to learn new ways.
Sh e’d already learned a lot while out fishing for prey for her father: blend in; if someone notices you, make sure they don’t notice you but only the mask you’re wearing; think twice, act once, and make it fast; deny everything; make them smile and say yes and they’ll like you; find a sucker to blame, then make your escape.
If Morgan had been the junior at Bre e’s school who had arranged for that Best Prank Ever! , she would have seen Bree as the perfect victim. She might have used, abused, and discarded Bree all in the name of a good time.
Bree would have been powerless against her.
Morgan didn’t do regret. But having been on both sides of the equation: the predator and now trying to blend in with the sheep, she understood better the cost to the victim. Funny, when she was little, watching her father work, bathed in blood, she never really thought about what his victims felt.
Until Bree. Nick would be proud of her. Morga n’s father? H e’d disown her as weak, damaged beyond redemption.
She glanced at Bre e’s pathetic Facebook page with her smile full of hope gleaming from the profile photo, then dialed Jenn a’s number. “Where are you?” she asked, even though she could easily check the GPS tracker sh e’d planted on Jenn a’s phone. Part of playing a Norm.
“Headed over to the Greenes’ home. Why? I thought you didn’t want to have any part of this case.”
“Maybe I’ve changed my mind.”
“Even if it means going undercover at ReNew?” Jenn a’s voice sounded eager. Morgan blinked slowly, imagining the other woma n’s triumphant smile. Jenna loved to win.
“I’m on my way.” Morgan hung up and put the car in “Drive.” She didn’t like the idea of going to ReNew, not at all. In fact, she hated it. She hoped she could find some solid leads at the house, anything that would provide an alternative angle to the case.
But damned if she was going to let Bree down. Not again. Not after every other person in her life had abandoned her.
CHAPTER 10
M organ arrived at the Greenes’ Sewickley Heights home; Jenna and Andre pulled into the drive right behind her. The house sat alone at the end of a cul-de-sac, surrounded by an eight-foot-tall fence made of twisted iron bars with delicate curlicues to mask wicked points at the top. It wasn’t on a golf-course-sized lot like many of the newer mansions nearby, but made up for its lack of land with haughty, disapproving grandeur. The house was a simple three-story brick colonial. Aligned between the twelve-foot-tall windows were wide white columns, soldiers guarding a maide n’s virtue.
The drive was circular, which meant that Jenna parked her black Tahoe directly behind Morga n’s Audi.
“Nice car,” Andre said, eyeing the Audi.
Morgan cursed beneath her breath. Should have known a guy like Andre, always looking to do the right thing, wouldn’t let anything slide. “Thanks,” she replied in a perky voice. “I’m borrowing it from friends while they’re taking a cruise.”
“Thought you were only fifteen? Could have sworn Jenna said something about you being an emancipated minor.”
So that was the story Jenna had gone with. Surely she could have picked up on Morga n’s cues this morning and told Andre she was older. As always, it was up to Morgan to clean up the mess. “You’re so sweet. I’m way older than that.”
Jenna was halfway up the steps to the front door and turned to look back at them impatiently. “Come on. We’ve got work to do.”
Morgan dashed up the steps to join Jenna. “You told him I was fifteen?” she whispered.
“No.” Jenna frowned. “Oh, maybe when he first met you back in December. Seriously, Morgan, don’t expect me to keep your lies straight.”
Andre caught up with them. Jenna straightened as if preparing for battle. “Morgan, you take the gir l’s room and talk to any staff. Andre, you’ve got the mom, and I’ll take the dad.”
Divide and conquer. After
Sh e’d already learned a lot while out fishing for prey for her father: blend in; if someone notices you, make sure they don’t notice you but only the mask you’re wearing; think twice, act once, and make it fast; deny everything; make them smile and say yes and they’ll like you; find a sucker to blame, then make your escape.
If Morgan had been the junior at Bre e’s school who had arranged for that Best Prank Ever! , she would have seen Bree as the perfect victim. She might have used, abused, and discarded Bree all in the name of a good time.
Bree would have been powerless against her.
Morgan didn’t do regret. But having been on both sides of the equation: the predator and now trying to blend in with the sheep, she understood better the cost to the victim. Funny, when she was little, watching her father work, bathed in blood, she never really thought about what his victims felt.
Until Bree. Nick would be proud of her. Morga n’s father? H e’d disown her as weak, damaged beyond redemption.
She glanced at Bre e’s pathetic Facebook page with her smile full of hope gleaming from the profile photo, then dialed Jenn a’s number. “Where are you?” she asked, even though she could easily check the GPS tracker sh e’d planted on Jenn a’s phone. Part of playing a Norm.
“Headed over to the Greenes’ home. Why? I thought you didn’t want to have any part of this case.”
“Maybe I’ve changed my mind.”
“Even if it means going undercover at ReNew?” Jenn a’s voice sounded eager. Morgan blinked slowly, imagining the other woma n’s triumphant smile. Jenna loved to win.
“I’m on my way.” Morgan hung up and put the car in “Drive.” She didn’t like the idea of going to ReNew, not at all. In fact, she hated it. She hoped she could find some solid leads at the house, anything that would provide an alternative angle to the case.
But damned if she was going to let Bree down. Not again. Not after every other person in her life had abandoned her.
CHAPTER 10
M organ arrived at the Greenes’ Sewickley Heights home; Jenna and Andre pulled into the drive right behind her. The house sat alone at the end of a cul-de-sac, surrounded by an eight-foot-tall fence made of twisted iron bars with delicate curlicues to mask wicked points at the top. It wasn’t on a golf-course-sized lot like many of the newer mansions nearby, but made up for its lack of land with haughty, disapproving grandeur. The house was a simple three-story brick colonial. Aligned between the twelve-foot-tall windows were wide white columns, soldiers guarding a maide n’s virtue.
The drive was circular, which meant that Jenna parked her black Tahoe directly behind Morga n’s Audi.
“Nice car,” Andre said, eyeing the Audi.
Morgan cursed beneath her breath. Should have known a guy like Andre, always looking to do the right thing, wouldn’t let anything slide. “Thanks,” she replied in a perky voice. “I’m borrowing it from friends while they’re taking a cruise.”
“Thought you were only fifteen? Could have sworn Jenna said something about you being an emancipated minor.”
So that was the story Jenna had gone with. Surely she could have picked up on Morga n’s cues this morning and told Andre she was older. As always, it was up to Morgan to clean up the mess. “You’re so sweet. I’m way older than that.”
Jenna was halfway up the steps to the front door and turned to look back at them impatiently. “Come on. We’ve got work to do.”
Morgan dashed up the steps to join Jenna. “You told him I was fifteen?” she whispered.
“No.” Jenna frowned. “Oh, maybe when he first met you back in December. Seriously, Morgan, don’t expect me to keep your lies straight.”
Andre caught up with them. Jenna straightened as if preparing for battle. “Morgan, you take the gir l’s room and talk to any staff. Andre, you’ve got the mom, and I’ll take the dad.”
Divide and conquer. After
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