by Tara Randel
“Are you and Mr. H. doing better?” she asked to get her mind off the nerves.
Denny shrugged. “He says he believes I didn’t take the money. It hurts that he even questioned me in the first place.”
“Welcome to my world,” she grumbled.
“Still having trouble with your parents?”
“I guess.” She hesitated, then blurted, “I told them about the concert. They’re coming.”
“That’s great.” There it was. The optimistic grin that assured her everything would be okay.
“I don’t know. I’m sure they’ll find something wrong with my voice. Or my clothes. Or even why I volunteered in the first place.”
“Stop worrying so much.”
“You sound like the counselor at the Klub.”
She’d followed Cassie’s ultimatum and made an appointment. The lady behind the desk hadn’t been so bad. Nicer than the high school counselor she’d reported to when she’d skipped classes. This lady seemed to care about Erin. So she’d spilled about her family; her parents hating her because of her sister’s actions. Why she acted out. She’d come close to confessing about the money. The truth ate away at her every day, but still, she kept quiet.
The counselor suggested she try to find a common ground with her parents to rebuild the relationship. Erin hadn’t been convinced, but decided to test the suggestion by mentioning the musical to her parents. To her surprise, they’d asked questions. Seemed interested instead of discouraging. Said they’d be there to hear her solo.
But what if they were lying? What if they didn’t show? They couldn’t be that cruel, could they?
The more she thought about it, the more her stomach twisted. “I don’t feel good.”
“You look kinda green.” Denny took hold of her arm and hurried her to the public restroom at the edge of the park. She dropped her backpack and ran inside, making it to the stall just in time to lose her dinner. Resting against the stall she blinked back hot tears. Could she be any more pathetic? Denny must think she was the weakest human on earth and after this, she wouldn’t blame him.
After getting her bearings, she cleaned up, tried to fix her hair and stepped back outside into the evening shadows. Her heart sank when she saw Gary and his gang circling Denny like he was their prey. Kyle and Brandon were hovering, too. Weren’t they Denny’s friends?
She walked over, ready to jump into the fray when Gary stopped her.
“You with this guy, Erin?”
“I’m—”
“Since when did you start hanging out with losers?”
The boys laughed at his remark.
“It’s not what it looks like,” she said, then cringed when she glimpsed Denny’s hurt expression. “I mean, we were talking about the Klub.”
“Nerd stuff, I bet,” Gary said, reaching out to knock off Denny’s glasses.
Denny slapped his hand away. “Cut it out.”
“Make me.”
Denny moved closer to Erin. “Let’s go.”
He reached out for her hand but she hesitated. If she left with him, she’d never hear the end of it. But if she didn’t, Denny would probably never speak to her again.
“I...um...”
“Can’t talk to the loser?” Gary taunted and the group laughed again.
She tried working this dilemma out in her mind, but before she could control the bile rising up in her throat again, Denny dropped his hand. His face pale, he inched away from her. She couldn’t miss the disappointment in his eyes. Just like her parents. Just like Cassie when she found Erin at the police station. When would everyone cut her some slack? Give her time to figure things out?
“Are you coming?” Denny asked in a quiet, controlled voice.
She swallowed hard. Glanced from the group back to Denny. “I...”
“I guess that’s your answer.”
Face composed, Denny turned on his heel and walked away.
She almost hollered at Denny to stop. What had she done? She frantically searched for her backpack. Gary sauntered over and casually wrapped his arm around her shoulder.
“You made the right choice.”
She ducked under his arm. “Get away from me.”
Gary dropped his arm. “What’s up with you?”
“You’re a jerk, you know that?”
Gary’s face turned incredulous. “You actually like that guy?”
“He’s a nice guy. A lot better than you’ll ever be.” She faced Kyle and Brandon. “Hypocrites.”
“What?” Gary sputtered, then started laughing hilariously. When he caught his breath, he pointed to her and told his friends, “What a loser.”
Is that all he could name anyone? Loser? Denny didn’t deserve what she’d done to him. He’d been looking out for her and this was how she repaid him? She didn’t merit him as a friend. Or ex-friend. Yeah, her hesitance had defiantly blown things with Denny.
“You need to add to your vocabulary, Gary,” she snapped and walked away, leaving her backpack and so-called friends behind. All she knew for certain was that she had to get far away before she let anyone else down. Right now, where to hide or what would happen in her future loomed before her, even without answers. Breaking out into a run, she headed for the beach and didn’t look back.
* * *
AN ODD QUIET hovered over the Klub. He’d worked late into the night, grading papers for his English class. A task overdue. Since the request to write songs and get the music together for the special interest story, he’d been lax about his school load. In reality, he’d wanted to take Cassie to dinner, but she begged off. Something about a family thing. So he’d taken advantage of the rare peace to get his grading done.
The music session earlier that afternoon went well. The kids were pumped, ready to put into practice what they’d been learning. Cassie had assisted him, encouraging the kids and making the overall tone of the upcoming event fun. Her ready smile never ceased to amaze him. He savored every minute spent with her. Coming to Cypress Pointe after the divorce, teaching and starting Kids’ Klub, hadn’t given him the sense of completeness he now experienced with Cassie. Witnessing her passion to overcome writer’s block had compelled him to confront the ghosts of his past and he’d always be grateful for her place in that change. They hadn’t made plans or spoken about the future, but he hoped for one with her just the same.
While he was happy with Cassie, the mystery of the money thief continued to bug him. After much thought, he put another plan in place. At practice, he’d mentioned to Denny, in front of all the kids present, that he’d left cash in his top drawer so they could buy matching T-shirts for the news story. He hoped the culprit would take the bait, since he’d gotten a teacher friend from school to help him rig a hidden security camera. If anyone entered his office, an alarm would sound on his phone. Yeah, he was that desperate to smoke out the guilty party.
In addition to the camera, he’d marked the money with invisible ink, showing only when held under a black light, revealing lines across the bills.
Now he could only wait and see if anyone took the bait. Tomorrow was going to be hectic. The camera might be his only chance to capture the truth. Denny and Erin had never returned from dinner and the other kids were long gone, so he wondered if, or when, the thief would strike again.
Finished grading, he gathered his papers and locked the office. He turned, startled to find Cassie’s father standing a few feet away.
“Mr. Branford. I didn’t hear you come in.”
“Call me Robert.” He held out his hand. Luke took it, wary of the man’s presence.
“Robert. How can I help you?”
The man smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. Luke had been around enough troubled kids to be leery of a smile with no substance.
“First, I stopped
by to congratulate you on creating music for the special interest news piece. The mayor must have forgotten I was in town when she approached you.”
“I didn’t know you’d be interested in working on our small musical.”
“When you love music, nothing is small.”
Somehow Luke doubted that. “Sorry not to include you.”
Robert brushed off Luke’s apology. “Neither here nor there. Actually, I have a proposition for you.”
“I don’t know, Mr....ah, Robert.”
“Please, hear me out. As you might know, I wrote the score for a movie a few years back.”
“No, I hadn’t heard.”
A shadow passed over Robert’s eyes. “It was a major action film.” He visibly collected himself. “Anyway, I have been looking for opportunities to write again. I may have a handle on a project and I want to know if you would be interesting in penning a new score with me.”
“That’s not really my area of expertise.”
“You know music.”
“I do. And while I appreciate the offer, I’m pretty busy here with the Klub.”
He started to walk away, but Robert blocked his path.
“My offer will also benefit your kids program.”
“In what way?”
“I could volunteer some time here. Teach students how to score music. Maybe give those interested a look at how an orchestra works.”
Luke had to admit, a renowned conductor offering his time here was a coup for the kids serious about pursuing music.
“The mini-concert your kids are performing is an example of where my expertise can come in handy,” Robert continued. “There are certain goals serious musicians must reach. Taking part in this news story is one of them, but I can offer more exposure.”
“So you’re saying that in order for my kids to learn from your expertise, I need to work with you?”
“Oh, no,” Robert rushed to say. “You misunderstood. I merely think an exchange can be accomplished that will benefit everyone. Cassie included.”
His interest spiked at her name.
“And how is that?”
“I get the impression you and my daughter are coming up with some songs. Or maybe there’s more between you two?”
Luke kept silent on the subject. If Cassie hadn’t filled in her father, he wouldn’t.
“If the three of us put our considerable talents together, we could corner the film market.”
Luke wasn’t interested in cornering any market except one that helped his kids. He thought his exit from the music industry would be a big clue, but Robert had missed it.
“Cassie’s okay with this?”
“Cassie and I are sorting out our difficulties. She said herself she wants us to get closer. Working together will fit the bill.”
His answer wasn’t a yes, but Luke hadn’t been privy to their family conversations. He knew Cassie and her dad were at odds, but had she had a change of heart?
“And here’s another incentive,” Robert went on to say. “My daughter Lauren mentioned you still don’t have all the funds needed to buy this property. If we work together, I’ll donate the rest of what is needed.”
Whoa. The final piece to giving the Klub a permanent home. The goal he’d been striving toward for a long time now. “It’s a very generous offer.”
“I can be a very generous man.” Robert shrugged. “With our names linked, you can be a success again.”
“I’m not looking for the spotlight.”
“Really? Then why else would my daughter have sought you out if not to give her career a boost?”
He didn’t want to question the idea, but could this be the reason Cassie approached him initially? To connect her name to his? She’d mentioned that her manager wanted the label to know they were collaborating. For publicity on her part? He couldn’t imagine her using him, but the reality niggled at him. She’d needed to come up with music, fast, and requested his help. So she volunteered for a few hours when the payoff was getting songs for her new record. She’d never said she would stick around Cypress Pointe. So maybe courting him for his help had been her game all along?
No. Their kisses told him otherwise, right? But still, she hadn’t said she’d stay in town, even though he never asked. Why hadn’t he asked? Because he was afraid she’d leave him for her career? For the fame? Just like his ex?
He’d made a conscious decision to move out of the spotlight. Liked his life this way, stress-free from reporters and gossip and innuendo. But Cassie would still have plenty of publicity and touring to do once her next record was released. Could that be why he hesitated bringing up a future with her?
He had to believe she’d been truthful with him. That she wouldn’t involve his name for publicity, no matter how much she wanted a hit.
“You’ll understand if I need to think about it.”
Robert nodded. “Of course. But just know, this is a limited-time offer. My daughter and I will be returning to LA soon, so we’ll need an answer.”
A string attached. Why wasn’t he surprised? Because of the air of desperation about the man?
And they were leaving together? After the way he’d seen Cassie wrestle with feelings for her father after their run-ins, he highly doubted it. But what he didn’t have any doubts about was Cassie leaving. The clock had nearly ticked down to the end of her stay here. He was still processing the idea of her a full country away from him.
The older man’s footsteps echoed in the empty gym. Luke waited until he left to switch off the lights, his heart heavy as he plunged the building into darkness. He didn’t bother engaging the security alarm, wanting instead to have the silent alarm notify him from his phone. No point in scaring off the thief if he could catch the person in the act.
He returned home, but sleep eluded him. Thoughts of Cassie leaving, songs in hand, bothered him. He’d picked up the phone half a dozen times to call her, each time putting it down. But all his silent reassurances about their relationship didn’t help. Not until he spoke to Cassie himself. He dialed her number.
“Hello,” came her sleepy voice.
“Did I wake you?”
“Luke? No, well, yes, I just dozed off for a minute. Is something wrong?”
“I wanted to give you a heads-up.”
“That sounds ominous.”
He loved how she could take any situation and insert humor in it.
“It’s about your father.”
“Great.” He heard wrestling on the other end, like she was moving about. “I’m sorry in advance.”
This time he chuckled. “He stopped by the Klub with a proposition.”
“Of course he did.”
“He wants us to collaborate on a movie score with him.”
Silence, then, “Come again?”
“According to him, our names linked together will give us an edge in the movie industry. Implied you were with him on this.”
“All I did was encourage him to go after his dream.”
“He wants to. With us.”
“Never going to happen.”
“There’s more.”
She sighed. “There’s always more.”
“He suggested that if I help him, he’ll volunteer his orchestra expertise at the Klub.”
“Really? How big of him. You know he’s all about the show, right?”
“Yes.”
“Good, because if you take him up on his offer, he’ll never follow through.”
“I already figured that out.”
“He sure covered all the angles.”
He heard a heavy exhale on the other end of the phone.
“Luke, I don’t know what to tell you. If you want to accept his help, you should.”
A beep
cut into the conversation.
“Hold on,” Luke told her. He checked the phone screen. Someone had set off the hidden camera alarm in his office. “I have to run. The trap I set up at the Klub worked.”
“Trap? What trap?”
“I’ll talk to you later.”
“No, wait. What did you do?”
“I’ll explain it all tomorrow, I promise,” he said, then ended the call.
With lightning speed, he threw on a T-shirt and shorts. Stepping into boat shoes, he grabbed his keys from the counter and ran out to his car, speeding all the way to the Klub. The building was dark, exactly as he’d left it. He jumped out of the car, stopping long enough to observe his surroundings.
A bird cried out overhead as it took flight from a tree branch. The sound of bass thumping in a car sound system carried from the main road. A paper wrapper flitted by in the gulf breeze. The lights over the door and at the corners of the buildings shone, revealing nothing.
Dialing his phone, he put in a call to the chief.
“Gardener.”
“Sorry to bother you, Chief. A silent alarm went off at the Klub. I’m going inside.”
“Don’t. Wait until I get there.”
“And miss catching the thief? No way.” He thumbed the off button and slipped the phone into his pocket. He started to move when car lights flashed across the building. Looking back, he saw Cassie jump out of her convertible and rush toward him.
“What are you doing here?”
She brushed the hair that escaped her ponytail from her eyes. “You tell me about a trap and I’m supposed to sit at home and wait to find out what happens?”