The Deception



  The Deception

  Kay Jo'en & Emma Riley

  Copyright © 2013 Fingerpaint Productions.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, transferred, downloaded, circulated, stored in or introduced into any information storage or retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic, written or mechanical, without written permission from the author (unless by a reviewer who may quote brief passages for review purposes only). If you would like to quote or use the material found in this book, please contact the publisher at [email protected].

  If you are reading this book and didn't purchase or win it in an author/publisher contest, it has been pirated. Please delete said copy and support the authors by purchasing 'The Deception' from one of its distributors.

  This book is a work of fiction. Characters, story lines and situations are created from the author's imagination and/or have been used fictitiously. Any resemblance to any person(s), living or dead, any place(s), event(s) or occurrences, is/are entirely coincidental.

  Published by Fingerpaint Productions.

  Cover Design © Fingerpaint Productions

  www.fingerpaintproductions.com/Publishing.html

  Acknowledgements

  Kay and Emma would like to thank their family and friends for their continued support. We couldn't have done this without you! Also, a big thank you to readers for taking a chance on two new writers. We hope you enjoyed it!

  Table of Contents

  Prologue – Scott

  1 – Revelation

  2 – Encounter

  3 – Impressions

  4 – Dissension

  5 – Breakthrough

  6 – Kindling

  7 – Paramount

  8 – Conflict

  9 – Responsibilities

  10 – Admissions

  11 – Complication

  12 – Exodus

  13 – Rebellion

  14 – Despair

  15 – Arrival

  16 – Courage

  17 – New Beginnings

  Power will intoxicate the best hearts, as wine the strongest heads. No man is wise enough, nor good enough to be trusted with unlimited power.

  ~Charles Caleb Colton

  Prologue – Scott

  "To die and part is a less evil; but to part and live, there, there is the torment."

  ~George Lansdowne

  "Good morning, Sunshine." I said, focusing the video camera on my sweet baby girl and stroking her silky black hair. She tried to focus her tiny blue eyes, the same shade as mine, on my face. She cooed. "Your mommy says I haven't put this thing down since the day you were born. She's right, you know… But you're our greatest accomplishment and just so darn cute, I can't help it."

  I paused and studied her precious face. "Guess what?" I said, holding her tiny hand in mine. "Your friends Robert and Logan are coming to play with you today and I think they're going to love playing with all your toys as much as they seem to love you."

  I smiled down at her kicking feet and couldn't help but laugh. So much had changed over the last year. I remember it well. The moment the stick turned blue, I called the realtor and started searching for the perfect place to call home. We'd found the plot of land in less than a week and within a months' time we'd started building our dream house.

  I leaned down and kissed her soft chubby cheek. "You know Sunshine, we built this house especially for you: it has lots of land for you to run and play; hills you can roll down; the prettiest view of the ocean with perfect places to make sandcastles; and, there are even lots of trees so we can build a tree house."

  Katie smiled and cooed as though she understood every word I was saying. I couldn't help but continue my one-sided conversation.

  "We've already built you a swing-set with slides, a climbing wall, and monkey bars, for when your little legs are able to lift you up. We even have horsies and a pony just for you." I smiled and touched her little nose. "I know you're too young to understand or even want any of this, but your mother and I are so excited…We just can't help ourselves." I laughed.

  "Nine months is a long time to wait and plan. And your nursery, sweetheart," I smiled and shook my head, panning the camera around to show the nursery. "Your mother had a mural of a princess' castle painted on the outside of your room, and a special door shipped from Ireland – that's where your mother grew up," I leaned down and whispered, "and why she believes in fairy-tales."

  "Scott, is she dressed yet?" Abby called up from downstairs.

  "Almost" I yelled over my shoulder.

  Her chuckle echoed up the stairs and widened my grin. "Can you please dress her while you narrate, Honey? Everyone will be here any minute."

  "Your mommy caught me again." I whispered then shut the camera off and shoved it in my pocket.

  The tiny white sundress Abby bought on one of her many shopping trips was draped over the edge of Katie's mahogany crib. I slipped the little dress on her then gently lifted her out of the crib and headed outside.

  ♦~♦~♦~♦

  Smoke rose from the chimney on the grill.

  "Hey Scott, you might want to put that camera down for a minute, unless you plan on serving us charred steaks!"

  I spun around laughing and stuck the video camera in my shorts pocket. "Sorry, John. I get a little carried away filming her sometimes; I still can't believe I'm someone's daddy." I lifted the lid, flipped the steaks and turned back to John. He was staring out toward the swing set where his wife Mary and two sons' were playing.

  John laughed and took a pull from the bottle he was holding. "Wait until she says dada the first time; you think she has you wrapped around her little finger now," he shook his head. "It gets worse… much worse." He sat his bottle down on the glass table and reached in his khaki shorts pocket pulling out a key chain that held his digital pictures.

  I laughed.

  His gray eyes shone with pride as he looked down at a picture of his boys. "You laugh now, Scott, but wait until you go somewhere with no cell or internet service and you'll wish you had one, too."

  I shook my head in acknowledgment, knowing our work often took us away for extended periods of time – just one of the many reasons I had decided to leave the company.

  The summer sky was free of clouds, allowing the sun to shine warm and bright on the pink and brown polka-dot umbrella Abigeál had set up over Katie's playpen.

  "Abigeál!" I called making my way across the grassy-sloped yard toward her.

  She glanced up through a curtain of spiraling red hair and put her finger to her lips. "Shhh!" she scolded, her pale blue eyes glared into the video camera I'd pulled back out. I focused it on her.

  Two little towheads, fresh off the swing-set, came bouncing into the frame. Their sweaty faces showed how much fun they'd been having.

  "Why are you putting her in there, Mrs. Abigeál?"

  "It's her naptime."

  "Why does she have to take a nap now?"

  "Because, Robert, she's just a baby; she needs her rest so she can grow up big and strong, like you and Logan."

  "I don't take naps anymore!" Logan piped in, his emerald eyes sparkling.

  Abigeál bent down and kissed his little red cheek. "Hmm," she shrugged. "I guess you don't need to keep growing then, do you?"

  "I still take naps." Robert interjected.

  "Well then," Abigeál smiled and raised her eyebrows. "You'll grow up big and strong like your Daddy, and marry someone as beautiful as your Mommy."

  Robert's smile beamed across his five year old face.

  Logan turned and pressed his face against the mesh walls of the playpen. "I don't have to grow big; I'll just marry baby Katie."

  I walked up to her with the camera at
my side, still recording, "Whoa! Just a minute now boys." I leaned over and gave my wife a loud, smacking kiss. "Abigeál," I whispered. "Albert just drove up, why don't you take Katie in the house. I don't want him anywhere near her–"

  She grabbed my arm. "I thought he was still in Seattle…"

  "So did I, honey. I never would've invited John and Mary over if I knew he was in town."

  "I know." She whispered, forcing a smile in front of the boys.

  Albert stepped out of his black Bugatti Veyron and scanned the yard focusing on the playpen next to me. When his eyes locked on Katie my heart stopped, triggering a memory of a decision that had altered my life forever.

  "Well Scott," Albert breathed. "Now that you've signed your life away, it's time John take you to solidify the deal."

  I nodded and followed John down the hall into the underground parking garage. Excitement for change flowed through my veins: I was going to do something worthwhile.

  With an echoing beep, John's car unlocked and the doors began to open.

  I slid into the passenger seat and looked around at all the gadgets on the dash board. This was, by far, the nicest car I'd ever been in.

  "Marcus," John said, awaiting a response.

  "Yes, Sir." His car replied.

  "Drive us to Vanderman's."

  "Yes, Sir," the car said in obedience. "Driving to Mr. Vanderman's now."

  John smiled. "I don't think I'll ever get use to this," he turned his full attention to me as his car began our journey. "Everything okay?" he teased.

  I ran my hand over my heart knowing what was next. "You know I'm not of fan of needles, John."

  He laughed. "It's part of the package and we can't do our jobs without it. You know that."

  "Yeah, but I don't have to like it."

  He clasped his hand over my shoulder. "It's too late to back out now. You're in this for life."

  I forced a smile. "Yeah, I know."

  "Scott, I know you're nervous but just think of all the good we're going to be able to do! I mean, how many people get an offer like this just out of college?"

  "Mr. Scott, Mr. Scott! Can I marry Katie first?" Logan asked, tugging on my arm and pulling me from my thoughts.

  I shifted back to face John and Mary's sons. "What's this about marring my Katie?" I teased; dividing my attention between the boys and helping Abigeál get Katie's things together.

  "Mrs. Abigeál said you have to take naps to grow, and I don't like taking naps-"

  "How old are you now, Logan?" I asked.

  He beamed a toothy smile and struggled to hold up four fingers.

  "That old?" I whistled, raising my eyebrows.

  Logan nodded. "If you don't make Katie take naps, she won't get bigger than me. Then I can marry her." He announced with the seriousness of a four year old.

  "No, you can't," Robert said, pushing his way through to the playpen. "I want to marry her first!" He yelled.

  Abigeál lifted Katie out of the playpen and laughed.

  "Well boys," I said, mussing the top of their heads. "Nobody's marring my sunshine anytime soon."

  "Abigeál – Scott. Are my grandson's pestering you?" I stiffened and turned to face Albert. His black suit jacket was unbuttoned revealing his expanding waist as he made his way across the back yard.

  "No, sir." I answered.

  "Grandpa! Guess what - guess what!" the boys ran up and wrapped themselves around Albert's legs.

  He smiled down at them, furrowing his brow. "Wha-"

  Robert cut Albert off, looking up at him with serious gray eyes… the spitting image of his fathers. "I'm going to marry baby Katie!"

  Logan's bottom lip jetted out. "Noooo! I asked first, Robert!" He kicked his brother's leg.

  "Son! Don't kick your brother!" John scolded, walking to the group hand-in-hand with his wife, Mary. Her yellow sun dress blew in the cool summer breeze coming off the Pacific Ocean as they made their way toward us.

  "Ahh, there's my beautiful daughter." Albert said, leaning over to kiss Mary on the cheek.

  She frowned. "Dad, what are you doing here?"

  "I stopped by your house; your maid said you were at the Tillman's –"

  Mary chuckled. "No dad, what are you doing in California? I was certain you'd be in Seattle,