Do You Promise Not to Tell?

Free Do You Promise Not to Tell? by Mary Jane Clark

Book: Do You Promise Not to Tell? by Mary Jane Clark Read Free Book Online
Authors: Mary Jane Clark
Tags: Fiction, General, Suspense, Thrillers
bothered.”
    Peter thought about it a minute. “Yeah, I guess so. But it’s been just Mom and me for so long. And she’s been such a good mother. She’s really devoted her life to taking care of me. The least I can do is help her when I can.”
    “True. But I hope you’re having a little fun, too. These are good years, Peter. College is a time for you to branch out on your own. I doubt your mom expects you to spend all your spare time with her. For example, what are you doing tonight?”
    Peter looked embarrassed. “Having dinner with Mom’s friend.”
    Charlie shook his head. “See what I mean?”
    “It won’t be so bad. Actually, I’m kinda looking forward to it. Farrell seems really smart and she has a great job. I’ll bet she has some great stories, too. Besides, after dinner I’m going back to Seton Hall for a keg party.”
    “Good. That’s more like it. It’s the kind of thing a guy your age should be doing now, while you don’t have any big responsibilities. You’ve got to live a little, kid. Although, don’t tell your mom I said that. She wouldn’t be too happy to know I’m supporting the idea of a little underage drinking.”
    As Peter peeled off the dollar bills to pay, Charlie asked, “How come you’re having dinner with your mother’s friend? Why don’t just the two of them go?”
    “Oh, Mom finally has a date.”
    Charlie felt his heart sink.

Chapter 33
    “I’m very sorry, Mr. Paradise, but I can’t tell you. The person who sold the crescent pin doesn’t want his or her identity known.” Pat was careful not to give a clue as to the sex of the seller.
    The man who stood before Pat was clearly uncomfortable. He shifted from foot to foot and he’d already dropped his car keys twice on the hooked rug that covered the office area of the Consignment Depot. Stacey Spinner was with him, having explained her presence there as Nadine Paradise’s decorator.
    “You know, Pat, Nadine Paradise was one of the most famous ballerinas in the world.”
    “Sure, Stacey, even I, buried here in little old Westwood, have heard of Nadine Paradise.”
Don’t try so hard to impress, Stacey
, Pat said to herself.
    “My mother
bought
the pin,” he pleaded. “She paid a good deal of money for it. She really wants to know where it came from.”
    “Come on, Pat, I can vouch for Victor.” Stacey entwined her fingers in his and batted her baby-blues up at him.
So that was it
, Pat thought. Stacey had her hat set for the beefy hulk. No accounting for taste.
    A reference from Stacey wasn’t worth all that much to Pat. And it was somewhat distasteful to watch theinterior decorator playing up to this guy. He was plainly loving it. Dope.
    Pat smiled sadly and shrugged. “I wish I could help you out. But the seller insists on anonymity. I have to respect that.”
    The implication was clear.
You, Mr. Paradise, should respect that, too
.
    But the man wasn’t giving up easily.
    “Isn’t there anything you can do?” he appealed. “My mother will be so disappointed.”
    Pat was firm.
    “I’m sorry.”
    Farrell had been busying herself inspecting an ornate wrought-iron side table, but had listened to the whole conversation. When the annoyed couple left the shop, she looked at Pat expectantly.
    “Who were
they
?”
    “I don’t know much about him, except that his mother is Nadine Paradise. From the looks of him, that’s his only claim to fame.”
    “And her?” Farrell asked.
    Pat shook her head in disgust. “Stacey Spinner. She plays her role as a Saddle River interior decorator a little too much for my taste. She forgets I remember her from years ago—we actually met at an evening seminar at Churchill’s auction house. She was working as a department-store salesgirl at the time, but smart enough to know that there was a big world out there that she wanted a part of.”
    Pat stopped to consider a moment.
    “I’ve got to give Stacey credit, though. She’s reallybuilt a solid business for herself

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