Deceitful (Rules of Deception 1)

I allowed my hands to twitch and my eyes to flutter.

“I think she’s waking up,” Mrs. Chambers said.

Steps came closer.

I knew they were watching my every move. I turned my head an inch but kept my eyes closed and let out a hoarse cough.

The mattress dipped. “Maddy? Honey, wake up.”

“Cupcake, Mom and Dad are here.” Ronald’s tone was so soft, so loving, so gentle. I couldn’t help but wonder if my own dad had ever talked to me like that, if he’d been happy after I was born, if he ever missed me at all.

I allowed my eyes to flutter open for a moment, enough to see their worried faces hovering above me, before I closed them again. A hand touched my cheek, too soft and small to belong to a man. “Honey?” I’d never thought one word could carry so much love. Linda’s palm felt warm and comforting, even though it was a foreign touch. I felt myself relax.

Finally, I opened my eyes. I’d never seen someone look at me the way Ronald and Linda did—like I was the most precious thing in their lives.

“Oh, Maddy.”

Linda started crying. I wanted to join her. Overcome with relief and joy, she was emotional for all the wrong reasons. She didn’t know her dead daughter had been carried out on a gurney only a few minutes ago while the doctors wove a story about their daughter’s miraculous recovery. They didn’t know their little girl lay in the cold storage of a morgue, waiting there until the day when my job was done, when they’d finally learn the truth.

Heat pressed against my eyes as Ronald’s lips brushed my forehead and he murmured words of comfort. Suddenly, I could no longer hold back. The tears trailed over my cheeks and pooled near my lips.

Linda hugged me, her touch cotton soft as though she was afraid of hurting me. Ronald brushed my hair from my face and wrapped his arms around Linda and me. For a moment I allowed myself to imagine their love was actually for me.

Eventually they pulled back.

I noticed that Doctor Fonseca had left the room. Maybe he couldn’t stand watching the happy reunion knowing the ugly truth behind it.

Ronald pulled a chair up to the bed and sat down. Linda perched on the bedside, holding my hand in a crushing grip. “Do you know who we are, Cupcake?” Ronald’s blue eyes were alight with hope but there was still a certain tightness around his lips.

I coughed again because the medical papers had said I’d have trouble speaking after being hooked up to a breathing machine. Technically, I shouldn’t have been able to talk properly for days, but there was a killer to catch. Linda’s expression grew troubled. “Do you need water?”

I nodded.

Ronald brought me a plastic cup and I started raising my arm.

You just woke from a coma. Move slowly, I told myself, and let my hand drop.

Linda took the cup from her husband. He helped me sit up and supported me while she brought it to my lips and tipped it forward so I could drink. The water cooled my dry throat.

“Better?” she asked.

I gave a nod. Ronald propped the pillows up behind me, so I was sitting upright.

“Do you know who we are?” Linda asked.

Ronald gave his wife a warning look.

“Yes,” I barely croaked out. My throat closed up at the sight of their happiness. They hadn’t expected me to speak, nor to remember them, and technically I shouldn’t have been able to. But Major thought it would speed up our mission if I didn’t have to pretend to learn every little thing all over again. He wanted me back at their home and investigating the high school as soon as possible.

“What else do you remember?” Linda asked.

“I’m . . .” I coughed again. “I’m not sure.” I forced my face to look puzzled. “I remember Ana, and Devon. I remember Fluffy.” I trailed off.

“That’s good,” Ronald paused. “Do you remember what happened?”

Something dark clouded his eyes and his hands balled to fists at his side. Linda tried to keep her face relaxed but the hand holding mine began trembling.

“No, I . . . I don’t know how I got here.” I hesitated, the words crowding in the back of my throat.

“What happened?” I asked quietly.

Linda slid off the bed and walked quietly to the window. I wished I could have seen her face, but the way her shoulders shook maybe it was better I didn’t. Ronald clutched at his knees. “It’s a long story. Maybe we should wait to talk about it until you feel better.”

I nodded. Neither of them spoke after that. I watched them through half-lidded eyes but Linda kept her face turned to the window. Eventually Ronald went to her and wrapped his arms around her shoulders.