No Way Out by Fern Michaels (great books for teens .TXT) 📗

after week, hoping Ellie’s answer would change.

“Maybe a couple more months,” Ellie lied. She had no idea how long it would be, but that was better than telling her mother it was yet to be determined. It would also make her mother relax if she thought it would be over soon.

“So what else is happening?” Ellie took a sip of her brunch beverage. “Any local gossip?” She wondered if her mother knew that Rick had been in touch with Christian.

“The library is putting the summer reading programs together. They want to have more than one a week, but I told them it’s not worth the effort. Kids want to play outside, go swimming, camp, and all that.”

“You’re probably right, Mom.”

“And Kara agrees with me. She got into it the other day with Mrs. Wilson.”

“Uptight Willie?” Ellie remembered the sourpuss from the local library. It was people like her who gave librarians a bad rap. And most librarians were a lot hipper and cooler than people gave them credit for. Ellie had dealt with many of them before the incident and found them to be fun and often wild. Who knew?

“Yes. Apparently, she doesn’t think fresh air is important.”

“Well, one could argue she suffers from a lack of oxygen.”

“More like too much hot air!” Both laughed.

“Anything else to report?” Ellie didn’t want to mention Rick.

“Nothing else, dear.”

“OK, Mom. I’ll give you a buzz next week. You take care of yourself. Love you!”

“And you take care of yourself, too, honey. Love you, too.”

They ended the call. Ellie took another sip and dialed Kara’s number. She was anxious to hear if there was any more news about Rick. She cared, but not in the way an ex-girlfriend would care. This was different.

“Hey, girl!” Kara’s bright voice said over the phone.

“How did you know it was me?”

“That weird area code. I know it’s one of those disposable phones, my friend.”

“Correct. But it’s not as if I haven’t been using one for the past two years.”

“True, but you asked!” Kara giggled.

“What’s the latest?” Ellie held her breath. “Any more news from Mr. Wonderful?”

“Yeah. He called last night. Christian asked him what he needed the money for. He said it was a project he was working on and he needed funding for it.”

“What kind of project?”

“Well, that’s just it. He told Christian it was some kind of proprietary thing and he had to sign a nondisclosure agreement.”

Ellie was dubious. “Interesting. What did Christian tell him?”

“Like I told you the other day. If he gives him one penny, I will send him to the moon without a rocket ship.”

“You gave up on the idea of kicking his ass down the stairs?” Ellie teased.

“Whichever one provides the better opportunity!” They burst into laughter.

“I really miss you, Kara.”

“Miss you, too, my friend. Anyway, Christian told him that he really needed more information before he could float it past me.”

“Christian ain’t no dummy!” Ellie smiled.

“Seriously. I think Christian wasn’t buying his story. Since when was Rick an entrepreneur?”

“Beats me. He was able to go a long way with his good looks and charm.” Ellie remembered what it was like when she had first met him.

“And let’s not forget that bankroll he blew.”

“Boy, was his father pissed. I guess when they set up that trust, there were few or no stipulations. A hundred grand when he turned twenty-five. And another when he turned thirty.”

“Yeah. That’s just crazy. Imagine what most people could do with that kind of money?”

“I hear ya. I guess his father thought he would invest the first chunk and have backup for further investments. I suppose it made sense at the time, considering his father was a very successful real-estate investor. He probably thought good business sense ran in the family,” Ellie observed.

“When you met him he was what, thirty?”

“Yes. He had just gotten the second pile of cash. Remember, he wooed me by taking me to the Bahamas for a romantic weekend?” Ellie thought back to the time when she had dated Rick.

“He surely won you over with the gifts, dinners, trips.”

“It wasn’t about the stuff. It was about his damn charm. And his wit and intellect. He was a smooth operator, that’s for sure.”

“You know I’ve always felt a little guilty introducing you to him and pushing for you to date him,” Kara confessed for the zillionth time.

“Well, don’t. I made my own choices. It was fun and romantic. How could one resist?” Ellie sighed.

“True. But when his father cut him off after he spent all the money, he was no longer so charming,” Kara noted.

“No kidding. Boy, did he turn into a total ass.” Ellie remembered that much.

“And then leaving town while you were in the hospital? That was the worst.” Kara opened the wound again.

“Good thing I don’t remember much, or I’d really be pissed,” Ellie said soberly.

“Let’s change the subject. We don’t need to be wasting our time talking about that jerk.”

“I don’t suppose he mentioned where he was?” Ellie had to ask.

“Nope. Just that it was all ‘under wraps.’ He’s as mysterious as you are, girl. But I know you’re not lying.”

Little did she know, Ellie thought.

“So, I hear Willie Wilson is giving you guys a hard time about the summer library program?” Ellie changed the subject, but she couldn’t erase from her mind her concern about Rick and his whereabouts.

“I wanted to offer summer reading at camps, but Willie said she did not want to be responsible for bringing books to places with dirt,” Kara said.

“If she only knew what kids did when they got their library books home.” Ellie laughed, remembering using them to sit on when there was nothing else between her butt and the ground.

They both cackled at that remark. Kara added, “I offered to pay for any damages out of my own pocket, but she said that was against the rules. Something about violating government funding.”

“That’s ridiculous. You mean to tell me that people can’t make donations?” Ellie asked.

“You just gave me an idea. I am going