The Deception Read Online Free PDF Page B

celebrity."
    "Whose stardom ended at the ripe old age of twelve. By then I was getting too old for their pitch line and Old Man Mercer passed away. His sons were more interested in being real estate developers, so Mercer's Markets was sold to a national chain and my career as a child model was over, which was fine by me. I'd had enough of being in front of the camera. I wanted some semblance of a normal childhood."
    "I'll bet you made good money while you were at it," said Steve.
    "I did, and my mother invested it wisely. By the time I turned eighteen, I was able to pay for my own college education, and for a long time after that I was sitting pretty. Then Mama had a stroke. She ended up in a nursing home and I ended up in the poorhouse after her insurance ran out."
    "What about your dad?"
    "Your guess is as good as mine, Steve. He walked out when I was five. He hasn't been seen or heard from since."
    Carrie noticed everyone's plate was empty so she got up to clear the table. They made small talk over dessert and before long it was time for Steve and Allison to leave. They lived across town so it would take some time for them to get home in all the holiday traffic. She helped Allison with her coat.
    "You know, Carrie, I'm sure in this instance there won't be any problem with those photos. Louise will make sure they don't fall into the wrong hands, and that whoever buys any of them knows there are strings attached. But in the future, just be careful, okay?"

Five
     
    B y the time Carrie arrived at Hanson Sisters Fine Art, Louise's show was well underway. It took some time for her to find Louise in the crowd. She finally spotted her standing near the bar.
    "There's my Sweetness." Louise walked up to Carrie and hugged her. "Come, let me introduce you to these two folks."
    Louise made the introductions as Carrie graciously said hello and shook their hands. The man then pointed to something on the wall at the opposite side of the room.
    "You know, Louise, I think my wife and I have made our decision on which of the prints to buy."
    "Really? Which one?"
    "One of the female nude. The one of her lying next to the swimming pool."
    "Good choice," said Louise with a smile.
    Carrie stood by, nonplussed, as the couple stepped away. At least they hadn't recognized her. Louise turned back to her.
    "Well, thank you, Sweetness. You must be my good luck charm. Can I get you anything to drink?"
    "Just a club soda, thanks."
    Louise turned to the bartender and ordered Carrie's drink. While he was pouring it, she mentioned she'd had a much bigger turn out than she'd expected. Many of the people who had come were old business associates whom she hadn't seen in years.
    "It's been like old home week," she said as she sipped her cocktail, "and hopefully they'll spend lots of money while they're here."
    Before Carrie could reply someone else approached Louise and started talking. After a brief introduction, she took her drink and excused herself. She walked around the room. The walls were lined with black and white and color photos, all hand numbered, signed and beautifully framed. Louise had presented a good variety of subject matter. Her show included urban street scenes, landmarks, and breathtaking panoramic landscapes taken all over the state of Arizona. She'd even thrown in a series of humorous photos featuring her cat. The ones attracting the most attention, however, were the five nudes.
    Carrie worked her way toward that part of the gallery. She took her time, stopping here and there to chat with people and exchanging business cards with potential clients. She made a mental note to sign the guest book before she left. Artist openings could be a good place for her to network. She eventually arrived at the display of her images. The five photos they'd selected had all been printed in black and white, emphasizing the contrast between the light and shadows. She checked the hand-written numbers on the lower corners of the prints. Louise was offering