Let's Play Make-Believe by James Patterson Read Free Book Online Page A

homemaker’s voice.
    From outside the door I heard, “Palm Beach Police, Mrs. Moore.”
    That had an effect on Marty, who sprang up and started toward the bedroom. I said, “You need to stay out here with me this time. These two have to go into the bedroom. They can’t be caught in here or they’ll lose their jobs.”
    Marty said, “Leave it to me. They won’t get their names.” He scrambled to get dressed as I slipped my blouse back on and pulled up a pair of shorts. I opened the door a crack, like I was worried about who was there. It was the same two cops who had crashed our first party. That must have been how they’d known my name.
    I opened the door and waved them inside.
    Only one of the cops spoke, just like last time. He was tall and handsome, with blond hair and great arms. They strained the sleeves of his polyester uniform.
    He glanced around the room and noticed the other clothes, and even I could see the shadows of Allie and the bartender under the door of the bedroom. They weren’t particularly discreet.
    The cop said, “Looks like you’re having quite a party.”
    Marty smiled and said, “Wanna join in?”
    Neither of the cops thought that was very funny, and they got it across with a long, surly look at Marty. That made Marty clear his throat and say, “Just kidding, you guys.”
    The cop pulled a pad from his back pocket and said, “I’m sorry, Mrs. Moore, but we had another complaint about the noise. I just need to write a quick report about it. If you promise to keep it down, we’ll let this one slide too.”
    “I promise.” I was in no mood to deal with the police.
    The cop looked at Marty and said, “And your name, sir?”
    Marty hesitated. “Why do you need my name?”
    “Why don’t you want to give me your name?”
    “Why should I give you my name?”
    “Because we were called here on a complaint of noise and you appear to have been contributing to that noise. I think we’ve been very polite and pleasant during this encounter, but that is going to end if you don’t give me your name. Now.”
    I immediately understood that Marty was distracting the cops from Allie and the bartender, but I also saw how serious the cop was, so I was surprised that Marty stood his ground. He really didn’t want to give the cop his name. The whole encounter was kind of thrilling, at least through my drug-enhanced view of it. I just hoped Marty’s ploy worked and the cops didn’t go to the bedroom and get Allie’s and the bartender’s names as well.
    Finally Marty said, “My name is Martin Hawking.” He didn’t give the cop any more trouble as he provided his date of birth and address.
    On the way out, the cop said, “You guys need to keep it down. Palm Beach goes to bed early and it doesn’t like scandals.”
    Allie peeked out of the bedroom as soon as she heard the door shut, and Marty excused himself to go to the bathroom.
    Allie said, “I could hear everything through the door. Your boyfriend just saved our jobs. He’s fantastic.”
    I looked at her and said, “Yes, yes, he is.”

Chapter 18
    The next morning I woke up with Marty’s arm draped across me. For a few seconds I panicked, wondering if Allie and the bartender were still in the apartment. I had never experienced that kind of fear in the morning and vowed right then never to take another one of Marty’s crazy pills. I’m not saying I regretted it. Everyone needs to get wild once in a while, but things had gone a little too far last night. I wasn’t completely clear on what had happened after the cops left.
    We knew to keep it quiet, but there was still more drinking, and the bartender had some really potent pot. The night got wilder, and now I vaguely recalled Allie and the bartender slipping out sometime in the early-morning hours.
    Marty stirred and I turned in bed, giving him a kiss to wake him up. That put the smile that I wanted to see on his face.
    Without prompting, he said, “Maybe we don’t need any