Head Games by Eileen Dreyer Read Free Book Online Page B

ignored him.
    â€œI figured …” Down went Patrick’s head. Up went the shoulders. “I don’t know … nobody gives a damn what I do at home. Why should you?”
    â€œJuanita was beside herself,” Molly said. “She was just about to get in touch with your parents.”
    â€œI told you. They’re in China.”
    â€œYou know, it’s amazing. China is getting to be a very modern country.
It even has phone service now. Which means you don’t have an excuse for not calling them with the news.”
    He just shrugged. “Like they really give a rat’s ass what happens to me.”
    With any other kid, Molly would have argued the point. Of course your parents care what happens to you. It may not seem like it …
    But Molly knew Patrick’s parents. At least she used to know them. And truth be told? She didn’t have a clue whether Marty would even notice Patrick had disappeared if he were still in that fancy house in Virginia with him.
    â€œWhat about Sean?” she asked of Patrick’s younger brother.
    His sneer said it all. “Ah, the shining light. The real heir apparent. Obvious to everyone from the day of his blessed birth.”
    Molly could have been a lot tougher on Patrick if she hadn’t understood that sentiment all too well herself. It was tough getting noticed when you had to be seen past perfection.
    â€œJuanita also seems to be missing some cash …”
    That brought Patrick right to his feet. “I didn’t take it! I’ve been using my credit card. God, what do you think I am?”
    Molly carefully shrugged. “I don’t know. But whatever’s going on, you’re going to have to go home and face it.”
    For a second he closed his eyes, as if struggling with her betrayal. When he finally opened them and faced her, Molly saw the kid who didn’t relate to anything but abandonment.
    â€œWhy?” he demanded. “They don’t care where I am. I can go to school anywhere. What if I just stayed here for a while?”
    â€œI work two jobs, Patrick. And no matter what you’d like to believe, you’re still not an adult. And to be perfectly frank, I’m not sure I’d leave you alone all day with the booty in this house.”
    â€œGive me a chance,” he pleaded. “Nobody else has.”
    No, she thought. Yes.
    A child. A child who was the age hers might have been. Back in the days when she’d wanted children so badly she’d tried anything to have them.
    It was a stupid impulse, one her therapist would have identified and quashed in a minute. If she still had a therapist. Number three on her list
of things to do tomorrow. Get in touch with Patrick’s parents. Make sure the bone was a stupid mistake. Find a new therapist.
    Tomorrow was going to be a very busy day.
    â€œWe’ll talk after I get in touch with your father,” she decided, straightening. “Which, blessings to the gods of communications, I can do tomorrow. Which also, thankfully, is two full days before I have to go back to work, so that I can keep an eye on you. Till then, you can do some manual labor around here to make up for my having to spend my evening with the police.”
    â€œI didn’t do anything,” he protested yet again.
    â€œYou can have the room you and Sean share when you come into town.” When they’d come into town the three times in their lives. “Don’t try and sneak anywhere, because Magnum will let me know. He’s not used to you yet, and he might hurt you.”
    â€œHe’s sure used to him ,” Patrick challenged, motioning to Frank, who still sat on his tilted chair enjoying the drama.
    Molly scowled. “I have no explanation for that.”
    â€œDog has taste,” Frank said with a lazy smile.
    â€œDog’s been bribed,” Molly retorted, and stretched with meaning. “Now then, gentlemen, before anyone has a