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Back The Copycat Save as PDF
Chapters (68)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. Epigraph
  4. One
  5. Two
  6. Chapter One
  7. Three
  8. Four
  9. Five
  10. Six
  11. Chapter Two
  12. Seven
  13. Eight
  14. Nine
  15. Chapter Three
  16. Ten
  17. Eleven
  18. Chapter Four
  19. Twelve
  20. Thirteen
  21. Fourteen
  22. Chapter Five
  23. Fifteen
  24. Sixteen
  25. Chapter Six
  26. Seventeen
  27. Eighteen
  28. Nineteen
  29. Chapter Seven
  30. Twenty
  31. Twenty-One
  32. Twenty-Two
  33. Chapter Eight
  34. Twenty-Three
  35. Twenty-Four
  36. Twenty-Five
  37. Chapter Nine
  38. Twenty-Six
  39. Twenty-Seven
  40. Chapter Ten
  41. Twenty-Eight
  42. Twenty-Nine
  43. Thirty
  44. Thirty-One
  45. Chapter Eleven
  46. Thirty-Two
  47. Thirty-Three
  48. Thirty-Four
  49. Thirty-Five
  50. Chapter Twelve
  51. Thirty-Six
  52. Thirty-Seven
  53. Thirty-Eight
  54. Chapter Thirteen
  55. Thirty-Nine
  56. Forty
  57. Forty-One
  58. Forty-Two
  59. Chapter Fourteen
  60. Forty-Three
  61. Forty-Four
  62. Forty-Five
  63. Forty-Six
  64. Forty-Seven
  65. Chapter Fifteen
  66. The Following Summer
  67. About the Author
  68. About the Publisher

The idea that everyone at school would know that she and Emily had an adventure made Ali smile. Everyone would know who she was and want to hang out with her, too. The day hadn’t started well, but the ending was like a fairy tale.

Twenty-Two

Like the rest of Emily’s house, the kitchen was perfect. It belonged on a cooking show, not in someone’s home. Pink-frosted cupcakes were arranged on a fancy footed plate next to two tall glasses of milk and pink linen napkins that Ali was afraid to use. Mrs. Arai, dressed in a silk party dress, hurried into the kitchen and extended her hand to Ali.

“I’m so happy to meet you, Ali. Did you girls have fun?”

“We went to see the seals down at Tin Can Beach!” Emily said. “Amazing!”

Mrs. Arai gave her a distracted “That’s nice,” then pointed to a laptop sitting on the island. “Your dad just sent over the commercial for us to look at. Do you want to watch it?”

“Yes!” Emily noted the confused look on Ali’s face and said, “Every year my dad makes a new TV commercial for his law firm. This year Mom and I are in it too. Want to see?”

Ali licked some pink frosting off her ring finger and leaned over to watch. As soon as Mrs. Arai hit play, Emily’s father’s face filled the screen.

“One day soon, you’re going to need a lawyer,” Mr. Arai said, his voice serious but kind. “And when that day comes, I want you to call me. Because I’ll treat you with the same love and respect I give my family.”

Then the camera cut away, and there were Emily’s parents and Emily, walking arm in arm along a sandy beach, laughing and smiling like they were the most perfect family ever.

“There’s me!” Emily squealed.

The camera zoomed in on Mr. Arai again. This time his face was super serious. “I’m Joseph Arai, and I won’t stop fighting for YOU.” He said the word “you” loud, like he wanted the audience to know he meant business. Then the screen changed, and Mr. Arai was replaced by a black screen with the phone number and address of the Arai law firm.

“Wasn’t that wonderful, Mom?” Emily asked.

Mrs. Arai’s smile was strained when she nodded. Her eyes were pink, as if she’d been crying. Ali couldn’t imagine anyone who lived in a house like this could ever be sad.

“Do you need a ride home?” she asked Ali.

“No, my dad should be here any minute.”

“Wonderful. I’ll leave you girls to your fun.” Mrs. Arai disappeared through a nearby door. The echo of her high heels clicking down the hallway sounded glamorous.

Emily dug into another cupcake. “Today was awesome! I wish I wasn’t so busy all the time; we could hang out more.”