Free Illusions of Evil by Carolyn Keene

as he pulled into Finian’s and parked. “It’s getting to be a real habit with you.”
    Nancy laughed.
    The maître d’ greeted them just inside the door. He led them through the dining room to their table. Finian’s was a beautiful restaurant, one of Nancy’s favorites. The walls were oak paneled and covered with oil paintings. The floor was carpeted in deep, plush wool, and the tables were set with fine china and crystal.
    Their table was off to the side of the main dining room, and Nancy sat facing Ned with her back to the entrance. After they ordered their appetizers she leaned across the table to holdNed’s hand. “This place is so romantic. Being here with you is the greatest, Nickerson.”
    Ned smiled back at her, but then his expression turned quizzical. Nancy noticed that he was staring past her. “What is it?” she asked.
    â€œYou might not be the only Drew who thinks Finian’s is romantic,” he said.
    â€œWhat do you mean?” Nancy asked.
    â€œYour father just walked in.”
    â€œMy dad!” Nancy exclaimed. “But he said he had a business appointment.”
    â€œThis doesn’t look like a business appointment to me,” said Ned. “This looks like a date.”
    Nancy turned in her seat to peer over her shoulder. Indeed, her father, dressed in a charcoal gray suit, had just entered the restaurant. His eyes were sparkling, and he was smiling broadly. Nancy couldn’t remember the last time she’d seen him look so handsome—or so happy.
    It was only when Carson Drew stepped forward that Nancy saw what she assumed was the reason for her father’s joy. With him was a striking woman, dressed in an off-the-shoulder red dress, her black hair piled glamorously on top of her head.
    Nancy’s breath caught in her throat as she recognized the woman. It was Adriana Polidori!

Chapter

Nine
    N ANCY COULDN ’ T BELIEVE her eyes. “My father,” she whispered, “and Adriana Polidori!”
    â€œWhat’s wrong with that?” Ned asked. They both watched as Carson squired Adriana through the restaurant.
    Then Nancy turned back to the table. “She’s a client for one thing,” she said, and took a big swallow of ice water.
    Ned raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
    â€œYou know I don’t mind my father dating.” She toyed with a lock of her hair. “It’s just that things can become confusing when business and—personal relationships get mixed up,” she finished a little weakly.
    Ned shot her a look. “Keep it down, Nancy. They’re headed this way.”
    Carson stopped dead in his tracks as he passedtheir table. Nancy could tell from the embarrassed expression on his face that her father wasn’t any more comfortable with the situation than she was. She decided to do her best to make him feel at ease.
    â€œDad, what a wonderful surprise!” she said, standing up to give her father a peck on the cheek. “You look gorgeous,” she said, turning to Adriana.
    The magician smiled and glanced up at Carson. “Thank you. Your father said this was one of the best restaurants in River Heights and that I simply had to try it. I told him that as long as we were conducting business, it might as well be pleasurable, too.”
    Carson nervously adjusted his tie, and Nancy’s gaze darted back and forth between them. Maybe it was just a dinner appointment with an important client, she thought. Maybe there wasn’t anything going on between them. Still, Nancy’s instincts were on the alert. If her father got too close to Adriana, he might lose some of his judgment about her case.
    â€œWe’d better take our table,” Carson said.
    â€œHave a great time,” Ned put in. “The shrimp cocktail’s terrific!”
    For the rest of their meal, Nancy tried to keep her eyes off her father’s table. Every time she looked up, though, it