California Schemin' - Kate George [44]
“What are you doing?” Hammie was frowning at me.
“The senator gave me free rein of the house. I was looking for something to do. It’s pretty quiet around here. Where’s Paris? Maybe she’d play foosball with me.”
“Paris is Wendy’s best friend. She went with him to San Francisco.”
Better and better. That meant fewer people to keep an eye on me. I looked up into Hammie's scowl with my eyes wide.
“Is the pool heated?”
“Yes.” His tone was guarded.
“Do you think Paris has a bathing suit that would fit me? I’d love to go for a swim.”
“Not sure. You can’t swim now anyway. I need to do some errands. I’m locking you in while I’m away.”
“Senator Wallace said I could have the run of the house. Can’t you just lock the house up?”
“No. I’m leaving Moose here with you. You’ll be locked in until I get back.”
He wasn’t going to tell me that I could convince Moose to do just about anything, but I knew that was why he was going to lock me in. He didn’t trust Moose not to take me to the shopping center for a swimsuit and lose me there.
I followed Hammie down the hall and stepped into my room.
“Don’t be long,” I said, and smiled my sweetest at him.
He shook his head as he closed the door. The lock snapped, and I got the feeling he didn’t trust himself to say anything. I felt sorry for Hammie. It seemed like he was in a tight spot, but I had to remember that he was one of the enemy camp. As far as I knew, he and Moose were feeding me a line of crap about Hambecker’s father to keep me in line.
I waited until I imagined I heard an engine start in the garage, and then I pulled the paper clip out of the shoe and straightened it. Ten seconds of wiggling the clip in the tiny hole in the door handle, and the lock clicked open.
I cracked the door, stuck my head out, and looked up and down the hall. All clear. Good. I reached around the door and pushed the little button in the outer handle and locked myself back in the room. I might as well sleep now, as my plan was to search the house at night, while Hammie and Moose were sleeping.
It was dusk when the door opened, and Moose brought in a tray of food. I thought of refusing it out of principle, but it smelled good. Somehow I’d missed breakfast and lunch, and the sight of food reminded me I was hungry.
“Richard says I can’t let you out to eat. Thinks I’m a soft touch or something.” He rolled his eyes. “Like it would hurt anything for you to go swimming. Anywho, here’s your dinner. Hope you like it.”
It was a burger and fries, Caesar salad and chocolate chip cookies.
“Looks fabulous,” I said. I stuffed a couple of French fries in my mouth. “Yum. Why don’t you sit down and keep me company?”
“Can’t.” Moose looked uncomfortable. “He made me promise not to stay with you too long.”
“He who? Wallace or Hammie?”
“Ham, er, Richard.” He dropped his head and looked at his feet, looking for all the world like a five-year-old who’d been caught with his grandma’s cigarettes, which was pretty amazing when you considered how big this guy was.
“I’ll go get you something to drink. You can have soda, water or juice. We have beer, but Richard said you can’t have any.”
“That’s okay, Moose. Something with caffeine would be nice.”
Moose left, and I noticed that he forgot to lock the door. I was too busy eating to bother with getting out. Besides, I had plans for later. He was back in a minute anyway with a glass of ice and a couple of sodas, “In case you get thirsty later,” and he left, remembering to lock the door this time.
The room was dark when I opened my eyes. There wasn’t a clock in the room, my cell phone was on the opposite side of the country, and I didn’t wear a watch. I rolled out of bed and looked out the window. Light from the direction of the living room was reflecting on the pool. I pressed my ear to the window. Faint sounds of TV? I went to the door and tried the handle. Still locked. I pressed my ear to the wood, definite TV sounds. Hammie, Moose or both were still awake. I plopped back down on the bed to wait them out.
My neck