Power Play, chapter 11

“Where am I?" asked Lila, opening her eyes and looking up at the people surrounding her.

"At the mall," Elizabeth said anxiously. "It'll be all right. Your father's on his way."

"What?" said Lila, sitting up. "Does he have to know?"

"The shop is pressing charges," said Elizabeth, and Lila fell into Elizabeth's arms, weeping.

It seemed an eternity for Elizabeth as she held the sobbing Lila Fowler under the frowning glare of the security guards. Finally, the door opened, and there was George Fowler, looking deeply concerned.

"Where's my daughter?" he said, walking in.

"Daddy!" Lila cried, rushing into his arms. She buried her face in his chest and wept, shaking with great racking sobs. "Daddy, thank God you're here!"

"Calm down, sweetheart," Mr. Fowler said, his face lined with worry. He led her to a chair beside Elizabeth where she sat down.

"Oh, Daddy..." Lila turned away and covered her face with her hands.

Mr. Fowler motioned to the matron, the guard, and the salesclerk, and the four of them promptly walked into a back office. Elizabeth could hear them talking in low tones as she tried unsuccessfully to soothe Lila and field her unending questions.

"What are they saying, Liz? Is everyone going to find out? What about Jess?" She strained to hear the conversation in the other room.

"Yes, yes-I'll take care of it," Elizabeth heard Mr. Fowler say. "All right. Yes, I'll make sure she's there."

They came out again, and Mr. Fowler took Lila's hand. "Come on, honey. We're going home."

Mr. Fowler turned to Elizabeth. "Well, Elizabeth, I owe you a great deal, it seems."

"Oh, no, Mr. Fowler."

"Yes, I do. And so does Lila. How can we repay you? Is there anything I can do for you?"

Elizabeth felt her face burning. Before she knew what she was saying, it was out. "Spend more time with Lila, Mr. Fowler."

"What?"

A stifled cry escaped from Lila. She turned and rushed to Elizabeth, hugged her very hard, and then hurried out of the room.

"Lila-wait," said Mr. Fowler, going after her.

Elizabeth glanced at the guard, the matron, and the salesclerk.

"May I leave?" she said hesitantly.

"Yes, and please excuse our accusations," the guard offered apologetically. "We were anxious to stop the thefts, and I'm afraid we jumped too quickly."

"That's all right," Elizabeth responded graciously, "but is Lila Fowler in a lot of trouble? She's not a bad person, you know. She's just-"

"No," the matron assured her. "This is a first offense, and Mr. Fowler seems to be a solid parent. We've agreed on the necessary steps to take, but I think you should let your friend explain them."

Elizabeth nodded, somewhat relieved, and walked out into the bustling mall.

One problem remained-her promise to Lila never to tell anybody what had happened at the mall. How could she keep a secret like that from her twin?

Jessica was waiting in the car when Elizabeth got there, and she was burning with curiosity. She had seen Mr. Fowler arrive and had seen him and Lila leave. When Elizabeth opened the car door, Jessica wasted no time. She pounced like a ravenous lion.

"Elizabeth, I've been going totally crazy waiting! What happened?"

"Nothing. It's straightened out."

Jessica's face first registered shock, then disbelief, then frustrated fury at such an idiotically impossible answer.

"I get accused of being a thief, and you tell me nothing?" she raged.

"It's all cleared up, and Lila went home with her father, that's all."

"Ahhhhoooooooouuuuuuuu!" Jessica wailed in indignation, stomping her feet furiously against the floorboards of the car. "Elizabeth Wakefield, you've got to tell me everything! I'm your sister! Your identical twin! I'm practically a part of you!"

"Let's go home, Jessie. If you want to know any more, ask Lila."

"Lila is my friend! How dare you keep secrets from me about her? You tell me! Was she the shoplifter? I can't believe that! She's rich enough to buy the whole mall!"

The drive home in the tiny little car was a nightmare, as somehow Elizabeth held off Jessica's unending barrage of questions.

"I'll find out from Lila!" Jessica finally shrieked.

"That's the idea," Elizabeth said with what Jessica considered maddening calm. Jessica leaped from the car, slammed the door, and stalked into the house.

"What a day!" Elizabeth said, then sighed as she followed her twin into the house.

The next morning Jessica would not talk to her, but Elizabeth wasn't too heartbroken. She didn't expect it to last. If there was one thing she could be sure of, it was that Jessica would not stay quiet for long. She wondered what it was going to take to break the silence.

The next day Elizabeth drove to the jeweler's shop, where she finally bought Todd's watchband. Feeling a little funny, she stopped by the window of Lisette's. The saleslady spotted her and waved an unenthusiastic hello. I guess she's still not sure of me, Elizabeth mused sadly.

When she reached home, the phone was ringing, and she raced to answer it. It was Lila. Apologetic and with a note of fear in her voice, Lila explained that she would need Elizabeth to go to juvenile hall with her and her father late the following afternoon.

Parking behind the white, Spanish-style mansion, Elizabeth marveled at Fowler Crest, the sprawling Fowler estate. Its sculptured, landscaped grounds, blood-red brick-tiled courtyard, and the fountain containing rare tropical fish were truly magnificent. How odd that Lila wasn't happy in such luxurious surroundings.

On the drive to juvenile hall, Elizabeth sat in the backseat with Lila. Lila was pale, yet she seemed curiously calm and serene. Her dangerous gamble had finally made her father notice her, Elizabeth observed.

Mr. Fowler sat in front, next to the chauffeur, but he continually looked around to smile reassuringly at Lila. He reached back once to pat her hand.

"It's going to be all right, sweetheart," he said softly. "We're going to make everything right."

At juvenile hall in downtown Sweet Valley, they met Mr. Fowler's lawyer, a slim, gray-suited man with a mustache. The four of them walked in through a side door and down a corridor to the chambers of Juvenile Judge Herbert Mancuso. They sat in deep, rich leather chairs as the judge looked over a sheaf of legal papers, mumbling and nodding. Finally he looked up, an understanding smile on his face.

The lawyer introduced Mr. Fowler, Lila, and Elizabeth to the judge, explaining that Elizabeth was a schoolmate of Lila's and was there as a character witness.

Elizabeth kept her statement brief. She told the judge in all honesty that Lila was not a troublemaker and she had never known her to do anything dishonest before this.

"Well," he said. "Do I understand the defendant in this matter has made a complete statement and that restitution has been made?"

"Yes, Your Honor," responded the lawyer.

"Would you like to say anything, young lady?" Judge Mancuso went on.

"No, sir," Lila said in a tiny, faraway voice.

"I'm sure you've learned your lesson, Miss Fowler. Mr. Fowler, I'm going to release your daughter into your custody. It would serve no useful purpose to take any other action. If your daughter remains out of trouble for six months, the matter will be dismissed. Six months probation."

And that was that. They filed back out through the side door, got into Mr. Fowler's silver Mercedes, and the chauffeur drove them away.

"Well, that wasn't so bad, was it?" said Mr. Fowler.

Silence from Lila.

"Listen, what do you say we all have an early dinner at the Palomar House?" he said brightly.

The Palomar House! Elizabeth thrilled at the thought of going to the poshest restaurant in Sweet Valley. After the chauffeur dropped them off, the maitre d' greeted Mr. Fowler by name and showed Elizabeth, Lila, and her father to a plush banquette in the main room under an immense chandelier. Exquisitely designed silverware was arranged beside each gold-rimmed plate.

They ordered shrimp scampi, baby lamb chops, asparagus tips, and chocolate souffle, then topped off the dinner with a perfectly heavenly cappuccino. Elizabeth rode back home stuffed and happy, promising again on the way to a nervous Lila that she would never reveal what had happened.

As the Fowler car pulled away from Elizabeth's house after dropping her off, she saw with a rush of anxiety that Jessica was looking out the window. The moment Elizabeth opened the door, Jessica was on her.

"Where were you with Lila Fowler?"

"She just gave me a ride home, Jess."

"You are the most disgusting liar since Pinocchio! Your nose is going to grow leaves! Where were you?"

"I told you."

Jessica was shaking with frustration. "I can't stand it! You and Lila are up to something, and you won't tell me! I can't stand other people having secrets!"

Jessica was still howling when Elizabeth disappeared up the stairs. It was the end of the shoplifting episode, Elizabeth fervently hoped. It was time to get on with her own life, which had recently been slipping away from her.

That night she went out on a date with Todd and gave him his watchband.

"Welcome back," he said when he kissed her. "I've missed you."

"Oh, me, too, Todd." Elizabeth sighed. She put her hand on his cheek. "I love to be with you like this."

Todd tightened his hold on her, feeling the warmth of her body. "How about like this?" he asked huskily as he ran his hand over her back, sending chills all the way through her.

"Even better," she replied, then kissed him deeply.

The next day Elizabeth plunged into the stack of work that had been piling up on her desk in the Oracle office. A story about mid-term cheerleader tryouts had to be written at top speed. Typing the names of the girls who were trying out, Elizabeth almost flipped when she saw it.

Robin Wilson's name was on the list.