Double Deception Read online

  “What do you think you’ll find?” asked Frank.

  I shrugged. “Maybe it’s all just one big coincidence. Maybe Phillip’s guys were here trying to spot celebrities like all these other people.”

  Frank raised an eyebrow.

  “I know, lame idea, but I’m still going to check it out.”

  Frank and I went back into the club. I strolled up to the red-haired hostess and flashed her my best Joe Hardy smile. Hey—it works, I swear. No matter what Frank says.

  “I was wondering,” I said to her, “is there a Phillip Yu on the list? He’s been bugging me about getting in, and I just want to make sure it’s cool.”

  The girl looked at her clipboard. “No problem. He’s on it.”

  I gaped at her. “He is?”

  She looked puzzled. “I thought you wanted him to get in,” she said.

  “Oh yeah, yeah. I just…never mind.”

  Frank and I quickly melted into the crowd. “Why would he be on the list?”

  “Someone put him on it,” said Frank. “I bet Sydney will know who.”

  Sydney was rocking back and forth in time to the music while texting. When she noticed us approaching, she waved us over and gave us each a quick hug. “Thank you so much for your help out there earlier,” she said. “I hope you weren’t hurt.”

  “We’re fine,” I assured her.

  “Good. I’m trying to get that idiot fired.”

  “Listen, we were wondering about the guest list,” I said.

  “Too late to add any of your friends now,” Sydney scolded. “That list was compiled more than a month ago!”

  Now I was even more confused.

  So was Frank. “But you didn’t know us a month ago, and we’re on it,” he said.

  “Getting A-list people to attend requires advance planning,” Sydney explained. “Don’t be insulted, but the reason there was room to include you was because some of the people who had said yes ended up saying no.”

  “Got it,” Frank said.

  “So you decided who went on the list?” I asked.

  “I did, but so did Slick. Justin too, of course. Even Ryan had input,” said Sydney. “Oh, must run. There’s Wendy Mellington. I’ve been wanting her to interview Justin forever. Time for a little ego stroking!” Sydney wiggled her way through the dance floor and gave air kisses to a woman with the biggest earrings I’d ever seen.

  “Phillip must have been invited back when Justin was still into the high-stakes poker games out in Vegas,” Frank reasoned. “At some point they were pals.”

  “So the bad blood between them is a recent phenomenon,” I said. “Wow, I just thought of something weird. Sydney was able to include us because of Phillip’s drop into the ocean.”

  “So we’re here in his place,” said Frank as we headed toward the door. “You’re right. Kinda freaky.”

  “Maybe his bodyguards were on the list too,” I realized.

  “It would be useful to know their actual names,” Frank said. “Let’s check.”

  We approached the hostess at the podium again. “Why did you walk away so fast?” she asked. “You rushed off before I could tell you not to worry about a thing.”

  “What do you mean?” I asked.

  “Your friend Phillip didn’t have any trouble getting in,” she said. “He arrived long before you asked about him.”

  Mind freeze. Was I hearing what I thought I was hearing?

  “Phillip Yu,” I said. “He—he was here?”

  “Yes.” She looked down at her list. “But he came alone. He didn’t bring his date. He may have already left. I only check them as they come in.”

  “Th-thanks,” I stammered.

  “Can you describe him?” Frank asked. “We just want to be sure we’re talking about the same guy.”

  “Sure,” said the hostess. “An Asian guy wearing a very expensive leather jacket.”

  I looked at Frank. “Yeah…,” I said, feeling more and more like I was in the twilight zone. “That sounds like him.”

  “Can you tell us anything else?” Frank pressed. I knew he didn’t like the idea that Phillip had been here any more than I did—for so many reasons.

  “Sorry,” the hostess said. “I didn’t pay that much attention. You can’t keep VIPs waiting. I hurry everyone through as quickly as possible.” She smiled. “I hope your friend had fun.”

  “I’m sure he did,” I said. Nearly running us over in a car. That was exactly Phillip Yu’s idea of fun.

  This was one strange turn of events.

  “Good luck finding him,” the hostess called after us as we headed for the door.

  We stood on the sidewalk outside the club. Neither of us moved. I think we were just too wigged out.

  “Well,” Frank said finally, “there’s one thing we know for sure. Phillip’s muscle knows we saw them.”

  “So who does that put in danger?” I asked. “Justin—or us?”

  FRANK 6

  Yo, Ho, Ho

  “Check out those tall ships,” I said.

  “Check out those soccer players,” Joe countered.

  We were down near the very bottom of Manhattan, at the South Street Seaport, for Justin’s photo shoot. Justin would be playing a marine in an upcoming movie, so the magazine thought it would be fun to do the pictures on board one of the ships.

  South Street Seaport is really cool. It’s kind of a mall, but the streets and the buildings all look like they’re from colonial days. The piers have a bunch of restored boats to tour, but there are all kinds of other events too. Today there was a stage set up with some guys demonstrating slick soccer moves.

  I wasn’t exactly sure what that had to do with seafaring days, but it looked fun.

  “This place is packed!” Emily commented.

  “Luckily, it’s so crowded no one will notice us,” said Justin. “I want to be the only one paying attention to you.”

  Emily giggled. “And I’d better be the only one you’re paying attention to!”

  “You’re thinking of the old Justin,” Justin said. “I’m the new and improved model.”

  “So true!” Emily beamed and slipped her arm around him.

  “You’re not so improved if you keep the journalist waiting,” I reminded Justin. “We have to get through this crowd and to the end of that pier.”

  “We’d better hurry, then,” Justin said. “I don’t want to have to walk the plank.”

  We hurried across the street, past the double-decker tourist bus and around the carts selling souvenirs. Big signs were set up announcing tours and a pirate re-enactment on one of the ships. As we rounded the tables set up for a model boat-building contest, I got a great view of the ships. They were real beauties.

  “Avast, me hearties,” said Justin. “I believe our destination is in sight.”

  “Arrrrrrgh,” Joe growled in pirate agreement.

  Up ahead at the end of the pier was a group that had to be the magazine people. There was a woman surrounded by photography equipment talking to a college-aged guy. They were with a bald man wearing what looked like a tool belt—only instead of hammers and wrenches, it held hair and makeup brushes. A woman dressed a lot like Sydney—super trendy—paced nearby. When she spotted Justin, she waved.

  “The reporter is Jessica Winters,” Emily whispered as we approached the group. “She interviewed me when I was cast in your movie. She’s really nice.”

  “Good to know,” Justin said.

  “Hello, Justin,” said Jessica. “Emily, nice to see you again. This is our photographer, Caroline Jeffers, and her assistant, Mark Cranshaw. And Rocko is our hair and makeup genius.”

  Everyone nodded at everyone else.

  “And you are?” Jessica asked me.

  “I’m Frank Hardy, and this is my brother, Joe.” I tipped my head in his direction. “We’re PAs on the film, and Justin invited us along for the premiere.”

  “So we’re all hanging together in NYC,” Joe added.

  “What happened to your old entourage?” Jessica asked Justin. “A falling-out?”

  Justin laughed. “No, nothing like that. They’re just all back in L.A.”

  Good save. She obviously had wanted a little dirt, but Justin wasn’t going for it.

  “I see the rumors are true,” Jessica said. “You and Emily are an item?”

  “More than an item,” Justin replied. “We’re soul mates.”

  Emily blushed and leaned into Justin. “Absolutely.”

  “Let’s get set up for the shots, and while Caroline does that, I’ll ask some questions.”

  “Sounds like a plan,” said Justin. “Where do you want me?”

  We all traipsed after Jessica onto a schooner, which, according to the sign, was built in 1895. “We rented it for the interview,” Jessica explained. Several guys in matching Seaport T-shirts hung around the deck. I figured they were there to be sure nothing happened to us—or to the restored ship—while we were aboard.

  It was a nice-size ship, but compared to the behemoth moored right in front of it, the schooner looked like a toy.

  Caroline and Mark started doing light readings and fiddling with the umbrellas pros use to control the lighting.

  “Why don’t we start with how things are going with you two,” said Jessica, turning on a teeny-tiny recorder.

  “Great,” Justin said. “At least I think so. What do you think?” he asked Emily. I could tell by his huge smile that he already knew her answer.

  “Better than great,” Emily confirmed.

  “I’m sure all the girls out there want to know what it’s like to be Justin Carraway’s girlfriend,” said Jessica.

  “Well, he’s so sweet, and really generous.” Emily held up her pendant for Jessica to see. “He gave me this today.
Every morning I find a new present waiting for me!”

  I was impressed. He really was trying to make up for being such a jerk to her in the past.

  “And how do you spend your free time?” Jessica continued. “I imagine with the film shoot you don’t have much.”

  “Not since Justin got back from Atlantic City,” Emily admitted. “But before…”

  Jessica looked expectantly at Justin. “Before…,” she prompted. “What kinds of things did you do?”

  Justin looked blank for a minute. “Uh…uh…let’s see. There was that restaurant…?”

  Uh-oh. Looked like Justin’s past behavior as a total hound was catching up to him.

  “You remember, honey-boo,” Emily prodded. “We went horseback riding. And our favorite hangout was that burger joint, Topper.”

  “Oh, right!” said Justin. “How could I forget?”

  “Honey-boo,” Jessica repeated. I wondered if she was trying not to gag. I know I was. “That’s a cute little name. Justin, do you have a special pet name for Emily?”

  Again the blank stare. I had a feeling Justin was going to have to get Emily an even better present tomorrow to make up for this today.

  Emily gaped at Justin. I could see she was starting to get peeved. “Justin!” She pouted. “I can’t believe you forgot what you used to call me!”

  Justin took both of her hands in his. “That’s the past,” he said, his voice soft. “I only want to think about the future.”

  “Oh, Justin.” Emily sighed. She turned to Jessica. “You see? Isn’t he the most delicious?”

  This was getting way past sickening. Joe had strolled away—he must have already had enough of the sugar overload.

  I joined him at the side of the ship. “Good spot to be if you need to hurl,” I said.

  “No joke.” Joe laughed, then glanced over at Emily and Justin again. “I’ve seen Justin as Mr. Charm, Spoiled Brat, and King Flirt. I’ve never seen him like this.”

  I shrugged. “I guess that’s what luuuuuuuuuv can do to a guy.”

  Joe clapped both his hands on my shoulders. “Promise me if I ever get like that you’ll give me a nice hard kick.”

  “Deal,” I said.

  Joe and I explored the schooner as Jessica continued her interview and Caroline took photos. It was really cool. I liked the old-fashioned look of it. I could see why the magazine thought it would be a good spot to shoot Justin’s interview. It really had a pirate feel. Even though the seaport pier was insanely crowded, I felt nicely apart from everyone by being aboard the schooner.

  “Yo, ho, ho, ye landlubber,” Joe said to me. “Looks like they’re taking a break.”

  “We should let Justin know that Phillip’s bodyguards were at the premiere,” I said. “Just in case they’re after him, we want him to keep his guard up.”

  “Good idea. And we should break the freaky news that someone’s using Phillip’s name—”

  “Or Phillip himself,” I put in.

  “Or Phillip himself was at the club.”

  “But we should tell him alone,” I said. “Do you think we’ll be able to tear him away from Emily?”

  “They have turned into Siamese twins,” said Joe. “I have an idea. Follow me.”

  I walked across the slightly rolling deck. The ship was moored, but the wake of the other boats in the river created nice little waves.

  Joe went up to Jessica. “Hey, maybe you should take some pix of the happy couple,” he suggested. “And some of just Emily.”

  Emily immediately perked up. I knew she wanted the whole world—and by that I mean her potential rivals—to see that she and Justin were in love.

  “I’d be happy to,” Emily said.

  “I guess it wouldn’t hurt,” said Jessica. “Caroline, you cool with that?”

  Caroline shrugged. “Whatever. Hon, you should check your makeup, though.” She turned to the bald guy. “Rocko?”

  “I’m on it,” he said.

  I smiled at Joe. Between primping and taking pictures, Emily would be busy and we could talk to Justin.

  “Hey, Justin,” I said. “Can we talk to you a minute?”

  “Sure.” He pulled a soda from the cooler the ship guys had provided.

  “Up here.” We walked up to the bow of the boat and looked out over the water.

  “There’s something you should know,” I started.

  “Just a heads-up,” Joe added. “Not because it’s dire or anything.”

  “Oooo-kay,” said Justin, frowning. “What’s up?”

  “We saw Phillip Yu’s bodyguards at the premiere,” I told him. “And someone using Phillip Yu’s name was at the party.”

  Justin’s face went totally white. “What are you talking about?” he shouted. “You told me Phillip was dead. What is wrong with you? You can’t even get one simple fact straight!”

  I took a step backward. Justin’s fury surprised me. I was totally unprepared for it.

  “I’m in danger, aren’t I?” Justin demanded. “Jeez! That guy tried to run me over with his boat! Or don’t you remember that?”

  Joe looked as confused as I felt. We always thought Phillip was dangerous, but the whole time we were in Atlantic City, Justin completely downplayed the idea that Phillip might mean trouble for him. He behaved as if they barely knew each other. Now he was acting as if he was deathly afraid of the guy.

  “What are you saying to him?” Emily suddenly appeared at Justin’s side. “Why are you stressing out my honey-boo?”

  “It’s nothing,” I said. “Just some news that took Justin by surprise.”

  “Yeah, well, if you two—” Justin cut himself off. Either he didn’t want Emily to know the details, or he just didn’t want to get any more upset.

  “Break’s over!” Caroline called. “Ready for some new shots!”

  Justin took a deep breath. Emily stroked his arm. “Just forget all about whatever these guys said to you,” she cooed. “Everything’s all right.”

  Justin took in another breath, then smiled. “All better. Because of you,” he said to Emily.

  “You two should leave,” Emily ordered. “We can’t have anyone upsetting Justin during the interview.”

  Justin glared at us. He obviously felt the same way.

  “Fine,” I said. “No harm meant.”

  Justin and Emily returned to the mast, where Caroline had set up more lights. As they started posing, we headed for the gangplank. Joe grabbed my arm.

  “Are those Phillip’s guys?” He nodded up toward the large historic ship moored just in front of our schooner.

  I shaded my eyes. There were three dark-haired men in suits standing at the stern of the ship. They seemed to be watching the shoot. “It’s too far away for me to see. I can’t even tell if they’re Asian from this distance.”

  “Let’s get closer.”

  We raced down the gangplank. We darted through the tourists and dashed up onto the deck of the enormous ship.

  “Do you see them?” I asked.

  “They’re heading the other way,” Joe said.

  “Come on!”

  We started toward the bow—then we heard the explosions!

  JOE 7

  Hit the Deck!

  My first thought was for Justin and Emily. Did Phillip’s guys do something? Sabotage the ship? Shoot a weapon with major firepower?

  “I can’t see anything!” Frank shouted. “Too many people!”

  He was right. There was a crush of tourists all around us. I had to see if Justin was all right—and find out if the three men we had spotted were actually Phillip’s goons.

  But how?

  Then I saw a solution.

  I grabbed the rigging that led up to the top of the enormous sail. I started climbing. Frank saw what I was doing and clambered up the rigging on the other side.

  The strong wind made it tough to keep the rope ladder steady. I managed to twist around to get a look into the little schooner far below me.

  Justin and Emily lay on the deck. Caroline was clutching her equipment, and her assistant Mark was trying to keep the light stands from toppling over onto the deck, which was rocking violently from a pronounced wake. Jessica and Rocko were leaning over the side of the boat, trying to figure out what was going on.

  “I see the three guys!” yelled Frank. “But they’re already leaving the pier.”