Maggie Undercover (3 page)

Despite the risk, he loved teaching.

When they were done Jared followed Maggie
toward the front door. She paused and picked up Alexandra's costume
from where he'd left it laying.

"What's this?"

Embarrassed, he tried to snatch it from her
hand. "Alexandra's Halloween costume."

She held it up and grinned. "What's she going
as? A slasher victim?"

He grabbed the red speckled material.
"Sleeping Beauty."

"Yeah. Sleeping as in, 'With the
fishes.'"

"It's my first try at sewing. With practice
I'll improve." He'd better. Alexandra had told him each student was
responsible for providing a costume for the class play in
mid-December.

"By Halloween? Right, and I'll be doing
advanced Calculus in my head. Hey, I'm pretty handy with a sewing
machine. I'd be happy to make Alexandra's costume."

"I don't think that's a good…" Jared
started.

"Will you really make my costume?" Alexandra
burst into the house, two other children, a boy and a girl at her
heels. "That's great." Without taking a breath, she continued,
"Dad, this is Lisa and Bobby. They're twins. Fraternal, not
identical, cause they're a boy and a girl. They just moved in three
doors down. Guess what? They have two dogs, a big one and a little
one, three cats, hamsters, a canary and a big lizard. They'll be in
my class on Monday. Their mom says I can ride to school with them
if it's okay with you. Is it? We're going to play up in my room.
Bye, Maggie. Bye, Dad."

Like a small whirlwind Alexandra delivered
her news and blew up the stairs, pulling a bewildered looking Lisa
and Bobby along with her.

"Whew. Did we ever have that much energy and
enthusiasm?" Maggie asked.

Jared's heart jumped. Alexandra had called
him Dad. The therapist had said she would come around in her own
time, but Jared had expected a slow change, not a sudden
one-eighty. What had triggered the change? The arrival of new
playmates?

It didn't seem possible. When they'd moved
back to Council Falls last spring, he'd enrolled her in several
activities so she could meet children her age. She'd attended the
sessions grudgingly, never speaking unless called on by the adult
in charge. She claimed the other children didn't like her and
besides they were dumb. And despite his best efforts she'd spent
the summer moping around the house.

What else was different since this morning?
Maggie McCade. Alexandra had taken an instant liking to the young
woman. Did she remind Alexandra of her mother? The thought didn't
please him.

"Mr. Blake? Are you okay?"

Ms. McCade's concern penetrated his musings.
He looked up and caught her staring at him. "Yes, of course I'm
fine." But was he? Something about this girl set off alarms inside
him. The maturity he saw in her eyes didn't fit her years.

"Then I'll make the costume for
Alexandra."

"That isn't necessary. If I can't make the
costume, I can always buy her one." Tutoring Ms. McCade would be
difficult enough. He couldn't allow her access into his private
life. That way led to disaster.

"But I already said I'd do it. Kids are funny
about broken promises. It's no problem. I like to sew."

There was a wistful note in her voice. What
childhood promise to her had been broken? Why should he care?

She laid her hand on his forearm. "Please let
me. It'll be my way of thanking you for your extra help with
Algebra."

Through his sweatshirt the heat of her touch
scorched him. He meant to be firm and say no, but the words came
out, "All right."

When she moved her hand, a chill settled over
him.

She took the mangled material from him.
"Thanks. I'll bring it back for a fitting next week. Maybe you can
give me another session then too."

"Wait just a minute. I'll get the pattern and
some money. You'll need to get more material. I don't think this is
salvageable."

The phone rang. "Jared Blake," he answered
and listened for a minute. "Yes, Mrs. Hollis I understand. Of
course, if your son is sick he can't baby sit Alexandra tonight.
Thank you for the call." He hung up the phone and met Ms. McCade's
curious stare. "My baby-sitter had to cancel."

"Got a date tonight?" Humor and something
assessing glinted in her blue eyes.

"Had a date," he corrected. "I'll have to
cancel now."

"Anyone I know?"

"Laura Quinn." Why was he telling her
this?

"The history teacher?" She wrinkled her nose
and made a sympathetic clucking sound. "Not bad looking, but the
woman's as dry as day old toast. All she talks about is dead
people. A hunk like you could do a lot better. What about Ms.
Davis, the gym teacher? Now there's a real hottie," she teased.

A hunk. The warmth her words caused turned to
cold. Maggie McCade was a student. "Laura's a nice person…" he
started to explain then anger stiffened his spine. But inside he
recognized the truth. Laura Quinn was bland, boring and safe. She
didn't stir him in any way. He could be with her and not have to
give anything. The realization discomforted him. "Ms. McCade, I
don't think my social life is any of your concern."

"Okay. Okay. No need to get your jocks in a
knot. Just an observation. Hey, I could sit for Alexandra. What
time are you going out?"

"Seven, but…"

Before he could object she said, "Great, I'll
be back at six thirty. Bye now. See you then." She turned and
strolled down the walk toward her car.

He knew he should call her back and cancel
his date with Laura. But his gaze locked onto the sight of her
bobbing ponytail. She moved like a sleek palomino mare, all
strength, grace and confidence. When the male in him started to
respond to the seductive sway of her jean-clad hips, he jerked his
gaze away and met Widow Larkins' knowing look. Pasting a smile on
his lips he waved to the noisy old woman and went back into the
house. Long before Monday morning tongues would be wagging in
Council Falls. When would he learn?

~~~~~

CHAPTER THREE

"I'm home." Maggie dropped her bag in the
front hall of the house that reminded her of a set from the Andy
Griffith show and started to head up the stairs to her room.

Daddy's voice stopped her mid-stride. "Heard
you were in Blake's house today. What did you find out?"

She turned around to face him. Standing on
the second step put her just above eye level with Daniel Sterling
a.k.a. Daniel McCade or as she liked to call him, Daddy. "Hi,
Daddy. News sure does travel fast in this burg."

"You can cut the daddy crap when we're alone.
Makes me feel like an old man."

She lounged back against the railing, crossed
her arms over her chest and grinned down at him. "Wasn't it you who
taught me to always remain in character when undercover? And you
are old."

"Forty-five ain't old. But we can play it
that way if you want. Report or I'll turn you over my knee." A big
bear of a man his looks matched his voice, a deep, commanding
rumble.

"You and what army?" She straightened, ready
to match words with action. As always the sight of Daniel stole her
outrage.

Hired by a group of stores, Sterling
Securities had been investigating a series of break-ins that the
police couldn't get a lead on. At sixteen she'd thought hooking up
with a group of young hoodlums was cool. Until she realized they'd
left her behind to take the rap for their crimes. Daniel's quick
thinking and slick tongue had kept her out of juvenile detention
and possibly jail.

From then on he'd taken her under his wing,
become her mentor and friend, encouraged her to stay in school, and
let her work part time in the office of his security firm until she
got her college degree then put her to work as an investigator.
Early on she'd imagined herself in love with him, but he'd doused
that fragile flame. Now she regarded him with exasperated
affection. Though he tried to discourage her emotional attachment
to him, she couldn't help wishing he were her real father.

"Now children, stop bickering."

They both turned toward the woman who spoke.
While Maggie could call Daniel Daddy - in fact, she often thought
of the man as a surrogate father, more father than her drunken
biological father had ever been - there was no way she could refer
to or think of the petite, brunette, thirty-six year old Jeanne
Starr as mommy, mom or even mother. The third and final member of
their happy little family group, Jeanne could almost have been cast
for Maggie's part as the daughter in this masquerade.

"Come on into the kitchen. Maggie can tell us
what she found out while we have some dinner." The perfect
diplomat, Jeanne offered them a solution to their conflict then
left them to follow or not as they pleased. She'd also turned out
to be a damned good cook. At this rate, Maggie figured this job
would cost her ten pounds.

Something did smell good. All that raking,
pretending and Algebra had worked up Maggie's appetite. She looked
at Daniel. "Works for me. You?"

"Yeah."

Thirty minutes later Daniel asked, "Well,
what did you learn?"

"No more than we already knew." Jared's
troubles and concerns about his daughter weren't relevant to the
investigation. "Whatever went on ten years ago, Jared Blake is
going to be a tough nut to crack. He doesn't give much away."

"I doubt he's the one, but if he is do you
think he'll take the bait?" Daniel asked.

"Maybe, maybe not. I haven't really dangled
it yet." The thought of playing the vamp with Jared Blake left a
bad taste in Maggie's mouth. It felt like dangling a carrot in
front of a starving rabbit.

"Don't go getting scruples on me now,
Madeline Margaret McCade. Offer the bait. If Blake is on the level
he won't bite."

"Even if he takes the bait, it doesn't mean
he's involved with the hacking."

"No, but it will give us leverage in the
investigation."

"But if he doesn't take the bait and he is
involved, it'll put him on guard. I can't believe the high school
officials are okay with this whole scheme. And I can't believe you
dragged me and Sterling Securities into this."

"Jackson Reed's wife is my sorority sister,"
Jeanne said. "She doesn't believe Jared Blake is involved in
anything, but agreed that as long as we keep the investigation and
the results quiet, she'll go along. No one else, not the school or
Reed Software wants it to get out that someone's hacked into their
systems. They just want the culprit or culprits found and stopped
before any damage is done. Reed Software is one of the town's
biggest employers."

"I owe Jackson Reed a favor and you owe me
more than one." Daniel grinned at her glare. "I'd like to wrap this
up before Christmas. This operation is costing him a fortune and
until the hacker is found he doesn't want to move forward with his
latest project. So what else have you got?"

"The first computer club meeting is coming up
Monday after school. I've gone over the info on and touched base
with most of the student members."

"Any suspects?" Daniel asked.

"None of them stands out. Whoever's doing the
hacking is slick. Maybe after I get to know them I'll learn more. I
don't know if having you pose as a Reed Software employee is going
to help or hurt my credibility with the hacker."

"Play the rebellious, angry daughter,"
offered Jeanne. "That may get the culprit to open up to you."

"Type casting at its best," Daniel
teased.

Maggie stuck her tongue out at him.

"I've joined the local Ladies League. All of
our suspects' mothers are members." Jeanne looked at Daniel. "Get
ready. Friday night we attend our first dinner party. You get to
play the doting hubby."

He groaned.

Maggie laughed.

***

At ten pm Jared unlocked his front door and
stepped into the front hall. The house sat dim and quiet. He sighed
in relief. The evening was finally over.

His date had been a failure. But he'd known
it would be from the moment he picked Laura up at her home. Though
they both tried, conversation lagged through dinner. His thoughts
kept returning to Maggie McCade. To his horror he found himself
comparing the two women.

Laura, with her pale oval face and short,
straight brown hair and brown eyes, couldn't hold his attention.
But it wasn't her looks alone that fell short; she was attractive
in a quiet way. He didn't understand why she'd accepted his
invitation to go out. It was obvious she found him overwhelming.
Painfully shy, hesitant and prudish, she made Jared feel like a
lecherous old man. That he had to watch each word he spoke to her
in order not to shatter the fragile shell she hid behind.

After Maggie McCade's bright golden looks and
bold, brash zest for life, Laura Quinn came in a distant third.

Jared dropped his keys on the hall table and
rubbed the bridge of his nose. He had to squelch his awareness of
Ms. McCade's attributes. At some point he'd find a woman to share
his life with, to be a mother to his daughter, but she wouldn't
come from the ranks of his students. Nor, he admitted, would she be
one Laura Quinn.

He followed the faint sound of music to the
large family room just off the kitchen. Vivaldi's Four Seasons
played softly on the stereo. An odd choice of music for a teenage
girl.

Embers from a fire glowed in the room's large
hearth, casting the only light. As always when he entered this
room, he let the sense of peace wash over him. Though renovated and
redecorated since he was a boy, the room resonated with the echoes
of love and laughter. This was home. It wasn't until he'd returned
that he realized how much he'd missed the comfort and security of
having roots.

His heart ached at the sight that greeted him
from the overstuffed couch that faced the hearth. Alexandra and
Maggie lay spooned together, their blonde hair mingling like
moonlight and spun gold. Maggie's arm wrapped over Alexandra's
smaller frame in a protective gesture. The glow of the embers
reflected off their relaxed faces – one pure innocence, the other
breathtakingly beautiful.