False Notes
interesting range of emotions—from surprise to delight to embarrassment.
    I hid a smile. Deirdre had always taken great pride in her family’s wealth, never hesitating to show off her expensive car or the latest fashions. It had to be mortifying for her to be caught working like a regular person—especially by someone she couldn’t stand, which would be me. Deirdre and I had known each other for years and years, but even back inkindergarten we’d mixed about as well as oil and water.
    As usual Deirdre hid whatever vulnerability she might be feeling by going on the offensive. “What are you snooping around here for?” she demanded, glaring at me.
    “Deirdre!” The secretary sounded shocked. “Miss Drew and Mr. Nickerson had an appointment with Mr. Halloran. There’s no need to be rude to them.”
    Deirdre tossed her dark hair behind her shoulder. “You don’t know nosy Nancy. She’s always up to something—like spying on me, for instance.” She turned and smiled coquettishly at my boyfriend. “Of course, it’s always cool to see you, Ned, no matter what the reason.”
    Ned shot me an amused glance. He knows that Deirdre’s huge, ongoing crush on him is a constant source of entertainment for me and my friends.
    “Thanks, Deirdre,” he said pleasantly. “So what are you doing here, anyway?”
    Deirdre shrugged, and annoyance—or maybe embarrassment—creased her brow once again. “Oh, my parents are friends with Halloran from the country club,” she said. “For some reason, they thought it would be a good idea for me to try an internship here this summer. It’s a totally lame idea, you know? I tried to talk them out of it, but…”
    She looked so uncomfortable and humiliated that I almost felt sorry for her. For Deirdre, being caught working is probably like anybody else being caught stealing candy from babies. She’d probably never live this down.
    “So, Deirdre,” I blurted out, my sympathy overcoming my usual distaste for her. “As long as you’re here, maybe you can help me out with something. My dad’s birthday is this week, and I’m having trouble finding a gift for him. Your father must be almost as hard to shop for as mine—do you have any ideas?”
    Deirdre looked startled. “I don’t know,” she said. “What about a new pair of skis? That’s what I got my dad last year.”
    “Hmm! Good idea,” I said, even though I knew my father wasn’t particularly interested in skiing. “I’ll think about that. Thanks. Come on, Ned—we’d better get going.”
    A moment later, as the elevator doors slid shut in front of us, Ned glanced at me. “Okay, what was all that about?”
    “What?” I asked innocently.
    He crossed his arms over his chest and raised his eyebrows. “That,” he said succinctly. “Asking Deirdre for advice back there.”
    “Oh.” I grinned and shrugged. “Well, you have to admit, she does know a lot about shopping.”
    ••••
     
    As Ned drove me to my volunteer project, we talked over what we knew about the case so far. It still wasn’t much.
    “I’m not sure what to do next,” I admitted as Ned stopped at a red light. “No matter what I try, I’m not finding anything I can use. I’m still sure my theory is right, but how am I supposed to prove it?”
    Ned shrugged. “Good question. Too bad Halloran was a dead end. If you’d come up with any evidence that Granger was angling to take over Rackham Industries and using the mayor’s office to do it, even Chief McGinnis would have to listen to you.”
    “I know.” I frowned, thinking hard. “But how else can I get that kind of evidence? Maybe I should try to talk to Granger himself.”
    Ned shot me a quick glance before returning his attention to the road. “That doesn’t seem like such a great idea,” he said. “If Granger really is the kidnapper, you don’t want to let him know you’re on to him—or you might disappear too.”
    I chewed on my lower lip. “But he wouldn’t have to

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