Playing with Fire by Emily Blake Page B

if in a dream.
    â€œReally?” Zoey said with exaggerated interest. “Of the United States? Gosh, I figured he’d be running in Mexico or Guam.”
    Deirdre ignored the smart-aleck remark. “Imagine me, a congressman’s wife!”
    Alison coughed and covered her mouth with her hand, trying not to laugh out loud. Tom’s face, on the other hand, suddenly shifted into a mask of annoyance.
    â€œYes, we heard,” he said.
    â€œWell, where is that future politician?” Deirdre asked, her eyes wide.
    â€œOn the phone,” Zoey said, jerking her thumb toward the den. “I think the pope called, or something.”
    â€œThe pope!” Deirdre screamed.
    Tom snorted, and Deirdre’s face fell. “Oh, that was a joke, right?”
    Zoey rolled her eyes. “Um, right.”
    Deirdre left the kitchen with a clatter ofhigh heels on tile. The smell of her perfume stayed behind.
    â€œUgh,” Zoey grumbled, fanning the air in front of her nose. “I think she’s the worst Debbie yet.”
    â€œDefinitely,” Tom agreed. “If only her brain were as big as her…”
    â€œBag,” Zoey finished with a sly grin.
    â€œI’d take Debbie number two over her any day,” Tom announced, dumping his bowl in the sink. “Her rules were weird, but at least she had a brain.”
    Zoey nodded her agreement as she picked up the TV remote and hit a button.
    Alison sucked in her breath. The news was on. And Helen Rose was the lead story.

Chapter Fifteen
    Zoey could not believe her luck. She stared at the image of the perfectly styled woman on the television screen. Her face looked composed in spite of the fact that she was surrounded by throngs of shouting reporters and a pack of lawyers leading her into the county courthouse. Zoey had seen Helen Rose before, of course, but had forgotten just how poised she was. Onscreen she almost looked…fake. Not human.
    â€œChange the channel, Zoey,” Tom hissed, looking sideways at Alison, who was staring at the screen as if she’d seen a ghost. Zoey tightened her fingers around the remote but didn’tpress any buttons. This was too sweet an opportunity to let slide. Alison had followed her home after school like a puppy for three days straight, and Zoey was getting a little bored. It was time to get her revenge plan rolling.
    â€œIt’s not like this is news to Alison,” Zoey said easily as she watched Alison’s reaction. “You’ve seen it all before, right?” she asked with a smile. The tidbit on the news was a welcome surprise. A chance to see Alison squirm…
    But if Alison was shaken, she didn’t let it show. Like mother, like daughter. “Right,” she said woodenly. “Old news.”
    Zoey hit the volume button, and the sound of a reporter’s voice echoed in the room. “Rose is being held while the police and federal agencies conduct their investigation. As of this evening, no business associates or family members have been cleared of involvement in this unusual financial scandal. But a spokesman from the district attorney’s office assures reporters it will be a miracle if anyone comes out of this investigation ‘smelling like a Rose.’” The reporters yucked it up. Zoey fought back her own chuckle.This was better than anything she could have planned.
    Alison put her hand around the edge of the kitchen counter to steady herself, and Zoey grinned. Alison was already so vulnerable. Revenge was going to be easy…and sweet.
    Distracted by her plans for payback, Zoey didn’t notice Tom getting to his feet. By the time she realized what he was doing, the television was already turned off.
    â€œI think we’ve seen enough of that,” he said, shooting his sister a “what is wrong with you?” look.
    Alison nodded as she pushed her stool in and carried her glass to the sink. “I’d better get going,” she