I Know Lucy (A Fugitive #1)(47)

I reached for the menu and quickly scanned it while Uncle Alex ordered a club sandwich and fries. I wasn’t hungry. “I’ll just take a Coke with a ton of ice.”

“Sure.” She grinned, reaching for my menu. As her hand passed over the picture, she stilled, her dark brown eyes narrowing as she gazed at the image. “I’m sorry if this sounds intrusive, but who is that?”

Uncle Alex leaned forward in his seat, collecting up the photo and showing it to her. “That’s what we’re trying to figure out.”

The waitress took the picture and studied it. “She looks familiar, but different.” She shook her head with a chuckle. “I don’t know. Sorry. I’ll go get that food sorted for you.”

She left the picture on the table and walked away. I collected the photo up again. “For someone so secretive, she’s sure recognized by a lot of people.”

“She knows how to leave an impression, I suppose.”

I threw the photo down and sat back hard. She certainly left an impression on me. I was such a sucker. My emotions were battling rage and pure disappointment. I hadn’t been able to disprove squat!

I wished I didn’t want Dani. I wished the day I saw her, she hadn’t wriggled her way inside of me.

“I don’t think she went to Washington.” Uncle Alex picked up his fork and twirled it in his fingers. “If Luke saw it on her records, then it’s most probably a lie. She would have been trying to hide her tracks, not leave a trail for us to follow. We’ve just been lucky today. That kid from Balboa High just happened to be playing soccer with the Lowell crew and his brother happened to be there. It’s almost like fate was giving us a hand.”

“So where do we go from here?”

Uncle Alex shrugged. “We could try hunting down this Howard guy or maybe try to get in touch with Miles. He might be able to tell us more about the lunatic who attacked him.”

It was a good idea. I knew it was, but all I could muster was a reluctant nod.

The waitress arrived, placing a clinking glass of Coke in front of me. She went to leave, then spun back, her hands brushing down her apron. “Do you mind if I take one more look at that photo? I feel like I’ve nearly got it.”

I slid it across the table and she gathered it up. Her eyes squinted as she studied Dani’s face and then very slowly opened wide. She gasped, dropping the picture and covering her mouth.

“You know her?”

“Um…ah…I should get back.” She turned on her heel.

“No, wait, please.” Uncle Alex gently grabbed her wrist. “Please if you could help us. Any information would be useful.”

The girl ran a hand down her long, brown ponytail, her lips scrunching with uncertainty.

“Do you remember her name?” Uncle Alex kept his voice quiet and lilting.

With a sigh, the waitress perched down next to him. “Peyton. I’m pretty sure it was Peyton.”

“Last name?”

She shook her head.

“How did you know her?” I tried to match Uncle Alex’s tone, but I’m sure my voice came out tight and edgy instead.

“I used to help my aunt clean houses and this girl…” She tapped the picture. “She was tutored by Tori Derwin. Tori was the daughter of this wealthy businessman, a real sweetheart. She took Peyton under her wing and they used to study at the Derwin house all the time.” Her fingers jittered with her necklace, her eyes flicking over the photo.

“What are you not saying?” It was an effort to keep my voice even. After what I’d found out earlier, I didn’t know if I wanted to hear more.

“Nothing, it’s nothing.” She began to stand again.

“Please.” My voice must have sounded desperate, because she stopped with a sigh.

“Look I don’t want to cause trouble.”

“We’re not here for trouble. We’re just trying to figure out who this girl is.” Uncle Alex smiled.

She grimaced, her face bunching with disgust as her eyes brushed the photo again. “Do you know her at all?”

“Not really.” I sighed.

“I’d stay away from her if I were you. She…she’s trouble.”

“Why do you say that?” Alex’s calm voice and gentle eyes pushed at the girl. Her smile was accompanied with a soft blush.

“Look, I don’t know if it’s true or anything, but…” The girl hissed. “I heard a rumor that she slept with Tori’s father.”

“What?” My outburst nearly scared her off, but Alex placed a soft hand over her fingers, keeping her at the table.

“We’d really appreciate it if you could tell us some more.”

“I’m sorry, but I have to get back to work.”

I tried not to let my frustration show, but couldn’t help a whispered curse. Uncle Alex kicked me under the table and turned back to the girl as she rose. “Well, if you think of anything else, we’ll be here.”

His wink made her blush again before she scooted off to fill another order.

I couldn’t talk as we waited for Uncle Alex’s sandwich. He could obviously sense this, because he kept quiet, observing the patrons around us, something I would usually be doing. I hated that I couldn’t today. My vision was blurred, my head overstuffed with hideous information I didn’t want to know.