Best Friends Rock! by Cindy Jefferies Page B

promotion for his latest album. The media asked the question about divorce because Astrid, Joe’s mom has been away. So his mom and dad have been going along with it, to keep his dad in the press. The more he’s in the news, the more albums he sells. See?”
    Connor sat back, looking impressed at the Steels’ savvy. “It’s amazing. Joe’s dad’s been out there this morning, looking even more out of it than usual, giving the impression that he’s trying to pretend nothing is wrong with his marriage when it is.” He grinned at Ellie. “But of course there isn’t really anything wrong with their marriage! Pretty clever, eh? It’s a sort of double bluff. You have to admire it. ”
    Ellie wasn’t convinced, and didn’t smile back. “You haven’t told me yet why you ended up coming over here to do Joe’s interview. Isn’t it a sort of fraud or something, doing that?”
    Connor shook his head. “No way! It wasn’t supposed to be that heavy a deal.”
    â€œHow heavy a deal was it supposed to be?” said Ellie cynically.
    Connor bit his lip. “It was because Joe didn’t want to be interviewed.”
    Now Ellie was astonished. “Didn’t want to be interviewed for Heart ?”
    â€œWell don’t blame me!” Connor sounded totally fed up. “It’s not my fault!”
    â€œWell it’s certainly not mine,” said Ellie primly.
    They seemed to have reached stalemate.
    Ellie was wondering frantically what she was going to say to Francesca. Piano would so enjoy making a big deal of how gullible Ellie had been. It was going to be awful. It really stung that the interview idea should have gone so badly wrong. None of it had been her fault, but she had been totally humiliated.
    â€œThe thing is…” Connor appeared contrite. “I’m sorry. I was just trying to help out a friend. His dad would have gone ballistic if he’d known Joe was going to dip out.”
    â€œSo why did he?”
    Connor sighed. “He doesn’t want to do many things that his dad wants him to do.” There was a pause. “His dad wants him to appear onstage with him, but he keeps refusing. And last night he persuaded me to come to this interview instead of him. He said it wouldn’t matter. Not many people know what he looks like because he always keeps his head down, and his hair over his eyes…. and he wears dark glasses as well. He reckoned I could easily be mistaken for him.” Connor looked earnestly at Ellie. “He said it would be a laugh if I did it, and that I could tell you what you wanted to know. But it wasn’t easy…” His voice trailed off and he looked away.
    â€œSo why did he agree in the first place if he didn’t want to be interviewed?”
    â€œHis dad didn’t even bother to ask him. It was Rocky who agreed, not Joe. And the thing is…the time Joe disappeared I was so freaked that he wouldn’t be back before his dad. I tell you, you don’t want to get on the wrong side of Joe’s dad. Besides, I was left in the hotel feeling like his anxious mom or something.”
    â€œSo where had Joe gone?” asked Ellie.
    â€œI don’t know. He was mooching around the streets I guess, but he wouldn’t tell me anything about it. Just that he needed to get away for a bit.”
    â€œWell, that’s understandable, isn’t it?” said Ellie. “If his dad is putting pressure on him.”
    â€œI guess so,” said Connor slowly.
    â€œWell,” Ellie couldn’t help feeling for Connor, but she was still angry with him, “between the two of you, you’ve really dropped me in it. I’m supposed to be getting material for an article, but the right person isn’t here. How am I going to explain that? I’m going to look so stupid.”
    The truth of what she was saying hit Ellie hard, and to her horror,