with all those tabloid shows, because they would pay. That pissed off the McKennas, but what really set them on edge was when she started selling all that crap.”
“The safety stuff?” I asked.
“The McKennas obviously support people doing whatever they can to keep their kids safe, but the idea of her making all this money based off the memory of their daughter doesn’t make them too happy. The whole ‘I lived through this nightmare, but you don’t have to’ thing sets their teeth on edge.”
“Have they asked her to stop?”
“I don’t know all the history, but I know they had lawyers involved at one point. There really wasn’t much they could do as long as she didn’t use their daughter’s name in her promotional material, but she always found a way to phrase it where everyone knew who she was talking about.” Chase shrugged. “Goodall makes it sound like she’s still connected to the family, but they don’t want a thing to do with her, and I can’t blame them. Using someone else’s pain to make money is pretty low.”
This was good information. Chase motioned to the waiter, indicating he wanted another bottle of San Pellegrino for our table. I wondered what he would think if he knew what I was after. The con I was planning was just a different way of trying to make money off someone’s pain. I watched Chase. He was thekind of person who believed in doing the right thing. Brendan would point out that having all the money in the world makes it easier to worry about what is right or wrong. I couldn’t afford to feel guilty.
“Do you want some more bread sticks?” Chase asked, breaking my chain of thought.
“Not if we’re going to try those Venetian fritters,” I said. “And after the sell job you did, I feel like I pretty much have to try them if I can fit them in.”
“Well, if you can’t fit enough of them in tonight, we’ll just have to come back.”
My heart sped up at his casual mention of another date. He wanted to see me again. What made me nervous was that I wanted to see him again too, and it had nothing to do with the con. I wanted to know him better, and he didn’t know me at all.
chapter sixteen
C hase insisted on walking me back to my car. It was a perfect summer’s night. The air felt warm, like a soft breath on my shoulder. Tortuffo’s wasn’t on the beach, but it was quiet enough that I could hear the waves hitting the shore a block or so away. I was stuffed. I was lucky I hadn’t exploded out of my sundress. The fritoles were amazing, like fresh warm doughnuts covered in powdered sugar with raisins and pine nuts inside. We started off with sharing one order, but ended up ordering a second plate while we talked.
I couldn’t even remember everything we’d talked about. The conversation had bounced around from favorite books, to what movies we like, to what each of us thinks of ghosts (he’s a believer, I’m a skeptic), to what each of us is afraid of (him heights, mespiders). The only time the conversation felt strained was when we talked about family.
Chase has two older sisters. His parents sounded pretty perfect to me, but I had the sense Chase felt he couldn’t live up to his dad’s expectations. It wasn’t clear to me if his dad was unreasonable or if it was just the way Chase interpreted what his dad said. He, of course, wanted to know about my family, but I was pretty sure saying my mom was a maid and my dad was a convict would have brought the date to a quick close. I sort of blurred over the details, saying that my dad was self-employed (technically true—he certainly wasn’t working cons for anyone else) and that my mom was in “the hotel business.”
We stopped at my car, and Chase gave a low whistle before leaning over to look inside the window to see the interior.
“That is a sweet car.”
“Thanks.”
“And you’re sure your crew won’t mind helping out tomorrow?” Chase asked. Over dinner I’d volunteered to have my imaginary
“The safety stuff?” I asked.
“The McKennas obviously support people doing whatever they can to keep their kids safe, but the idea of her making all this money based off the memory of their daughter doesn’t make them too happy. The whole ‘I lived through this nightmare, but you don’t have to’ thing sets their teeth on edge.”
“Have they asked her to stop?”
“I don’t know all the history, but I know they had lawyers involved at one point. There really wasn’t much they could do as long as she didn’t use their daughter’s name in her promotional material, but she always found a way to phrase it where everyone knew who she was talking about.” Chase shrugged. “Goodall makes it sound like she’s still connected to the family, but they don’t want a thing to do with her, and I can’t blame them. Using someone else’s pain to make money is pretty low.”
This was good information. Chase motioned to the waiter, indicating he wanted another bottle of San Pellegrino for our table. I wondered what he would think if he knew what I was after. The con I was planning was just a different way of trying to make money off someone’s pain. I watched Chase. He was thekind of person who believed in doing the right thing. Brendan would point out that having all the money in the world makes it easier to worry about what is right or wrong. I couldn’t afford to feel guilty.
“Do you want some more bread sticks?” Chase asked, breaking my chain of thought.
“Not if we’re going to try those Venetian fritters,” I said. “And after the sell job you did, I feel like I pretty much have to try them if I can fit them in.”
“Well, if you can’t fit enough of them in tonight, we’ll just have to come back.”
My heart sped up at his casual mention of another date. He wanted to see me again. What made me nervous was that I wanted to see him again too, and it had nothing to do with the con. I wanted to know him better, and he didn’t know me at all.
chapter sixteen
C hase insisted on walking me back to my car. It was a perfect summer’s night. The air felt warm, like a soft breath on my shoulder. Tortuffo’s wasn’t on the beach, but it was quiet enough that I could hear the waves hitting the shore a block or so away. I was stuffed. I was lucky I hadn’t exploded out of my sundress. The fritoles were amazing, like fresh warm doughnuts covered in powdered sugar with raisins and pine nuts inside. We started off with sharing one order, but ended up ordering a second plate while we talked.
I couldn’t even remember everything we’d talked about. The conversation had bounced around from favorite books, to what movies we like, to what each of us thinks of ghosts (he’s a believer, I’m a skeptic), to what each of us is afraid of (him heights, mespiders). The only time the conversation felt strained was when we talked about family.
Chase has two older sisters. His parents sounded pretty perfect to me, but I had the sense Chase felt he couldn’t live up to his dad’s expectations. It wasn’t clear to me if his dad was unreasonable or if it was just the way Chase interpreted what his dad said. He, of course, wanted to know about my family, but I was pretty sure saying my mom was a maid and my dad was a convict would have brought the date to a quick close. I sort of blurred over the details, saying that my dad was self-employed (technically true—he certainly wasn’t working cons for anyone else) and that my mom was in “the hotel business.”
We stopped at my car, and Chase gave a low whistle before leaning over to look inside the window to see the interior.
“That is a sweet car.”
“Thanks.”
“And you’re sure your crew won’t mind helping out tomorrow?” Chase asked. Over dinner I’d volunteered to have my imaginary
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