Read Online Twisted Innocence (Moonlighters Series Book 3) by Terri Blackstock - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Terri Blackstock
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campaign going on right now. A lot of people are trying to get Michael Hogan under consideration as someone you should pardon.”
The governor shook his head. “Cathy, you know I made a promise.”
“I know,” she cut in, launching into her sales pitch. “It was all a terrible mistake, as everybody who followed that trial was aware. Wouldn’t it be a great PR move for you if you agreed to make an exception for a local hero?”
The governor narrowed his eyes. “Aren’t you engaged to him? Didn’t I read that somewhere?”
She hoped that wouldn’t make a difference. “Yes, as a matter of fact. But I would do this for him even if we weren’t getting married. My first fiancé was Michael’s brother, and he was murdered. Michael lost his career because of that case, and the killer is still on the street, literally getting away with murder, not to mention several other crimes. It’s just so wrong that Michael is serving time—”
“Excuse me,” an aide said, cutting in to her speech. “Governor, it’s time for you to speak.”
Governor Larimore touched Cathy’s elbow. “It’s nice to meet you, Cathy.”
She couldn’t let him go. “Governor, please consider it. Just read the letters and the package that I sent you.”
“Thank you, Cathy,” he said. “No promises.” He walked away.
Cathy stood clutching her purse and trying not to cry. Shelifted her chin and looked around. Was there anyone else in the room she should talk to?
The lights began to lower and the spotlight at the podium came on. The program was about to begin.
Quickly, she headed out of the room and down the steps of the mansion. The valet brought her car. She didn’t let herself cry until she got behind the wheel.
CHAPTER 14
W hat am I supposed to do with these?” Cathy stood the next morning at Juliet’s kitchen table, puzzling over the rolled-up diapers, the tutu, and the pink headbands and bows.
Juliet was holding Robbie on her hip while decorating her end table. “You make it into a centerpiece. Stand the diaper rolls on end and put the tutu around them. The headbands go around the top.” She thrust a green stuffed bear at her. “Stick this in the top. You can figure it out.”
Cathy tried to follow the instructions. “How come I didn’t get the decorating gene?”
“It’s not genetic. It’s Pinterest.” Juliet went to the kitchen counter, where the ingredients for the punch were laid out. “Just before they get here, I’ll put the ice cream and rubber duckies in, and they’ll look like they’re floating in suds.”
“Really? Are you sure?”
“Yes, I’ve done it dozens of times.”
“Holly’s friends might spike it.”
Juliet chuckled and pointed at the two-liter bottles on the counter. “We’ll also have soda, just in case. Remind me to put out a bucket of ice.”
The doorbell rang, and Cathy gasped. “Who’s that? It’s an hour and a half early.”
“Probably the first babysitter I’m interviewing.”
“Now?”
“Yes, I had to fit it in. If the oven timer goes off, get the brownies out and put the quiche in for fifteen minutes on three-fifty.” As she headed for the front door, she called out, “Zach? Come get your shoes out of here!” The bell rang again.
Cathy worked on the centerpiece, not certain she was doing it right. How did Juliet do all this? She just had a flair for it, and she loved to entertain, though her new house was half the size of her former one and didn’t flow as well. Still, Cathy had no doubt that Juliet would pull off Holly’s baby shower, and she would do it without giving the slightest hint of the stress she was under with her husband’s death, her responsibility for her children’s well-being, the adoption of a baby, and the financial problems bearing down on her.
The timer went off, and Cathy abandoned the centerpiece and hurried to the oven. She heard voices . . .
A shrieking, nasal voice almost shook the house. “Oh my soul, look at that
The governor shook his head. “Cathy, you know I made a promise.”
“I know,” she cut in, launching into her sales pitch. “It was all a terrible mistake, as everybody who followed that trial was aware. Wouldn’t it be a great PR move for you if you agreed to make an exception for a local hero?”
The governor narrowed his eyes. “Aren’t you engaged to him? Didn’t I read that somewhere?”
She hoped that wouldn’t make a difference. “Yes, as a matter of fact. But I would do this for him even if we weren’t getting married. My first fiancé was Michael’s brother, and he was murdered. Michael lost his career because of that case, and the killer is still on the street, literally getting away with murder, not to mention several other crimes. It’s just so wrong that Michael is serving time—”
“Excuse me,” an aide said, cutting in to her speech. “Governor, it’s time for you to speak.”
Governor Larimore touched Cathy’s elbow. “It’s nice to meet you, Cathy.”
She couldn’t let him go. “Governor, please consider it. Just read the letters and the package that I sent you.”
“Thank you, Cathy,” he said. “No promises.” He walked away.
Cathy stood clutching her purse and trying not to cry. Shelifted her chin and looked around. Was there anyone else in the room she should talk to?
The lights began to lower and the spotlight at the podium came on. The program was about to begin.
Quickly, she headed out of the room and down the steps of the mansion. The valet brought her car. She didn’t let herself cry until she got behind the wheel.
CHAPTER 14
W hat am I supposed to do with these?” Cathy stood the next morning at Juliet’s kitchen table, puzzling over the rolled-up diapers, the tutu, and the pink headbands and bows.
Juliet was holding Robbie on her hip while decorating her end table. “You make it into a centerpiece. Stand the diaper rolls on end and put the tutu around them. The headbands go around the top.” She thrust a green stuffed bear at her. “Stick this in the top. You can figure it out.”
Cathy tried to follow the instructions. “How come I didn’t get the decorating gene?”
“It’s not genetic. It’s Pinterest.” Juliet went to the kitchen counter, where the ingredients for the punch were laid out. “Just before they get here, I’ll put the ice cream and rubber duckies in, and they’ll look like they’re floating in suds.”
“Really? Are you sure?”
“Yes, I’ve done it dozens of times.”
“Holly’s friends might spike it.”
Juliet chuckled and pointed at the two-liter bottles on the counter. “We’ll also have soda, just in case. Remind me to put out a bucket of ice.”
The doorbell rang, and Cathy gasped. “Who’s that? It’s an hour and a half early.”
“Probably the first babysitter I’m interviewing.”
“Now?”
“Yes, I had to fit it in. If the oven timer goes off, get the brownies out and put the quiche in for fifteen minutes on three-fifty.” As she headed for the front door, she called out, “Zach? Come get your shoes out of here!” The bell rang again.
Cathy worked on the centerpiece, not certain she was doing it right. How did Juliet do all this? She just had a flair for it, and she loved to entertain, though her new house was half the size of her former one and didn’t flow as well. Still, Cathy had no doubt that Juliet would pull off Holly’s baby shower, and she would do it without giving the slightest hint of the stress she was under with her husband’s death, her responsibility for her children’s well-being, the adoption of a baby, and the financial problems bearing down on her.
The timer went off, and Cathy abandoned the centerpiece and hurried to the oven. She heard voices . . .
A shrieking, nasal voice almost shook the house. “Oh my soul, look at that
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