James PATTERSON making.* And it’s not like she’s running off to do something . lands and strip malls s. crazy. After all, Wendy's assured her already that there’s nothing that she wants to do anc to worry about. miles away, might as we . “Yes,” she had said, v Then there was Joe t Mary’s father is Cuban—an immigrant—a self-made man who “Who is this guy?” J runs a contracting business. He’s wise to the ways of the world | know a thing about him and highly protective of his two daughters. They're good girls, he j “Hundreds of dollar: knows. Almost angels. As far as he knows, they don’t drink. quite look at Joe, but she They’ve never tried drugs. They love clothes and, especially, I Joe seemed to think music—Britney Spears, Nelly Furtado, Maroon 5, the boy band j conversation—some bac with that dreamy lead singer. Mary loves California, which she’s hadn't even crossed Mar never seen but daydreams about. She just knows she'll live there | would become a regular someday—a plan that’s okay with her father as long as Mary “To rub his feet? Are: keeps up with her homework and chores. it, why haven't you told y What he worries about, in the meantime, is the crowd that ; “It’s your cousin, Joe! Mary runs with. | “The guy’s feet must I Joe is a fine boy. More responsible than most American boys 4 “Shut up!” his age. But Joe’s cousin, Wendy, is another story. Mary’s father “Tell your father.” doesn’t like Wendy at all and would have liked her even less had ; “You know how LC he known about Wendy’s intentions. everything.” In just one hour, Wendy’s told Mary, she can make more 2 “Tm not going to som money than her father makes in a day: “This guy in Palm Beach. 4 “That’s right. I am.” He’s rich. Very rich. He has an airplane. He owns an island, you | a “And if I told your fat] | know?” F e “You'd never see me aj Like a lot of kids who live inland, away from the Florida 4 Mary felt bad as she sz | coast, Mary’s dreams reach way beyond the dull, scrubby flat- : a She knew that it