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“Whichever one is funding whatever their operation entails.”
“Pretty clever.” She licked her lips. “On both sides. Think about it, getting stuff smuggled via diplomats. It’s kind of brilliant.”
“But we are brillianter,” Gilmour replied with a made-up word.
“Indubitably.” She pointed a piece of pita at him. “And that’s a real word.”
During dinner, Gilmour confessed he knew very little about the operation they were about to undertake. “According to Patterson, the diplomats gather sporadically. How often? We don’t know.”
“He said maybe once or twice a month.”
“Probably. We don’t want to draw attention by foiling too many of their plans. I suppose the higher-ups will prioritize the cases.”
“Yeah, whose priority?” Melanie rolled her eyes.
He moved on. “Apparently this first job has something to do with the art world, right?”
“Yes, but I don’t think it has to do with someone curating a collection of junk.”
“Smuggling something.” He shrugged.
“I guess we’re going to find out.”
“We’re certainly going to try.”
“The best part is that I’m getting a new wardrobe. And a new identity. Or four.” She touched the side of her face. “I’m going to have to apply some heavy makeup on this.”
Gilmour took a closer look. “It’s barely noticeable, but you’re right. You have to look different and can’t have a telltale sign.”
“Slide that over to me, please.” She pointed to a pad and pen at the other end of the table. She began to make a list of things she needed to buy: “Clothes, shoes, wigs, makeup. Heavy-duty makeup.”
“What time will they drop off your pooches?” he asked as she was writing names of designers on the page.
“Around three. Then I have to leave at six for the school play.”
“What are your plans for Thanksgiving?” he asked.
“Shannon, my sister-in-law, is having us over. She plans so many parties, she could do Thanksgiving dinner for twenty in her sleep.”
“I’ll be going to my folks in Alexandria. A quiet dinner for thirty or forty.”
“You have a huge family.” Melanie knew Gilmour was one of five, and his siblings were married with kids.
“Yeah. It’s loud, but it’s fun. I especially like watching the nieces and nephews play together.”
They cleared the table and chatted a bit longer, speculating on the illegal activities they would be attempting to discover.
Chapter Fourteen
Thanksgiving
The day before the four-day Thanksgiving weekend, Melanie left school at two thirty. Her new fur family was about to arrive.
She checked and rechecked the doors, the gate, the potty area, the scooper, bags, and container. She was excited and nervous. It was a big responsibility, but the dogs were already trained. All she had to do was teach them to be house pets and her cuddly pals. There was a small area at the end of the kitchen where she’d set up their food and water station. Instead of regular dog bowls, she’d bought them matching Fiestaware. Why not? Theirs were navy blue so she would not confuse them with the turquoise, human plates.
She heard a vehicle pull into the driveway. It was a K-9 kennel transport. She went to the front door and waited on the porch with the necessary identification. A young officer greeted her with an electronic tablet. “Ms. Melanie Drake?”
“Yes, that would be me.” She showed him her driver’s license.
