Fool Me Once

by Fern Michaels

  “Gwen and I talked it over, and decided to tell you that, yes, we’ve been in touch through the years out of necessity. The papers, the diary, the request Allison made of you to find us—all of that was lies. She knew where we were and how to get in touch with both of us if she wanted to. She chose to ignore us for good reason. She considered both of us as loose cannons. She was afraid that we would expose her dirty secret. Once she learned that we had freed ourselves from the trap she built for us, she disappeared from our lives. We never revealed her new name, and she never told the good ole boys about it.”

  Jill stopped long enough to take a deep breath. “The theft wasn’t the simple operation that Allison made it out to be. It was something much worse, which she’d planned and plotted for a very long time. Somehow, Allison found out that Mr. Augustus, the owner of the bank, was involved in something with a few of his cronies. That’s when she decided to steal one of the shipments of bearer bonds, being pretty sure he was in no position to go to the authorities. We didn’t know all the details in the beginning. All we knew was that she needed us to pull off the robbery. We were young and stupid, and all that money was more than either one of us could turn our back on. Allison made it all sound so easy, so simple. Then she betrayed us, too—but by the time we found out, it was too late. We were in too deep.

  “What she didn’t tell us was that when Mr. Augustus began to suspect her, she made a deal with him. It was a pact with the devil himself. Mr. Augustus got the insurance money. She got the bonds. At first he didn’t even know that anyone other than Allison was involved. Win-win, that kind of thing.

  “A year after, and I stress the word after, we successfully pulled off the robbery, Allison told us about the string attached to the deal, courtesy of Mr. Augustus.” Jill reached down for the can of Coke and took a long gulp. She set the can down on a paper napkin and prepared to continue.

  Gwen reached over and patted Jill’s hand. “I’ll take it from here, Jill.” She turned to face Olivia and the others. “Allison said it was no big deal. All we had to do was become couriers for future shipments of bearer bonds. Pure and simple, it was blackmail. Allison said she’d been doing it for a year, moving the bonds from D.C., where she was working, to Oxford. You see, after the robbery, it was no longer possible for the bank to get insurance on that kind of ‘transaction,’ so Mr. Augustus had to figure out a way to get someone who would not be suspected, and who he had leverage with, to transport the bonds. Once he knew that Allison was involved with the theft, she fit the bill perfectly. But then something happened, I don’t know exactly what, and she could no longer get away the required four times a year. So she had to bring us into it. She told us how Mr. Augustus had begun to suspect her and forced her to agree to his scheme. When Allison told us about what we had to do, and where the money came from, Jill and I said no, absolutely not. Then Allison painted us a picture of prison life in Mississippi. In the end, we did it because we were literally scared out of our wits. It seems that these good ole boys were the ringleaders of a group that ran a number of houses of prostitution using underage girls—and boys. The bonds were the money-laundered proceeds from that activity.

  “Years later, we were able to get out from under. After Allison divvied up the bonds, Jill and I found the courage to threaten the old geezers with exposure to the authorities. We were prepared to go into hiding and turn over the evidence about their activities we had managed to gather over the years. Being the pillars of the community that they were, they didn’t want to be charged with the crimes they had committed even if they couldn’t be convicted.

  “They all sat on boards. They were all wealthy. They donated handsomely to every charity in town. Their wives and children were what we called upper crust, however lowlife the men themselves were. They finally let us walk away when they realized we had the evidence, which we had arranged to be turned over to the authorities if anything happened to us. By then, of course, Allison had left Dennis, left Olivia, changed her name, and disappeared, so they couldn’t find her.

  “When I got married, I was a terrible wife. I couldn’t love any man because I could no longer love myself. Later, I was a terrible mother. It was the same with Jill. I assume it was the same with Allison, and that’s why she gave you up, Olivia. But she was so corrupt, I can’t really be sure. I’m so sorry that I’m the one to be telling you this, but you came looking for us. If you hadn’t, we probably never would have done anything. Allison must have wanted you to know just how base she was—otherwise, she wouldn’t have sicced you onto us. She was an ugly, hateful person, and I no longer care why she did what she did. I think I speak for Jill, too.”

  It was Jill’s turn again. “Yes, Gwen speaks for me. Of course, Gwen and I didn’t want them to know about the prostitution ring, the money laundering, the robbery. We still don’t want them to know. When you showed up, Olivia, Gwen and I both knew it was just a matter of time before it all came out. We came here to bare our souls to you. I gave you back the money. Please, will you let it all die a natural death now? Our children and grandchildren are innocent. No good can come of telling them how their parents and grandparents spent the years after college,” Jill pleaded.

  Then, without giving Olivia a chance to respond, she continued, “But now I have to reveal one last thing, after which you may understand why I have no contact with my family. Gill is not Mary Louise’s natural father.”

  There were gasps all around the room.

  “Two years after we were married, on one of the courier trips I had to take, Mr. Augustus threatened to tell my husband about the crime if I would not have sex with him. So I did. And that’s when I became pregnant with Mary Louise.”

  “Oh, Jill, you poor darling,” Gwen said. “Why didn’t you tell me? I would have helped.”

  “How?” Jill replied. “We had no money. Remember, it was almost a year before we divvied up the bonds. Abortion was illegal. There was nothing to do, and I was so ashamed, I didn’t want anyone to know.”

  A bomb could have exploded next door and no one would have noticed. In the background, the dogs barked.

  Dennis Lowell dropped his head into his hands, finally coming to grips with the nature of the woman he had been unfortunate enough to marry. But could he really regret that marriage when they had created the wonderful daughter Olivia had turned out to be? Still, he made garbled noises behind his hands.

  Olivia, finally realizing the extent to which she had been manipulated, sat in stunned silence, tears rolling down her cheeks. Jeff put his arm around her shoulders.

  Gill Laramie gulped at his beer bottle.

  “Not that this matters, but since we’re telling you everything, we might as well tell you this, too. Gwen and I both went into therapy. We came to understand that Gwen had dealt with the guilt by marrying lousy husbands. She was relieved when they went through all the money. I, in turn, ran and hid. Speaking strictly for myself, there was no way I could love my daughter. Every time I looked at her I would think about the person who was her father and what I’d done. Gill did a better job of raising her than I ever could have. That’s why I stayed out of their lives. You, Olivia, were the lucky one. Dennis, because he’s a wonderful human being, loved you from the minute you were born and never let you know anything bad about your ‘dead’ mother. However evil Allison was, your father raised you to be a wonderful young woman. Don’t you ever forget that.”

  Olivia, still dazed, had eyes only for her father. She wiped her tears on the sleeve of her pink shirt. She wanted to run to him, to have him tell her he would make this all come out right. Dennis looked up through his own tears and held out his arms. She bolted forward. “It doesn’t matter to me, Dad. It doesn’t. Please, Dad, tell me it doesn’t matter to you. Please, Dad. Whatever that woman was like, it has nothing to do with us. Does it?”

  “No, it doesn’t, Ollie. Whatever your mother was, you’re my daughter. And a better daughter no man could have. That’s never going to change, no matter what.”
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  Reassured, with her father’s arms about her, Olivia looked at the other two women, who were also crying. She cleared her throat and wiped at her eyes again. “I know how hard it was to tell us about your past. I give you my word that I won’t say anything to your families. What I will tell you is that I set up trust funds for your children and grandchildren with some of the monies from Adrian Ames’s estate. Because it was the right thing to do.” She wiped at her eyes again. “The bank sent back the check the attorney sent them to pay off the robbery. They said they were paid years ago by the insurance company and the case is closed. So the money goes back to you. Let’s just say that the money you stole was advance payment for the services you were later required to perform. I, for one, have no intention of judging anyone. What are you going to do now?” Olivia held out the check, and both Gwen and Jill shook their heads as they reared back in their chairs. It was clear to everyone that they wanted nothing to do with the money.

  Gill Laramie stood up, a look of revulsion on his face. There was no forgiveness of any kind in his expression. He looked down at his ex-wife, the revulsion directed at her. “I cannot believe you let me believe all these years that Mary Louise was my daughter. That was beyond cruel, Jill. All those years of struggling, trying to raise her, college, all of that. I think you’re insane. You had free will. You didn’t have to do what you did.”

  “Gill, please don’t tell Mary Louise. Please.”

  “Don’t worry, I’m not going to tell her. I hope to hell God punishes you for what you did. Stay out of her life, and the twins’ lives, too. I hope I never have to see you again. You are despicable. Now, can someone call me a taxi to take me to the airport?”

  Jeff jumped to his feet and went to the kitchen to call the taxi.

  Dennis Lowell squeezed Olivia’s shoulders. Olivia leaned into him, savoring the comfort and strength of his body. Whoever her mother had been, he was her dad. He would always be her dad.

  Olivia looked at the two women, who looked drained. “What are you going to do now?”

  “We’re going back to Mississippi to pick up the pieces. We’ll get jobs, live together till we can get our lives on track. Maybe God will smile on us and let us find a chance at some happiness.”

  “Is that decision carved in stone?” Olivia asked.

  Gwen made a sound that passed for a laugh. “I live one day at a time. My biggest worry is how I can keep feeding my cats. Look, don’t feel sorry for us. We’ll find our way.”

  “I’m going to throw something out to you. Think about it. How would you two like to take over the operation of Adrian’s Treasures? There’s a big, fine house in the mountains that would be perfect for all those cats. There are any number of wonderful colleges in the area, if it’s the academic ambiance you’re looking for. You’ll earn a hefty salary, but you’ll be working for your money. You’ll learn the business in no time. It’s a win-win for both of you if you’re interested.”

  “Take over Adrian Ames’s business?” Jill gasped. “She would spin in her grave if she knew. I don’t have to think about it—my answer is yes. Talk about divine retribution!”

  “I’m in. As long as I can bring all my cats. Why would you do this for us?” Gwen asked, her eyes shining with unshed tears.

  Olivia smiled through her own tears. “Because it’s the right thing to do! Right, Dad?”

  Dennis laughed. “Yes, it’s the right thing to do, Ollie.”

  “There you go. My dad has the final word. Ladies, we have a deal!”

  The front door closed, and the back slider opened. All the little Cecils bounded into the room. They yipped and yapped as they clamored for attention. The women obliged by tickling them behind the ears and rubbing their little pink bellies.

  The worst was over.

  Chapter 28

  Olivia stared at the calendar hanging on the kitchen wall. Eight long days had passed since the “revelation” occurred. That’s how she thought of the meeting she’d had with Jill, Gwen, Gill, and her father—as the revelation. Her stomach churned as she moved back to the table and her cup of coffee. She was waiting for Jeff to come downstairs so they could go to court for Cecil’s scheduled hearing.

  Eagle Drive was starting to come alive with the reporters and camera crews. She knew without looking out the front window that by seven everyone would be drinking coffee out of styrofoam cups, waiting for Jeff to leave the house. She wondered if they would pack up and follow him or stay on Eagle Drive. It would probably be half and half, she decided.

  Olivia carried her coffee out to the deck, where the dogs were scampering around in the dew-moistened grass. How happy they all were! Just yesterday Jeff had taught the whole herd to jump through a hula hoop he’d found in the garage. The promise of a treat was reason enough to jump through the bright red hoop—except for Alice, who looked on with disdain at such shenanigans. However, when she saw the reward on the other end, she’d stirred herself and calmly approached the hoop and stepped through it. She did it five more times, earning a collection of six treats that she refused to share with anyone. Jeff laughed so hard he sat down and rolled on the grass, holding his sides.

  Dogs were not dumb, was his assessment later, when he could breathe again. Especially not Alice.

  Cecil pawed at Olivia’s leg; he wanted to be picked up. Olivia obliged and crooned to him, “It’s okay, Cecil. Trust me. Jeff isn’t going to let anyone take you away. He’s a lawyer. I know people hate lawyers, but he’s one of the nice ones.” Cecil licked at her chin before he snuggled into her arms. She hugged him.

  Olivia sipped at her morning coffee as she thought about the past eight days—days that had rocked her to the core of her being. One of these days, when her life returned to normal, she was going to go into D.C. by herself and walk around the Tidal Basin to get her thoughts and feelings in order. She hadn’t known it at the time because she was just a little girl, but her father had been in the habit of taking her there when he was stressed out about something. He’d hold her hand, talk to her about cartoons, roller-skating, sleepovers, all kinds of things until he worked out in his mind whatever was troubling him. Then they’d go for either a slice of pizza or an ice cream. Never both, and it was always her decision which one to have.

  Since the revelation, her father had called every single day to reassure her of his love, to tell her that nothing had changed now that they knew what they knew about the woman who had given birth to her. She believed him because she loved him. She’d done her best to reassure him that she felt the same way, and she did.

  The only change resulting from Gwen and Jill’s revelation was how much more Olivia hated the woman known as Adrian Ames. But Adrian, as much as Allison, belonged to the past, and Olivia had felt a sense of peace come over her these last few days.

  She thought back to the night of the revelation, when she’d seen her guests out the door, and although she hadn’t meant to eavesdrop, had heard Jill’s words carry up the driveway. She remembered seeing Jill put her hand on Gwen’s arm and turn the other woman toward her so they were face to face, when she said, “Yes, I think she’s in hell, Gwen.” Then, arm in arm, the two had climbed into the rental car and left.

  So many things had happened in the last eight days. Great Rock said their books were closed, too, and told Prentice O’Brien not to send them a check. The check from Jill and another check drawn on the funds the insurance company had refused, had gone into a special fund designated for animal rights, the homeless, soup kitchens, free medical and dental care for poor children, and everything else Olivia could think of to tack on to the new foundation.

  Gwen and Jill were now living in Adrian Ames’s house and were talking about selling it and moving the executive suite to Mississippi if Olivia approved. Jeff said he thought it was a good idea and undertook to provide them legal advice in conjunction with the company’s in-house legal department.

  As her father had said, things had a way of working themselves out for the best if you were just
patient. What a wise man he was.

  Olivia was jolted from her thoughts when she heard a voice at the back gate. “Hey, Ollie, it’s me, Dee Dee! Can I come in?”

  Cecil was off Olivia’s lap in the blink of an eye. The little herd escorted the reporter across the yard to the deck, which was a riot of bright red geraniums and Gerbera daisies in clay pots. A yellow butterfly settled on one of the blooms. Three of the little dogs watched the delicate butterfly but made no move to spring or pounce. Olivia smiled.

  Dee Dee was breathless with her sprint across the yard. “Ollie, you have company! Your front doorbell should be ringing any second. I think it’s your boyfriend’s old boss. I saw his picture in the paper the other day. I can stay, can’t I?” She pointed to the minirecorder in the pocket of her blouse. “It’s on, and recording right now.”

  “Mr. Martindale is here? Oh myyyy God! I have to get Jeff. Court is this morning. What’s he doing here? Of course you can stay.”

  Dee Dee shrugged. “Maybe he wants to settle before court. Lawyers do that all the time. He’s got someone with him. I think it’s Mrs. Manning’s heir, but you won’t recognize him. They really spruced him up. There goes the doorbell! What about the dogs?”

  Olivia clenched and unclenched her fists as she tried to figure out what to do. She looked down at her watch. Jeff had exactly seven minutes if he wanted to make court on time. “Let’s leave them out here for now. They’ll stay right here by the door. If I nod, that means you let them in, okay? By the way, we’re on for Saturday for a double date. Last Saturday was just too hectic. Among other things, we forgot the Apple Blossom Festival. Jeff says you’re gonna love his friend. C’mon, let’s see what Mr. Ambrose Martindale has to say.”

  Jeff was just opening the door when the two women joined him. Olivia looked the tall man over. He was everything Jeff had said he was. He was wearing a power suit in medium gray. His steel gray hair complemented a superior tan, probably from some tanning bed in his suite of offices. The man’s scent was overpowering, as was the shine on his Bally shoes. The gold Rolex on his wrist winked in the foyer light. But it was his companion, a tall, thin man she’d seen on television over a week ago, who drew her attention.