn't end very well. I heard through the grapevine that she married someone else, about a year or so ago."

"Have you met anyone since then?"

"Nah," he replied. "Certainly not anyone one worth mentioning. I'm much too busy being a workaholic lawyer. I go out here and there, but never anything serious. I think my parents have finally given up on me. They've pretty much written me off as a confirmed bachelor, but at least Mark got married."

"I'd forgotten about your little brother."

"He's not so little anymore. He's now about two inches taller than me. He's a structural engineer, working for a firm in San Diego. He's got a wife, a two-year old boy, and another little boy on the way. The baby's due in November. It's funny how the Montoyas always seem to have boys. I never had a sister, and neither did my father or grandfather, nor did any of my uncles have any daughters. And despite my apparent lack of a love life, for the past few years I've had a recurring dream off and on about a son I'll apparently have someday. I think he's still a ways off, but it'd be nice if somewhere along the line one of us had a girl. She'd be the family princess. So, how 'bout you?"

"You saw the photos, Alex. What else is there for you to know about me?"

"That's not what I meant."

"I know, and I'm sorry," she said, apologetically. "I'm just cranky these days. So, let's see... I got my degree in business administration, and I also took as many photography classes as I could. After I graduated, I went to work for one of those portrait studios. It wasn't a great job but it got my foot in the door. My mother's the one who first encouraged me to strike out on my own. So did Doug, later on. That was about the time he and I had decided to move in together. So I took their advice and set up shop. Louise was a big help too. I thought we'd be friends forever. Who knew, huh?"

"Carrie-Anne, can I tell you something?"

"What?"

"I've always had the ability to read people like books, even when I was a kid. I find it comes in really handy, especially when I'm in a courtroom. Most of the time I'm right on the money and Carrie-Anne, I'm telling you, right now, I never liked Louise."

"Really? Why not?"

"Because she's a self-centered narcissist. Sure, she comes across as very sincere and very charming, but when you listen, really closely, it's always all about Louise."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, I'll give you an example," he explained. "When she called you that day about that photo shoot, what did she say?"

"She said she was concerned about my living arrangements. Then she told me she'd just gotten a private commission, she needed a model, and it would pay enough to get me into an apartment."

"Bingo," exclaimed Alex.

"What do you mean?"

"Did she say, 'Carrie, why don't you stay with us until you get on your feet?' No. Did she say, 'Carrie, let me help you, and we'll work it out later?' No. It was, 'Carrie, so sorry you're down and out, but if you'll do me this one little favor you can get into an apartment.'"

"Good heavens, you're right." She sounded astonished. "When she first brought it up I was hesitant. Then she told me that if I didn't want to do it she'd find someone else. I knew, right then, that she wouldn't help me if I said no. And now that you bring it up, I honestly can't recall a time when Louise ever called me just to ask how I was doing. It was always to ask for a favor, usually her grunt work. She never did a thing for me without my having to do something for her first, but she always had a way of wording things that made you think she really cared. She'd also make you feel guilty if you said no."

"She's obviously a master manipulator, Carrie-Anne. She never was your friend. As unpleasant as this is all going to be for you, and please understand, you'll be in for a real roller-coaster ride, one good thing will come out of it. By the time this is over, you'll know who your friends really are."

They began to reminisce about old times and before long the timer went off. Alex went into the kitchen to pull the macaroni and cheese out of the oven. It was bubbling hot and crispy brown on the top. He filled two plates, grabbed some forks and napkins, and brought it back to the sofa. Carrie savored the cheesy flavor as she recalled the times his mother made her macaroni and cheese when they were children. She had two more helpings before Alex brought out some brownies for their dessert. By the time he finished cleaning up the kitchen, he noticed the color had finally returned to her face. It was time for him to say goodnight. He had to be in his office bright and early the following morning to begin work on her case.

"It's good having you back, Carrie-Anne," he said as he hugged her.

"You too. You know, it's funny, Alex. I've been thinking about you a lot lately. I've really missed you, and now here you are."

He kissed her on the forehead and gave her one more hug before he stepped out, reminding her to lock her door behind him.

A
llison helped Carrie bring the last of the grocery bags into the kitchen. They set them on the counter and Carrie began unloading them.

"I've got the receipt in my purse, Allie," said Carrie as she filled her empty cupboards with canned goods. "I'm going back to my office as soon as we're done. I have two projects that I need to finish. As soon as I get paid I'll pay you back."

"I've already told you, there's no rush. You've always been there for me over the years and now it's my turn. Remember, back in high school, how I was struggling with algebra, and you and Alex helped me. If it hadn't been for the two of you, I would have flunked."

"I remember, but that was more Alex than me. He was a whiz at math."

"And he's a pretty smart lawyer, too. Steve's mentioned him to me a few times over the years, and all this time I had no idea that his Alex was our Alex. It was surprise to me as well. So, what's he like these days?"

"The same. He's finally put on some weight so he's not bone-skinny and gawky like he used to be. In fact, he looks pretty darn good. Other than that, he's still our same old Alex. He's smart, he's funny, but nothing gets past him. Wish he'd been around last fall, back when Doug first dumped me. I wouldn't be in the mess I'm in now."

"You don't know that, Carrie. If I was down and out and had no place to turn I would have probably done Louise's photo shoot too. But somewhere along the line you've seriously pissed someone off and that's what has me scared."

"I know and I'm worried too, but worried or not, I have to go back to my office today. I have someone who's on a tight deadline. When Steve told me to shut my door and go home I sent an email blast to all my clients telling them I had an unexpected emergency. Now I'm starting to hear back from some of them. They need their photos and I need the work."

"I understand, but what if some sicko shows up at your door?"

"My website is still down," said Carrie. "If anyone looking at
Gentry Magazine
decides to do a Google search on me all they'll find is an under construction page, but at some point I have to get my website back up. I'm starting to worry that people might start thinking I'm out of business. I've had three cancelations so far this week. That's not good."

"No, it's not, but it might also be Louise's doing. You said she was going to ruin you. It's entirely possible that she's getting ahold of your clients and telling them to stop doing business with you."

"Then that's all the more reason for me to get back to work."

She began placing the frozen foods into the freezer. Just as she emptied the last grocery bag her phone rang. She checked the caller
ID
, quickly excusing herself as she stepped out of the kitchen and into the living room. Allison remained in the kitchen, although she could hear Carrie's end of the conversation. It sounded like there was some kind of a problem with her mother. She waited quietly until Carrie got off the phone.

"That was someone from the nursing home."

"Yeah, I gathered that," replied Allison. "Is there anything wrong?"

"They wanted to let me know that Mama's come down with a fever. Apparently she woke up with it this morning. They've put her on some antibiotics, but with her being in the condition she's in, her immune system just isn't that strong anymore. Even a cold can make her seriously ill, so now there'll be even more prescriptions to tack onto her bill."

"Carrie, I know you're heard this before, but it's time to make her a ward of the state. You're at the point now where you can no longer buy enough food for yourself. You did the best you could for her and I know she'd be really proud of you for everything you've done, but she's your mother. Trust me, she would never, ever, want to see you literally starving yourself in order to take care of her. In fact, if she knew that you'd gone without eating for two days, she'd be mad as hell at you."

Carrie let out a long sigh and remained silent for a few moments.

"You're right, Allison. I guess it's time, isn't it? Okay, I'll call Mr. Greene and set up a meeting with him. He said that when the time came he'd help me with the paperwork, but I still feel like I've failed her."

"You haven't failed her," assured Allison. "In fact, you've gone above and beyond the call of duty. Most people in your situation would have made her a ward of the state a long time ago, but you were willing to give up everything you had to take care of her. There's no greater love than that, but now it's time to start taking care of you. So let's start by going to lunch. Since I'm all ready in the neighborhood, I told Steve I'd meet him at twelve-thirty and Alex is joining us. I'm anxious to see him too. Why don't you come with us?"

"I would, Allie, but I have to get to the office. I need to get those projects finished, today if at all possible. I have to take care of my own clients."

"I understand. Just be careful, okay?"

"I will."

Carrie opened the refrigerator and grabbed the container with Alex's leftover macaroni and cheese. Packing it into a small cooler, she promised Allison she'd stop to take a lunch break. The two women headed out to the parking lot where Carrie said goodbye, thanking her friend once again before hopping in her car and heading to the studio. Once she arrived, she was relieved to find everything just as she'd left it. She set up her lights and started to work. She was well into the first shoot when she heard her cell phone going off. She checked the caller
ID
, relieved it wasn't the nursing home calling again.

"Carrie-Anne, how could you? After all I've done for you, you've turned around and stood me up."

"You're so full of it, Alex." She smiled at the sound of his laughter. "You know, if you'd actually called and invited me to lunch yourself, instead of just assuming that I'd come with Allie..."

"Okay, point taken, but I'm concerned about you being in your office alone. We still don't know who set you up, but they obviously know where you work. One of our other clients is a private security company. I'd like to talk to them about having someone guard you whenever you're there."

"Alex, I appreciate it, but if I don't have the funds to pay you then how can I afford to pay them?"

"We'll worry about that later. In the meantime, would you like to hear some good news?"

"You bet."

"I spent most of the morning on the phone with Caleb Wyman and his attorneys," he explained. "They're aware that you didn't enter their contest and that the signature on the release form is a forgery."

"Okay, so what do they plan on doing about it?"

"They're going pay Louise a handsome royalty. That's about all they can do. You are, of course, disqualified from the photo contest, and you won't be able to cash the check."

"I wasn't going to cash it."

"I know that," he said, "it's just standard business practice. I already told them you'd given the check to me and that we needed to keep it as evidence. They said they understood. What matters is that Louise will come out smelling like a rose. She'll collect a substantial sum of money and she'll get some free publicity to boot."