Masquerade Read Online Free Page A

wasn’t really lost. It wasn’t as if someone had spirited her off. At least, Clarissa hoped not. She suddenly wondered how many employees Slade Jacobson had and if all of them had been given background checks. She shook off the thought. Elaina wasn’t kidnapped, she’d simply wandered off, and they would find her any moment. Still, as she searched, Clarissa said a silent prayer that Elaina wasn’t somewhere hurt, or scared, or breaking priceless antiques.
    Meredith and Clarissa systematically went from one room to another, which proved to be quite a task. Clarissa didn’t see any signs of a little girl, but she did see enough cherry wood furniture to convince her that somewhere there was a large empty space in a cherry orchard with Slade Jacobson’s name on it.
    T hey reached a spacious living room. As Clarissa was checking inside a fireplace that could have comfortably accommodated a band, Slade reappeared at the top of a winding staircase.
    “Bella isn’t in the playroom anymore,” he called to Meredith. “Have you seen her downstairs?”
    Meredith shook her head.
    Slade’s jaw clenched, then he banged his hand against the banister and yelled, “Isabel Jacobson!”
    Only silence followed his call.
    He stormed down the stairs, mumbling something Clarissa couldn’t hear, then walked into the kitchen.
    Meredith sighed and resumed her head shaking. She leaned toward Clarissa confidentially. “This is why I don’t tend Bella anymore. I’m too old to be chasing wild fillies.”
    Wild fillies? So Slade Jacobson, Mr. We-have-no-dust-bunnies-under-the-couch, had a daughter who could be classified as a wild filly? It made Clarissa feel a little better about blowing her interview. At least she knew Mrs. McGrath would have to work for her money.
    Slade came from the kitchen with a small black dog happily trailing behind him. The dog stared expectantly up at Slade, wagging his tail so fiercely it looked like it would topple him over.
    “Blitzer,” Slade spoke slowly to the dog. “Where’s Bella? Go find Bella.”
    The dog’s droopy ears lifted momentarily, and he peered about the room intently. Then he put his nose down and ran in what seemed a random manner around the room. Clarissa watched this with her mouth slightly open.
    Slade glanc ed at her and shrugged. “It’s Bella’s dog. They play hide-and-go-seek together, and he can always find her.”
    “ That’s because Blitzer cheats,” Meredith said. Then to Clarissa she added, “He counts to ten but never closes his eyes.”
    The dog apparently caught a whiff of the little girl , because he charged into the kitchen. Slade followed after him, and Meredith and Clarissa followed after Slade. The dog sniffed around the kitchen, then ran through an archway into the dining room. Once there, he went straight to the dining room table and stuck his head and front paws under the tablecloth. The tablecloth, like the matching curtains nearby, puddled lace onto the floor so that only the backside of Blitzer stuck out, his tail again wagging wildly.
    Blitzer gave one sharp, happy bark, which was followed by giggling. Two pairs of giggles.
    Slade crossed his arms and glared down at the table. “Bella!”
    The giggles stopped.
    “Bella Jacobson, what are you doing?”
    Two little heads peeked out from underneath the tablecloth. The one with light brown curls said, “We’re having a hot chocolate party, Daddy.” Her smile grew wider. “Because you don’t let me drink real tea.”
    Slade shook his head. “Bella, you were supposed to stay in the playroom until Meredith called you to come down.”
    Bella’s smile instantly turned to a pout that made her look even more charming. “You said I would get to play with a friend, and then she came and you forgot to get me.” Bella pulled Blitzer into a hug, and he licked her face until she laughed and let him go. He then disappeared under the tablecloth completely.
    “No one forgot to get you,” Slade said. “It just