Read Online Fatal Deception: Part I by S.R. Burks - Free Book Online Page A

interrupt Cain and Blair.
    They saw him and smiled. “Hey, Marc,” said Blair, “there’s something…” She was just about to mention Deidra’s strangeness when the blue-eyed woman reentered the room. Blair decided to hold her peace. She redirected her words to Deidra instead. “Are you feeling any better Deidra?” asked Blair.
    Deidra stopped in front of them, and next to Marc.
    “You’re still not feeling well?” asked Marc. “Maybe we should postpone the session for today.”
    “No, no, we can’t! We’re already too far behind!” said Deidra, her voice raised almost hysterically.
    The other three stared at her, bewildered at her sudden outburst. Blair felt an alarm go off in her head. Something was definitely mentally wrong with this chick. Alondra was right, she thought. “Calm down, Deidra,” said Blair. “You need to take care of yourself.”
    Marc grabbed Deidra’s shoulders to calm her and she looked up into his eyes. Then she did something unexpected. She threw herself into his body, wrapping her arms around him tightly, and began to cry. Marc looked at Cain and Blair awkwardly. Cain shrugged his shoulders and Blair’s eyes narrowed with suspicion.
    “I can’t mess up,” cried Deidra. “This is my last chance to redeem myself.”
    Marc, Cain and Blair looked at each other. Marc pulled her away from him and held her in his sight.
    “What do you mean, ‘redeem’ yourself?” he asked.
    Just as curious as Marc, Cain and Blair listened for her response. Deidra tried to stifle the tears, moving from Marc’s grasp, and walked further into the living room followed by the Caldwells.
    “My father is very rich,” said Deidra, trying to explain between sobs. “He is a friend of Ben’s. That’s how I got this job. If I screw it up, my father will disown me and I’ll be out on the streets.”
    Blair suddenly felt for her, and as Cain looked on, Marc returned to her side. “Don’t worry,” said Marc kindly. “You’re gonna do a great job. Your father may be a friend of Ben’s, but Ben doesn’t work that way. He thought it was a good idea to use us in the shoot and you just happened to be working for the magazine. It was purely coincidental. He must have seen some of your work and insisted work on the project,” Marc explained.
    Deidra looked at him through wet eyes and a smiled etched across her face. “Well, he did say he was impressed with my previous work,” said Deidra. “He told me I was a natural. You know, until I took up photography, I had no direction. Now I do! That’s why my father was happy I got the job. He wants me to fail.”
    Blair now felt she knew why the younger woman was so dismantled. So much pressure was on her. Her heart went out to her. “Okay, enough of this,” said Blair. “Come with me, Deidra. Let’s get you cleaned up.” Blair beckoned her away from Marc and up the stairs.
    “Another idiot with money driving his kid crazy,” Marc growled.
    Cain nodded in agreement. It’s sure sounded like it, as distraught as Deidra seemed to be. “You know, maybe the session should be called off for the day anyway,” suggested Cain. “Deidra’s not in any shape to do anything, and I’m not gonna be here. Blair’s not feeling well and I’m going with her to the doctor.”
    “Doctor? What’s wrong with her? Is it serious?” Marc grew worried. Blair was the closest thing to a sister he ever had.
    “No, Bro’, it’s okay,” Cain answered. “I don’t think it’s anything serious.” He tried to ease Marc’s mind to little avail.
    “But you don’t know do you?” Marc added.
    Cain’s eyes met those of his brother’s, and Marc could see he was worried as well.
    “I’m going to find out,” said Cain.
    “I’ll go crazy here thinking of what is going on in that doctor’s office.” Marc began to pace back and forth.
    “No you’re not,” said Blair.
    The men turned to see she and Deidra had come back. “I talked Deidra into quitting for the