April Fools by Richie Tankersley Cusick Read Free Book Online

that. ..."
    For a split second Hildy's expression fell, and she looked confused. It was Frank who leaned forward, his voice so self-assured in the sudden, uncomfortable quiet.
    "Just cut it out, huh, Belinda? You know and / know and Hildy knows -- in our heart of hearts -- that it's absolutely impossible for --"
    "Nothing's impossible, Frank," Belinda said firmly. He looked a little surprised, but still shook his head at her.
    "Talk about a guilty conscience! Jeez, it's just gonna eat and eat at you --"
    "You should have heard the way Adam talked," Belinda shook her head. "Things he said to me -- almost as if he knows me, it's creepy --"
    "You are so easy to scare." Frank chuckled. "Anybody could scare you --"
    "Let's study," Hildy said hurriedly. "Let's get this over with so we can see the movie. You, too, Belinda, you come, too --"
    "No." Her voice was tight. "I don't feel like a
    movie."
    "You'll excuse me then if I miss this fascinating discussion." Frank stood up, his mouth full, and took his snacks with him into the living room. "I need some -- what was that, Hildy? Intellectual stimulation. In front of the TV. Hey, where's your paper?"
    Belinda pressed her lips together. "Outside, I guess. I forgot to bring it in."
    Hildy stared down at the table as Belinda opened her math book, laid out her notes, set out paper and pencils between them. "Belinda . . . really . . . why
    don't you come with us? It'll be good for you to get out --"
    "No, I don't want to." She sat down in the chair, then lowered her head in her hands.
    "Belinda -- what is it?"
    "You should have see him, Hildy. Before the accident, I mean."
    "Before? But how -- ?"
    "I saw a picture of him and he was so gorgeous . . . tall, dark, and handsome --"
    "Just your type," Hildy teased, but her smile was sincere. "I told you, didn't I tell you? That this could be him? Mr. Right?"
    "Oh, Hildy." Belinda's voice faded. She felt Hil-dy's hand on her arm. "If Adam really was in that accident, I'll never forgive myself."
    "So is that why you're taking the job?"
    "I don't know. I've got to find out for sure, but I really want to help him, too -- I just don't know. He ... he scares me. And they keep snakes in the house."
    "Oh, gross! How weird! Look, I wish you'd just forget about everything once and for all. I just wish you'd --"
    "Hey, Belinda" -- Frank reappeared in the doorway, examining something in his hands -- "there was a package on your porch."
    "A package?" Belinda took the small box he held out to her and shook it. Nothing rattled inside. Her own name was scrawled sloppily across the brown wrapping, but there was no return address.
    *What do you think it is?" Hildy took it from her and shook it again, frowning. "There're no stamps, no forms. Someone must have left it."
    "Who?" Behnda looked blank. "I don't know anyone who'd have left me anything."
    "Uh-oh" -- Frank shook his finger at her -- "you're holding out on us, Belinda. Some secret admirer you're not teUing us about."
    Belinda ignored him and ripped the paper at one end of the box. The cardboard underneath was unmarked. She eased the wrapping off carefully, looking for any clue that might be below, but there was nothing. Just a small, flat, ordinary box.
    She looked up at Hildy. Hildy looked at Frank.
    "You open it," Belinda said suddenly, thrusting the box at Frank. For a second he looked startled, but then he laughed.
    "Okay, but if it's something personal, don't blame me." He slid his finger under each taped end, then slowly hfted the hd.
    Belinda's hand gripped the edge of the table.
    Frank stared a moment, then began to chuckle. "It's a piece of paper." He held the folded object up between his fingers, and Hildy gave a nervous laugh. "Okay, Behnda, satisfied?" Frank shook his head. "Now you read it. It'd probably embarrass
    me."
    Belinda took the paper, relief flooding through her. What did you think it would be, anyway? You're so silly. Yet she'd had a terrible feehng that it would be something . . .