Read Online Deceptive by Sara Rosett - Free Book Online

spoke another blank text with a picture attached popped up. The next photo was another of Helen, this time standing on her porch, signing for a UPS package. A third photo arrived, Helen walking into the building where she worked at the county offices. The next message didn’t have a photo. It read, “Don’t forget our agreement. We know where your friends live and work.”
    Zoe’s stomach flipped. “Oscar. It’s got to be him. That creep is following Helen around. He better not go near her. I have to call her—”
    Jack caught her hand as they arrived on the porch. “The less she knows the better.”
    “I know that’s how you were trained, but that doesn’t always work out so good. Forewarned is forearmed.”
    “What are you going to tell her? That a man is watching her? That’s not going to make her feel better. It will just scare her.”
    Zoe fingered the buttons on the phone. She didn’t want to frighten Helen, and she couldn’t order her to stay indoors without telling her everything that was going on.
    “Oscar won’t do anything.” Jack’s tone was steady. “He wants your cooperation. Those photos are a reminder, to keep you—us—focused.”
    “I can’t let him hurt Helen.”
    “Hurting her gains him nothing. If anything, it would distract us from getting the painting. He doesn’t want that. Every move he and Gray make is calculated. They’re not psychopaths attacking women for the thrill of it. Gray wants his painting, and he thinks you can get it. If you get distracted worrying about Helen and get sucked into telling her everything that’s going on, it will only slow us down.”
    Jack was right. Sometimes she hated it when he was right. So logical and reasoned. She wanted to do something. “Okay. No call—yet.” Zoe punched the doorbell with more force than was necessary, wishing it was Oscar’s nose.
    “Keeping her out of the loop is the best thing you can do for her.”
    A slim woman in her twenties with an upturned nose, dark brown eyes, and pale blond hair caught up in a ponytail opened the door. She wore dark jeans, pointy-toed cowboy boots, and a loose, gauzy shirt that floated around her as she stepped back, waving them inside. “Zoe,” she exclaimed, “You didn’t have to bring dinner.”
    Zoe forced herself to switch her thoughts away from the photos to Carla. “It’s the least we could do, barging in on you like this at the last minute.”
    “And you must be the elusive Jack. Come in. I’m Carla.” As she closed the door, she stepped close to Zoe and murmured, “Nice,” with raised eyebrows.
    A girl about five years old in a pink leotard and tights whizzed by. “This is my niece, Emma,” Carla said at normal volume. “Stop running for a minute and say hello to my friends, Emma.”
    Emma skidded to a stop on the tile floor, whispered
hello
, and scampered off again, flitting like a hummingbird collecting nectar.
    “My sister had a meeting, so I took Emma to dance class tonight,” Carla explained as she led the way through the open plan living room decorated in shades of gray, white, and navy blue to a kitchen painted a sunny yellow with white cabinets. She placed the food on a rectangular wooden dining table positioned along a row of tall windows that looked out onto her patio and fenced backyard.
    “Her mom will be along soon, but we should go ahead and eat.” She opened a cabinet and began removing glasses.
    While her back was turned, Jack sent Zoe a doubtful look.
    “What?” she mouthed at him, and he gave a pointed glance at Carla’s back, then around the room. “Are you sure about Carla?” he asked in an undertone.
    Carla turned from the cabinet, carrying several glasses. She had one in her right hand and pointed it at Jack. “I know that look.” She plunked the glasses down on the table and turned to Zoe. “I swear I should go back to the Goth look. No one takes me seriously. I think it’s the hair.” She swiped a hand down her blond ponytail.