The Deception Read Free

you living in a decent apartment before you know it. We might even be able to get you a Christmas tree too. But I need to let you know one other thing."
    "What's that?"
    "I have a show coming up at Hanson Sisters Fine Art in February. I'd like to include five prints from our shoot as a series of hand-signed limited editions. They'd be sold with the same restrictions as the ones going to the couple in Berkeley. You'd remain anonymous, and the photos cannot be published or displayed anywhere in public, except of course for the gallery, but that would be the only time."
    Carrie let out a sigh. There had to be a better way for her to get into an apartment. She glanced at the calendar hanging on the wall. It was the first week of December, the time of year when business normally slowed down. This year would certainly be no exception and things wouldn't start to pick up again until late January. If she didn't act now, she'd be living in her studio until March or April, and the longer she stayed, the greater the chances of someone finding out and reporting her to the city. She let out another sigh, knowing she had no other choice.
    "Okay, Louise, I'm your girl. I'll be there, Saturday morning, eight o'clock."
    "Good. You really won't regret this, Carrie. You'll be proud of these photos, I guarantee it. I'll email a contract and release form for you to sign. Make some copies for yourself and bring them with you on Saturday."
    Carrie couldn't shake the bad feeling she started getting after she ended the call. She thought it over and realized she was probably just nervous. She'd never been photographed in the nude before, and the idea of total strangers looking at her naked body made her feel uneasy. Then again, she'd be doing it for Louise, and she owed her success to Louise's hard work. She looked at the clock. It was time to get up. She had work to do and she'd be better off focusing her thoughts on the nice apartment she'd soon be living in.

Three
     
    C arrie pulled into Louise's driveway at exactly eight o'clock Saturday mo rning. She shut down the engine and hesitated for a moment before grabbing her duffle bag. She stepped out of her car and slowly approached the front door. She seriously considered turning around and leaving before mustering up the courage to ring the doorbell. She was soon greeted by Louise's smiling face.
    "Come on in, Sweetness." She gave Carrie a big hug as she stepped across the threshold. "You're right on time. Would you like a cup of coffee?"
    "No, thanks. I'm nervous enough as it is."
    "I understand. I'll grab a cup for me, and then we can get started."
    Carrie followed her to the kitchen. Walking behind her, she couldn't get over how little Louise had changed over the years. Neither her looks nor her attitude fit the image of a woman in her mid-fifties. Louise still had smooth skin and a shapely figure. There wasn't so much as a hint of gray in her curly red hair, and she had the stamina of a woman half her age. As soon as she finished pouring her coffee, she grabbed her mug and motioned for Carrie to follow her down the hallway to a small room that had been made into a dressing room.
    "Okay my dear." She pulled out the little chair in front of the vanity. "Let's get your curling iron plugged in. I'll step out in a minute, and when I do you'll need to take all your clothes off and put your bathrobe on. My studio is in the next room and I'll be setting up the lights. I'll come back in a few minutes to help with your hair and makeup."
    As soon as she left, Carrie nervously undressed and got into her bathrobe. Louise soon returned and grabbed the curling iron, saying that for the first shoot she'd pull Carrie's hair back into a loose ponytail, with some wispy, curly locks dangling around her face. Louise thought that particular hairstyle would show off her oval-shaped face and deep-set blue eyes. She quickly went to work preparing her for the shoot.
    "You really were born to be a model, you know that,"