If Looks Could Kill

CHAPTER 1

Raven let her hand trail through the dark water of the lake. She tried to empty her mind of all thought, and just feel the coolness of the evening and the breeze. She closed her eyes and listened to the gentle, rhythmic splash of oars as Vaughn rowed the small boat away from the shoreline of Hidden Valley.

It was a perfect night. The murder and all the awful things that had happened in its wake had been left behind, back in Paradiso. The sky and water met in a seamless black, velvet backdrop. On the horizon a sprinkling of stars and the narrow crescent of a moon shone as clear as ice.

Feeling better? Vaughn asked huskily. He stopped rowing and shifted over to sit next to Raven. He circled his arms around her as the rowboat drifted slowly on its own.

Mmm, Raven whispered in his ear.

I’m glad I finally got you to myself, Vaughn said. Mr. Woolery may have scared the daylights out of you in the scrublands, but at least he gave me an excuse to take you away. Vaughn kissed her brow. Just what I want. No one within miles but you and me. Just the two of us.

Just the two of us. Like April and her killer. Like Mr. Woolery and Raven only a few hours earlier. Raven felt a jolt of fear at the memories. Do you think Mr. Woolery really might be the killer? she asked.

I don’t know, Vaughn said, his voice warm against Raven’s cheek. Mr. Woolery always seemed like a pretty cool guy to me. Until now. But how well can you really know a teacher you see a couple of times a week for art class? Especially a new teacher.

Raven shrugged, feeling her shoulders move against Vaughn’s chest as he held her, running his fingers through her long, jet black hair. I guess the question is, how well do you really know most people when you get right down to it? she said. You read all those stories in the papers about people who are such good neighbors, good parents, good friends, and then they snap and commit unthinkable crimes.

Raven wondered if something like that had happened in Paradiso. Was April’s murderer a respected citizen, someone’s favorite teacher, best friend, or … boyfriend?

Raven pulled back from Vaughn’s hug. The darkness, which just a few moments ago enveloped her in tranquility, felt frightening, unknowable. The lake was a well of blackness. The sky seemed to be closing in on her. She couldn’t see anything past the prow of the little rowboat. She had the sudden, impossible urge to turn on some lights and see what was lurking around the edges of her perfect night.

Hey, you okay? Vaughn asked.

I’m still a little creeped out, I guess, Raven answered. She realized she was shivering beneath her light cotton dress. Or maybe I’m just getting cold.

Want to go back to the cabin and I’ll make us a fire? Vaughn suggested.

Sounds nice, Raven said. As Vaughn began to row again, the steady dip of the oars and the rocking of the little boat lulled her back to a feeling of relaxation.

Soon, Raven was bundled up in a soft quilt in front of the fire, and Vaughn added another log to the flames. The simple cabin had no electricity, so the only other light was from the two candles Vaughn had lit. Soft shadows flickered on the redwood beams and walls and then larger, wilder shadows as the fire caught, snapping and popping to life.

Vaughn replaced the gate over the fireplace and sat down close to Raven. She wrapped him in the quilt with her. This is great, she whispered. I feel like we’ve gone back in time here. She let her hand run up and down his back. It’s kind of funny that your family has this place. It feels more like one of the little huts in Mexico some of my relatives live in than, well—

Than big-business-Lars-Cutter’s country palace? Vaughn supplied. He laughed. It reminds Dad of the cabin in the New Hampshire mountains where he used to go with his parents. It’s his New England nostalgia or something. Every once in a while he pretends he’s a Pilgrim. Just to see where it all started. Vaughn searched for Raven’s hand under the quilt and entwined his fingers with hers. Whatever it is, I’m glad we have this place.

Good for your love life, huh? Raven whispered, breathing in the pungent, smoky smell of the fire, mixed with the scent of Vaughn’s cologne and the crisp freshness of the country night.

Vaughn brushed her forehead with his lips. Well, I’ve gotta admit I’ve been dreaming about getting you up here ever since I asked you to the Peach Blossom Ball.

Raven smiled, thinking about the first time Vaughn had mentioned the Peach Blossom Festival Ball. It was at a meeting of the organization Raven headed, SCAM, Students Concerned About the Mall. Raven was fighting what seemed to be a losing battle to save the Paradiso scrublands from being paved over and destroyed forever.

The mall was the pet project of Lacey Pinkerton’s dad, Calvin Pinkerton—the richest, most influential man in Paradiso. Unfortunately, Vaughn’s dad, Lars Cutter, was Cal Pinkerton’s partner. It had taken Vaughn a while to get up enough guts to speak out against his father. But when he’d finally shown up at a SCAM meeting, Raven had grabbed the opportunity to get to know him better. She’d secretly had her eye on him even before he and Lacey had broken up. Although it had been pouring outside during the meeting, Raven remembered thinking that Vaughn’s eyes were as blue as the sky on a sunny day.

She turned her face up toward his and their lips met. They kissed softly. Then more passionately. That meeting seems like such a long time ago, Raven whispered. It had been only a few weeks, but the fact that it was before April Lovewell’s murder made it feel as if it had happened in another lifetime.

I’m still looking forward to dancing with you at the ball, Vaughn murmured between kisses. Pretty Peggy Sue.

Raven laughed. Peggy Sue was what the kids at school had nicknamed the Queen of the Peach Blossom Festival in honor of this year’s 1950s theme. Vaughn, they haven’t even rescheduled the festival yet. April’s murder had put the town’s biggest annual event on hold. Besides, I’ve got some pretty stiff competition for Queen. And now Kiki’s work on the April Lovewell Memorial Foundation is sure to get her plenty of support from the selection committee. Besides, Kiki’s really great. I mean, I’ll bet you’d vote for her if I wasn’t in the contest, right?

Well, yeah, but Kiki and I grew up together on the Hill. She’s one of my oldest friends.

Exactly. And there’s a good reason. That’s my point, Raven said. "And Lacey … well, she might not be my choice, but she is the most popular girl at school."

Her, Vaughn said flatly.

Lots of people think she walks on water. Raven gave Vaughn a teasing poke in the ribs. Come on, Vaughn. You of all people know Lacey Pinkerton’s pretty hot.

Vaughn put on his best scowl. Okay, the girl’s good looking. I won’t deny that. And she can be a lot of fun when she feels like it. But then you get a glimpse of her riding around on her broomstick, and you know what she’s really like.

Well, maybe you and I think that, but plenty of people disagree. Face it. The whole school’s in love with her. She’s got the best chance to win of the three of us.

I don’t know, said Vaughn. That’s what people were saying last time, too. And then April won.

And look where it got her, Raven said. She shuddered, suddenly feeling isolated way out there by the lake. She glanced out the window behind her, half anticipating a face peering in at them. But the pane was black to the night. She turned back to Vaughn. Just the two of us … she thought nervously. And then, Get a hold of yourself, Raven, she scolded herself.

Maybe I shouldn’t have brought up the Peach Blossom Festival in the first place, Vaughn said, but I can’t wait to see you become Queen. Besides, I know how much you want the scholarship that goes with the crown.

Raven nodded. It was her reason for being in the contest at all. She’d gotten into a number of good colleges, but Stanford, her first choice, hadn’t come up with enough financial aid for her to accept their offer. Yet.

Raven knew Lacey was in the contest for the glory and glamour, and the Hollywood screen test that was the other prize. But for Raven, being Peach Blossom Queen was her ticket out of Paradiso. She wanted it badly. And she deserved it. But she didn’t want to get her hopes up.

Vaughn, let’s not think about what’s going to happen. Or what’s happened, she said. Okay? Let’s not think about anything at all.

I like that idea, Vaughn said. They were quiet for a few minutes, listening to the flames lick at the logs in the fireplace. Raven concentrated on Vaughn’s nearness as her eyes followed the dancing shadows cast by the fire. One of them kept lapping at the edge of a plate-size hole in the wood wall by the foot of the cabin door.

What happened there? Raven asked, pointing.

Vaughn’s gaze followed her finger. His frown carved deep lines on his handsome, square-jawed face. Nothing much.

What do you mean, nothing much? Raven asked.

The frown stayed on Vaughn’s face. Raven, he said, I know you want to be a great lawyer and everything, but I’m not on the witness stand.

Raven let go of his hand. Whoa! Okay, okay. I wasn’t accusing you of anything. I was just asking.

Vaughn let out a long breath. Look, I’m sorry. I—I got mad at someone, all right? I sort of lost it and kicked the wall.

You were so mad at somebody you put a hole that size through a solid wall? Who could get you so mad? Your dad? Raven knew Vaughn was having plenty of problems with his parents over his involvement with SCAM.

My dad? Nah, we’re past the fighting stage.

Who, then?

Vaughn shook his head. I thought you didn’t want to think about anything, Raven.

You got me curious, Raven said. That and a little nervous. She knew Vaughn had a temper—she’d seen it in school a few times when someone had gotten him especially riled up, and she’d seen it when he competed in his wrestling matches. But to see signs of it here, in this peaceful, out-of-the-way cabin, was scary. Just the two of us. Who, Vaughn?

Vaughn worked his jaw. Then he said, Lacey. I was up here with Lacey and we had a really big fight.

Oh. Well, you asked, Raven told herself. She felt a sizzle of jealousy at the idea of Lacey and Vaughn together up here, maybe right in front of the fire like she and Vaughn were now. She looked at the hole. Things obviously hadn’t turned out the way Lacey and Vaughn had expected.

She could definitely understand getting furious at Lacey Pinkerton. Like father, like daughter. Calvin Pinkerton had tried to bribe Raven out of fighting the mall by offering to pay her college tuition. He was so smug and condescending, sauntering into Rosa’s Café with Darla, Lacey’s mother, the queen of nasty in her dark sunglasses. He’d slipped Raven a one-hundred-dollar bill as she waited on tables. Then he’d hinted about the bigger payoffs to come.

But forget it, Raven. Just forget it, she told herself. You’re here to get away from the trouble in Paradiso—for tonight, at least. She took Vaughn’s hand again, bringing it to her lips. Then she turned her face toward his. He was so handsome. She felt her pulse take off as she studied his chiseled features and looked into his clear, clear blue eyes.

Vaughn, kiss me, she said softly.

Vaughn didn’t answer. He leaned toward her and their lips touched. The fire crackled. Raven