Susan Mallery - Almost Perfect

The second book in the Fool's Gold series, 2010

LIZSUTTON HAD ALWAYS KNOWN the past would come back and bite her in the butt-she just hadnt known it was going to happen today.

Her morning had started normally enough, with getting her son on the bus to school, then going down the hall to her home office, where she wrote five fairly decent pages before stopping for some serious pacing, followed by deleting three of the last five pages. She was figuring out who to murder in the first chapter of her new book, not to mention how he or she would be murdered. Was decapitation just too predictable? Luckily her assistant knocked on her door, sparing her from making a decision.

Sorry to interrupt, Peggy said, frowning slightly as she held out a piece of paper. But I thought youd want to read this.

Liz took the single sheet. It was an e-mail, sent to her Web site. There was a link there for fans to get in touch with her. Peggy handled most of the e-mails, but every now and then she found something she didnt know what to do with.

A crazed stalker type? Liz asked, pathetically grateful for the interruption. When the writing was slow, even a death threat was more thrilling than the current work in progress.

Not exactly. She says shes your niece.

Niece?

Liz scanned the sheet.

Dear Aunt Liz,

My name is Melissa Sutton. My dad is your brother Roy. Im fourteen years old and my sister Abby is eleven. A few months ago, our dad went to prison. His new wife, our stepmom, said she would take care of us, but she changed her mind and left. I thought Abby and me would be fine. Im really mature for my age. My teachers say that all the time.

Shes been gone a while now and Im really scared. I havent told Abby because shes still a kid, but I dont know if we can make it. I dont want to tell Dad what happened because he really liked Bettina and hell be sad she didnt wait for him.

So I thought maybe you could help. I know we havent met before, but Ive read all your books and I really like them.

Hope to hear from you soon. Your niece, Melissa.

P.S. Im using the computer at the library, so you cant e-mail me back. But heres our phone number. Even though the lights are off, the phone still works at home.

P.P.S. Were living in your old house in Fools Gold.

Liz read the e-mail a second time, trying to get the words to make sense. Roy was back in Fools Gold. Or at least he had been, before heading off to prison.

She hadnt seen her brother in nearly eighteen years. He was a lot older and had left the summer shed turned twelve. Shed never heard from him again. Apparently hed married a couple of times and had kids. Daughters. Girls who were living alone in a house that had been run-down and disgusting twelve years ago. She doubted there had been many improvements since.

Questions tumbled through her brain. Questions about her brother and why hed returned to Fools Gold after being gone so long. Why he was in prison and what on earth was she supposed to do with two nieces shed never met?

She glanced at her watch. It was barely eleven. As it was Tylers last day before summer vacation, he was getting out at twelve-thirty. If she got the car packed in time, they could leave directly from his school and be in Fools Gold in about four hours.

I need to deal with this, Liz told her assistant, as she wrote an address on a piece of paper. Call the electric company in Fools Gold and get the power turned back on. They should take a credit card for payment. Do the same with the other utilities. Ill call the girls and let them know Im coming.

Are they really your nieces? Peggy asked.

I guess. I havent seen my brother since I was their age, but I cant let them stay there alone. She shook her head, determining what else had to be done. Her next book wouldnt be published until the fall, so she didnt have to worry about publicity and book tours. She could work on her new story anywhere she had her laptop. At least that was the theory.

I dont know how long well be gone, she continued. Im guessing it will take a couple of weeks to get everything straightened out.

Peggy stared at her. Just like that?

What do you mean?

Arent you going to think about it? Most people would hesitate. You dont even know these girls.

True, Liz thought. But what choice did she have? Theyre kids, by themselves, and theyre family. I have to do something.

Which is just like you, Peggy said. You leap in and do what you think is right which is admirable. But not always smart.

Someone has to take care of this. Besides, shed grown up having to take care of things. Her mother hadnt bothered. With luck, I wont be gone too long.

Dont worry either way. I can handle things here.

Liz forced a smile. I know you can. Im going to pack and then get Tyler. Well drive to Fools Gold today.

Maybe it will be nice to go home.

Liz did her best to look normal. Sure. Okay, Ill call the girls.

She waited until Peggy left before picking up the phone. She dialed the familiar number, then let it ring eight times before hanging up. No answer. Of course, it was a weekday. The girls were probably still in school. She would try again later, from her cell.

She had to pack for herself and her son, phone a few friends and let them know she would be gone for a couple weeks, e-mail her editor and agent to tell them the same. Logistics, she thought as she collected the notes shed made on her current novel. She was good at logistics. The ability to plan and deal with problems was part of the reason she enjoyed writing her detective mystery series. Shed always been good at the work. It was the rest of life that caused her to stumble time after time.

Introspection later, she murmured aloud. Action now.

She powered off her laptop, then disconnected it from the docking station. After collecting her notes, a few pens, pads of paper and her address book, she went down the hall to her bedroom.

A little over an hour later, shed packed what she hoped was enough, loaded the car and gone over everything with Peggy. Her assistant would take care of the house and make sure the bills were paid.

Are you all right? Peggy asked.

Sure. Great. Why?

Peggy, a forty-something former executive assistant, frowned. Just checking. This is a lot to take in. She hesitated. You know if theres no one else to take care of the girls

Liz might suddenly be responsible for two nieces shed never met. I know. Ill deal with that when I have more information.

Mac and I went to Fools Gold on our honeymoon. Back when I thought marriage was a good thing. I didnt know you were from there.

No one did, Liz thought grimly. She found life easier when she didnt talk about her past. I left right after high school and moved here. San Francisco is my home now.

Peggy smiled at her. If you need anything, call me.

I will.

Liz went downstairs to the single car garage and got into her Lexus. Shed packed four suitcases, a couple boxes with Tylers favorite movies, his Xbox and a handful of books. She went over the inventory because that was easier than thinking about what she was doing. Going back to the one place she never wanted to be. The town where shed grown up.

For a second she wondered if she really had to do this. Go rescue a couple kids shed never met. Then she shook off the thought. Right now there wasnt anyone else. She couldnt leave the two girls on their own. She would deal with the problem, get it resolved and return to her life. Staying was not an option.