Free The Cheater by R.L. Stine

father happy. For keeping it all a secret.
    Was all that worth a thousand dollars to her?
    It was. It was worth a thousand dollars, and a lot more.
    *   *   *
    Her father was late coming home from work. He was usually late these days. He couldn’t leave the courthouse without being mobbed by reporters and photographers and curiosity seekers. The Henry Austin case was heating up.
    So, the Phillips family ate dinner later than usual. The judge felt that it was important for the family to have that time together. He demanded that Carter and her mother wait to eat with him.
    That night Mrs. Phillips didn’t call Carter to dinner until after eight o’clock. Carter was starving by then. She hurried downstairs to the dining room.
    Her father was already seated at the head of the table. Carter went over to him and kissed him hello. Then she took her place.
    â€œHow’s the case going, Daddy?” she asked.
    Her father frowned. Carter noticed how lined his face was.
    â€œIt’s going well, I suppose,” said the judge. “The prosecution’s case is very strong.”
    â€œAll the papers say they think he’ll be convicted,” said Mrs. Phillips. “He sounds like a terrible person. I think he actually
enjoys
hurting people.”
    â€œYes,” said the judge. “The facts that have come out of this trial are very troublesome.”
    He sighed. The stuffed fish was served, and Carter began to eat.
    â€œWhy don’t we talk about something else,” saidthe judge. “How’s the Spring Fling coming along?” He turned to his wife.
    â€œI had a terrible time at my meeting today,” Mrs. Phillips said. “Rita Weston may have a degree in design, but she has the
worst
taste when it comes to floral arrangements….”
    Carter tuned out. She hated to hear her mother drone on about her committee meetings.
    She was lost in her own thoughts when she glanced up to reach for the butter and found both of her parents staring at her.
    â€œCarter, didn’t you hear your father?” said Mrs. Phillips. “He asked you a question.”
    â€œOh. Sorry, Daddy. What is it?”
    She turned to her father, so he could see that he now had her full attention. His face was red.
    â€œYour earrings, Carter,” he said. “Where are your earrings?”

Chapter 11

    C arter set down her butter knife. What was she going to tell him? Not the truth, that was sure. She had to put him off somehow.
    â€œOh, Daddy,” she began, “I had such a scare today. I wore my earrings to school, like I always do. But after gym class, when I was changing in the locker room, I noticed that one of them was missing!”
    Her father paled slightly and put down his fork. He lifted his napkin and wiped his lips. Mrs. Phillips didn’t bat an eyelash.
    â€œDid you find it?” asked the judge.
    Carter could hardly bear the hurt on his face.
    â€œDon’t worry, Daddy,” she reassured him. “I did find it. I spent ages looking for it, but it turned out to be stuck in the sleeve of my sweatshirt. It must have come off while I was changing.”
    Judge Phillips was obviously relieved and started eating again.
    â€œBut when I examined it, I saw that the back was loose. That’s why it fell off so easily. So on my way home from school I took the earrings to a jeweler to get them fixed.”
    â€œYou should have told me first, Carter. I would have taken them back to the place where I bought them. Which jeweler did you go to?”
    Which jeweler? Carter racked her brain for the name of a jewelry store. She remembered the shop in the mall, the one with the necklaces she and Dan had checked out.
    â€œI took them to that place in the mall—what’s it called?—Sparkles, that’s it.”
    Judge Phillips made a face. “I wish you hadn’t done that, Carter. What kind of jeweler calls itself Sparkles? Will they do a