The Deadly Caress

Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1

Amanda Blake opened the door of the silver Rolls Royce and nervously sucked in the Monterey sea air. Oh God, she was terrified that this wasn't going to go well

     She shouldn't have accepted the invitation. She could've been in Tasmania taking photos of Tasmanian devils for National Geographic instead. The knot in her stomach tightened as she climbed out and hoped that she was up for whatever would happen.

     The chauffeur hurried around to help her.

  "Thanks, but I can manage," she said. "Ricardo, isn't it?"

  He nodded and straightened his cap that partly covered his short black hair.

  She fumbled in her purse for some notes, which were all the same color. Unlike home, she had to remember to tip everyone here. She pulled out ten dollars.

  Ricardo he shook his head when he saw it.

  Was the bill too much or too little?

  "Mrs. Campbell pay me good. I work for Mrs. Campbell for many years. She ask me to look after you," Ricardo said with a heavy Mexican accent.

  Amanda bit her upper lip. Her first blunder and she'd just arrived. She shaded her eyes from the afternoon sun and stared at the modern brick, concrete and glass mansion perched on about an acre of prime California real estate. This house must have a dozen bedrooms from the size of it. It screamed of money and privilege...something she'd never experienced.

  The contents of the letter that had shattered the illusion of her world and lured her half way round the world remained branded in her memory.

Dear Amanda,

It is hard to know where to begin. I regret that I never made contact with you before, but this was the agreement I made with your parents. Even now, I am writing to you now with the permission of your father, Samuel.

I wish there were a gentler way to break this news to you. Elaine is not the woman who gave birth to you, I am. Nor is Samuel your biological father. He can verify this. I know your life has been reasonably happy from the annual letters Samuel sends me.

I know you must have many questions you want answered. Please direct them to me, since I am the only one who can answer the circumstances of your birth.

I hope you can forgive me for this sudden intrusion.

Please come and stay with me as soon as you can. I have enclosed an open-ended ticket to California for you.

I want so much to see you.

Yours sincerely,

Jean Campbell.

  Amanda had traveled from her home in Sydney to meet the woman who had given her up at birth. Now Amanda hoped her trip wouldn't be in vain.

  Google had provided a reasonable amount of information, but not the things she really wanted to know. What was this mother really like? And why did this woman feel compelled to break this news to her now? Twice, she picked up the phone to call this woman named Jean but stopped short. She'd been too nervous and didn't know what to say to a stranger who was her mother. At least if she'd called, she'd have gotten to know her a little.

  One of the double-fronted doors swung open. A short woman wearing a maid's garb, with her black hair pulled back into a bun, hurried down the granite steps.