Fool Me Once

by Fern Michaels

  Who was she kidding? She could blast out of there with a moment’s notice. Old habits die hard, she thought when she looked at the small travel bag that was packed in the corner. All she had to do was pick it up, and she was gone.

  Her shoulders straightened as she walked over to the corner and picked up the bag. She plopped it down on the bed, opened it, and took everything out. She zipped the bag shut and shoved it into the closet. Everything else went in drawers or on hangers.

  Done.

  She was finished with running. She’d been running one way or another ever since Allison Matthews had revealed the role she and Gwen had to play after the robbery. But things got much worse the night that odious old man from the bank, Allison Matthews’s former boss, decided that in addition to the usual services she provided, he wanted her, and for the three nights of the annual Faulkner conference, have her he did. And that was how she became pregnant with Mary Louise, and that was why she had been emotionally dysfunctional ever since, unable to be a mother to her child, a wife to her husband, a grandmother to her grandchildren. But now the running was over. Things had to change. And change they would.

  Confession was good for the soul.

  Sleeping soundly at night was something to dream about.

  She wanted to get to know Alan Freeman better.

  That was her bottom line.

  Jill looked in her refrigerator, wondering what she was going to make for dinner. She finally selected a small steak and set it on the sink to thaw. She made fresh coffee even though she didn’t really want it. It was something to do while her mind raced.

  The next two hours were spent on the phone and her laptop. After packing up her laptop, she made her dinner, ate quickly, washed the dishes, and changed her clothes.

  At five o’clock Jill closed and locked her apartment door. She drove to Memphis, where she boarded a flight that would take her to Charleston, South Carolina. In Charleston she rented a car, drove to Summerville, and took a room at the Hampton Inn, which was just a mile or so away from where Gwen lived.

  That night Jill Laramie slept like an innocent child. It was the first full night’s sleep she’d had in over forty years.

  The minute she woke and looked at her small travel clock, she knew she’d made the right decision in coming there.

  Jill showered, dressed, and checked out. She didn’t bother with coffee or breakfast but climbed in the car, looked down at the directions lying on the passenger seat of the car. Within minutes, she was knocking on the door of Gwen’s trailer. When the door opened, the two women looked at each other and burst into tears. “Come in, come in,” said Gwen.

  Dozens of cats scattered in every direction. At least Gwen has someone to love her, Jill thought, her arm still around her old friend.

  “Would you like some coffee? It’s instant.”

  “Sure,” Jill said, looking around. Everything was shabby but neat and tidy.

  “I guess it’s time, huh?” Gwen called from the kitchen area.

  “I’m afraid so, Gwen. I don’t know about you, but I can’t live like this anymore. Let’s just get it over with.”

  “But I thought…”

  Jill whipped out a copy of USA Today and handed it to Gwen. “You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to know how all of this is going to go down. You know how reporters are. I’m so sick of the lies, the running, I can’t take it anymore. I swear, Gwen, if that woman hadn’t died, I think I was capable of killing her myself.”

  Gwen handed Jill a cup of coffee. She slurped at her own. “I want to make sure I understand, Jill. Are you saying we’re finally going to tell the whole truth and not that story we’ve stuck with all these years?”

  Jill blinked as she sipped at the scalding coffee. “Yes.” She looked around. “Why didn’t you tell me you were living like this? I would have given you money.”

  “Because we agreed. I screwed up, and this is the result. I didn’t want you to see what…You know what? It doesn’t matter. When the girl came here, I stayed with our script.”

  “I did, too. Still, you should have told me. I would have helped you. Listen, I booked us on an afternoon flight to Washington, D.C. Can you find someone to take care of your cats till you get back? I’ll give you the money, Gwen.”

  “What…what if I…can’t come back? What happens to my cats?”

  Jill pointed to the paper lying on Gwen’s ample lap. “I don’t think that girl will let anything happen to your cats. Now, do you have enough cat food to put out?”

  “Just bought a big bag yesterday along with fresh kitty litter. They’ll be good for a couple of days. Are you sure, Jill?”

  Jill ran her hands through her hair. “I’m sure, Gwen. Look, no offense, but you and I have to go shopping. I saw a store called Belk’s on my way here. We’ll get you outfitted, have some lunch, then head for the airport. Is that okay with you?”

  “I guess so. Should I call my son?”

  “Not yet, Gwen. Things might not go our way, even though I think they will. Let’s not look for trouble ahead of time. I didn’t tell Mary Louise.” Tears spurted in Jill’s eyes.

  “Don’t cry, Jill. Now that we’re at the end of the road, maybe somehow we can make it right. If we can’t, then so be it.”

  “Do you need any help with the cats?”

  “No, they all eat out of the same bowls. It won’t take but a few minutes. If you’re intent on fixing me up, I’ll have to owe you, Jill.”

  “Oh, pooh, just forget that. I saw a beauty shop on the way, too. Want to get a haircut and shampoo? Does wonders for your self-confidence.”

  “Well, sure.” Gwen laughed. “God, I’ve missed you, Jill. Do you think the girl believed all those stories we told her about not being in touch? I really don’t think Allison ever bought into it. She knew that the two of us were close and she was the outsider.”

  “Who knows? At this point, Gwen, it doesn’t even matter. One lie or a hundred lies, what difference does it make? None. Are you ready?”

  “Just let me wash my hands and I’ll be ready to go.”

  Outside, Gwen locked the door and reminded Jill about the missing step. Jill hopped over the space, and Gwen more or less lumbered down.

  Jill turned to look at her friend of many years. “When this is all over, there is no way I’m letting you come back here. I’ll buy you a van, and you can pack up the cats and move with me back to Mississippi. We aren’t getting any younger, my friend. Something tells me we are going to need each other if the dark stuff hits the fan. You okay with that?”

  “Will you have enough money left after you do the payback?” Gwen asked hesitantly.

  “Not a lot, but enough for both of us if we get jobs. You can live with me until we find you a decent place that will allow all those cats. C’mon, now, we have some shopping to do.”

  “Jill, what about our kids?”

  Jill stopped in her tracks. “We blew that one a long time ago, Gwen. I don’t know about you, but I say we let sleeping dogs lie. I sure as hell don’t want them knowing the whole sorry story, do you? Can you imagine how they’d react, your son a cop and all? Do you want to take that chance? I don’t.”

  Gwen’s voice was hesitant, doubtful. “My grandkids…”

  “Yes, I know. Mary Louise has twins. I don’t want to ruin their lives. It’s time we took responsibility for our actions. Damn Allison Matthews! Do you think she’s in hell, Gwen?”

  Gwen straightened her plump shoulders. “I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised,” she responded hopefully.

  “Okay, here’s the plan once we get to D.C. I’m going to call Dennis Lowell and ask him to meet us there. He at least deserves to know our story and Allison’s role in it. I’m going to call my ex, Gill. He deserves to know, too.” She paused. “Do you want to call either one of your exes?”

  “No. I think both of them are in jail somewhere. Let’s not even go there, Jill.”

  “It’s going to be tough for both of us to finally spill ou
r guts.”

  Gwen laughed as Jill made a left turn at the light that would take them to Belk’s. “Yeah, but think about how good it’s going to feel to get this monkey off our shoulders. What’s Ole Miss like these days, Jill?” she asked wistfully.

  “You aren’t going to believe the changes. It’s wonderful. I think you’re going to feel like I did. It was like going home again. Without the bad memories. They’re all dead, Gwen. We outlived them all. We’re the good guys, so that has to count for something. We’ll make good lives for ourselves. Will you trust me?”

  Gwen didn’t have to think twice. “Of course I trust you.”

  Jill leaned over and patted her friend’s hand. “Coming here was the best thing I ever did, Gwen. I just want you to know that.”

  Gwen squeezed Jill’s fingers. When she spoke, her voice was little more than a hushed, apologetic whisper. “I hope she’s roasting in hell, Jill.”

  Jill looked at her friend with wet eyes. She didn’t say anything, but she nodded in agreement.

  Chapter 26

  Anita Wellesley adjusted her glasses as she filled out Form 246ZV12 for a temporary kennel license. When she reached the line that called for a signature, she bit down on her lip and signed it Olivia Lowell. She added Olivia’s address next to the signature.

  Ten minutes later, Anita walked out of the office holding the temporary license that said Olivia Lowell could operate a terrier rescue out of her home for a period of ninety days.

  Anna Pellecone beamed her pleasure when Anita waved the temporary license in the air as she climbed into the specially outfitted van. In the back, separated by a metal grille, eleven silver-toned Yorkshire terriers vented their displeasure at being cooped up in the van. Anna started to sing, and they quieted immediately, comforted by her sweet voice. One by one, they dozed off. When it was totally quiet, Anna spoke softly. “I hope this is the right thing to do, honey.”

  “It is, Mom. We can’t let a bunch of vultures take that little dog away from Ms. Lowell and her fiancé. When she was at the house you could see how much she loved the dogs. You heard her, Mom. If we can help, we have to do it, and it’s just temporary.”

  “Maybe we should have called her about your…your plan,” the older woman fretted.

  “Mom, didn’t you see the news this morning? Her house is surrounded by TV people and media groups. We have to strike while we can before some smart-ass lawyer shows up with whatever it is lawyers show up with that will allow them to take the dog away from that couple. Our own organization, and everyone else I could think of, is already out there protesting. It’s going to be a circus. I just hope we aren’t too late as it is. Call her, Mom. I wrote the number on that sticky note on the back of the phone. Tell her to clear her driveway so I can back the van into her garage. If she’s as smart as I think she is, she’ll have it all figured out by the time we get there.”

  Anna Pellecone followed her daughter’s instructions. When she hung up the phone, she was beaming. “I think she got it! She sounds real nervous, though—I could hear it in her voice. We cannot let those legal beagles take that little dog away from them, Anita.”

  “Mom, hello! Why do you think we’re on our way to her house? I forged her name to a temporary kennel license. We’ve got eleven dogs in the back who look just like Cecil and Loopy, all silver in color, all with beige faces, short tails, and the same haircuts. No one is taking that dog! They won’t know which one is Cecil. I think—and this is just a guess on my part—it’s why she came to us in the first place, to get a dog just like Cecil. This way we now have an even dozen extras. It’s a reprieve, though I have to be honest—I don’t know how long we can hold out. I think it’s a stroke of genius on our part. Uh oh, would you look at that street!” Anita said as she carefully turned the corner onto Eagle Drive.

  Anna Pellecone rolled her window up tight, grateful for the tinted glass. Anita drove down the street at a crawl, doing her best not to hit people running about. A child had set up a lemonade stand and was doing a brisk business. Farther down the street someone was selling yellow balloons with Cecil’s name on them. He seemed to be doing a brisk business, too. Hundreds of people with their pets on leashes lined both sides of the street. A tethered goat was making all kinds of noises.

  A circus.

  Olivia opened the garage door the moment she spotted Anita’s van. It just took seconds for Anita to turn into the driveway and enter the garage. The minute the van was secure inside, the garage door went down. Anita hopped out and ran to Olivia to hug her, the kennel license in her hand. She started to babble. She ended with, “I forged your name, but I don’t think anyone is going to notice or say anything. I’m going to need some help getting these guys out of the van.”

  “Why…why are you doing this?” Olivia stuttered.

  “Somebody needs to be in Cecil’s corner. Mom and I liked you. We just want to help. It’s temporary, Olivia, but it might help.”

  Jeff was standing in the kitchen when Olivia opened the garage door. When the quartet of silver dogs, Cecil’s body doubles, raced into the kitchen, “Wow!” was all he could think of to say.

  Within seconds, Cecil was lost in the herd. Olivia clapped her hands in delight. “Let them come and try to take him! Just let them try! Oh, Anita, this is so great! Hey, where’s your mom?”

  “In the van. There wasn’t enough room in the back for her wheelchair.”

  “I’ll get her!” Jeff volunteered. He was back within minutes with Anna Pellecone in his arms. He set her down carefully on one of the kitchen chairs.

  Anna looked around and smiled. “This is so nice, so cozy. The dogs will love it here.” She looked over at Olivia. “You’re going to find a lot of little puddles today, but by tomorrow they’ll get the hang of going outdoors. A new place and all,” she said by way of explanation. “Now, is there anything we can do in regard to that circus outside?”

  “Just being here is more than enough. All those people outside, I just never…The phone is ringing off the hook. I haven’t been answering it this morning. The wire services picked up my friend’s story from our local paper. CBS and NBC are outside with their satellite trucks. Jeff and I are going to have to go out there pretty soon and make a statement.”

  Jeff held up his hand and pointed to the television sitting on the kitchen counter. “Who’s that?” Olivia demanded.

  “Shhh. It’s Lillian Manning’s long-lost relative. The tabloids found him. I think that’s English he’s speaking. Hard to tell with his drawl.”

  Olivia gasped. “That…that’s who they want to give Cecil to?”

  “Shhh, listen, Olivia.”

  A tall, lanky young man with long, greasy-looking hair scratched his skinny chest as he looked into the camera. “I cain’t say I knowed the lady, but I does love dogs. Hound dogs in pertic’lar. I ain’t even thought about the money. I seen a picture of the house that’s mine now. I might git a pool table, mebbe a bowling alley.” He hitched up jeans that were just as dirty as the shirt he was wearing. He puffed on a cigarette in between bursts of speech. “No, it ain’t marijuana,” he said, pointing the cigarette at the camera covering him. He let loose with a hacking cough and spit out of the corner of his mouth.

  “Yeah, yeah, that’s my hog,” the lanky man responded to a question, pointing to a rusty-looking motorcycle. “I’m gittin’ it fixed soons they send me some money. I need to go there to collect the dog and the money. Mebbe today. They said they wuz wiring the money to the cycle people. You want to talk to me anymore, you is going to have to pay me. That’s all, folks. No more interviews. Don’t aks me any more questions. I’m done.”

  The camera stayed on the dirty-looking man as he walked over to a trailer, where six or seven men who looked worse than he did were drinking from long-necked bottles of Bud. He reached for one and downed it in two gulps before tossing it into the air. One of his buddies whipped out a shotgun and shot the bottle in midair. A pack of skinny-looking wild dogs in the background barked shr
illy at the sound of the shotgun blast. The scraggly-looking group cackled with delight before the camera crew switched back to the studio.

  “Oh myyyyy God!” Olivia cried.

  Her hand shook as she poured out coffee into the cups Jeff handed her.

  “Olivia, think about it. That tabloid just did us the biggest favor of our lives. Half the world saw what we just saw. Does that guy look like someone you’d trust your dog with? I don’t think so! I think once the firm gets a look at that particular segment, they’re going to fall back and regroup.”

  Anita walked over to the sliding door, opened it, and stepped back as the herd of dogs whooped and yapped their way out to the yard. She smiled like a doting mother. “That’s good for our side, isn’t it?” she called over her shoulder. She motioned Olivia to the door. “See if you can pick Cecil out of the pack.”

  Olivia walked out onto the deck to check on the playful dogs. She whistled, then called Cecil’s name. All the dogs beelined for the deck. She burst out laughing.

  “I took all their collars off, but I know which one is which,” Anita said. “This is a new batch of dogs, and none of them has been microchipped yet. We’re going to start using the microchips soon. We’re having a bake sale and car wash next weekend to raise funds to do it. Even though our vet discounts his time, we still have to pay him something.”

  Olivia wiped at the corners of her eyes. “If we pull this off, Anita, you aren’t going to have to worry about anything again. Even if we don’t pull it off, you still won’t have to worry. How are we fixed for dog food?”

  “I brought all we had at home. It will tide you over for a few days. I can get more on the way home. The other rescuers will help when we run short. We should get going. Mom doesn’t like to be out too long. She’s really going to miss the Yorkies, but we still have a poodle and a Scottie that have to be taken care of. I hope it all works out, Olivia. If you need me, call. I can be here in twenty minutes. Don’t lose that license—put it someplace safe.”