The Deception Read Online Free PDF Page A

dinner on Saturday night.
    Carrie Daniels met Allison Santiago on their first day of high school. Carrie was sitting alone in the cafeteria, when Allison sat down across the table from her and introduced herself. They soon became best friends, and after high school both attended Arizona State University. Allison was now teaching English at a high school in the nearby town of Chandler.
    "Merry Christmas," greeted Allison as Carrie opened the front door. "And something sure smells good in here."
    "That would be my famous roasted chicken, with all the fixings."
    As Carrie invited her friends inside, she noticed Allison was carrying the box for a small, pre-lighted Christmas tree. "Allie, you shouldn't have. I wasn't going to do Christmas this year."
    "Yeah, that's what we figured, so that's why we brought it." She looked around for a place to put it. "I know you've had a difficult year, but it's still Christmas and I don't want my best friend becoming Ms. Scrooge."
    She set the little tree on the end table next to the sofa and took off her coat. The bright-red sweater revealed underneath hugged her svelte figure. Steve handed her a box of ornaments and she began to decorate it while Carrie got a towel to use as a tree skirt. It was soon ready to be plugged in. Everyone cheered as the lights came on.
    "I really don't know how to thank you." Carrie hugged her friends. "It's the most thoughtful thing anyone's done for me in a long, long time."
    Dinner was soon ready to be served. Carrie asked her guests to take their seats and joked about her mismatched tableware, explaining that with her limited means she had to purchase all her kitchen items at a thrift store.
    "It's all very unique. However, if a dish gets dropped, or a spoon accidentally winds up in the garbage disposal, it's no big deal. I don't have to worry about finding a matching replacement. I just go back to the thrift store and get whatever they have."
    Allison looked at Steve. "Now I know what to get her for Christmas. Dishes and flatware."
    "No, you don't have to do that. I now have a decent roof over my head. That's enough of a Christmas present for me this year."
    "I'm relieved you found this place too," said Allison, as she spooned some mashed potatoes onto her plate. "So how were you able to come up with the funds to move in here?"
    "Louise called me. It was the morning after you and Steve ran into her and Karl at Hernando's. She got me a modeling gig. That's how I was able to do it."
    "What was the modeling job?" asked Steve.
    "Well, it was a different sort of gig."
    "How so?" asked Allison.
    "It wasn't for a print ad."
    "Okay, then what was it?"
    "It was an art modeling job for Louise. Some rich couple in California hired her to take some photos to display in their home. She needed a model and I needed the money, so I told her I'd do it."
    "What kind of photos?" asked Steve.
    "Black and white prints. Of a female model."
    "Nude?" asked Allison.
    Carrie quickly picked up her glass and started drinking. Allison noticed her face was turning red.
    "Nude," she said, answering her own question. "Carrie, you need to be careful about doing things like that."
    "It's for Louise, Allie. I know her. She's on the up and up. She said the photos would be for the client's personal use only, and that they couldn't be published anywhere."
    "I understand. I'm just saying be careful, that's all. So when's the shoot?"
    "It's all ready been done. It was a week ago today, at Louise's house."
    "Did you sign a release?" asked Steve.
    "Yes."
    "May I have a look at it? If you don't mind."
    "Sure."
    Steve was an attorney who also considered Carrie a friend. He waited while she stepped away to retrieve the paperwork. Once she brought it back to the table, he carefully looked it over. She watched his hand sweeping through his thick brown hair as he read. His looks reminded her of a model she'd recently photographed for an athletic shoe store ad.
    "Well, it does appear to be on the up and up,