Chapter5
Con heard himself say the words with a sense of incredulity.Mel and the others were going to be so pissed at him.
He could almost hear himself trying to make the case that he’d just been observing her as directed—just closer than they’d originally planned.
Because he was such a master of communication, he’d do a great job of it, too.If he’d been alone, he would have rolled his eyes at himself.
“Let’s see what they have in here,” he said instead.
Inside the store, they found enough options for changing how they looked.Unfortunately, the men in black decided to follow them in.Perhaps the racks of clothes seemed less exposing than the drug store aisles and bright lights.
As Rita thumbed slowly through a rack of pants, Con considered the problem.There was no point in changing their clothes if these guys knew exactly what they’d bought.
Rita pulled a pair of pants partway clear of the rack, her lips pursed in annoyance as she shot a quick look at the two men.
Because it was what he did, or used to do when he went shopping, Con pulled out the pair next to it, a different color and held it up.
“This looks like it might fithim,” he said.He looked at Rita, hoping she’d pick up on what he was trying to do.“You’re about his size and height.Would you mind trying them on?
Her lips twitched as she took the pair he’d offered her, with the pair she’d been interested in tucked under them.
The clerk pointed to the dressing room.
“I’ll find a shirt and jacket,” he called after her.But what about shoes?She couldn’t walk in high heels.
He found a couple of shirts and two jackets.He hid one under the other, headed the way Rita had and stopped outside her curtain.
“Here’s a shirt for you to try,” he said.When she pulled the curtain slightly back, he mouthed “Shoes?”
“Boots,” she mouthed back, holding up her hands to indicate their size.
He nodded and went back into the main part of the store.
The two men had positioned themselves in front of a display and were pretending to study it.Con knew they were pretending because it was a display for women’s undergarments.
He felt like a Peeping Tom just noticing them.Had women actually worn those things?
He touched the clerk’s arm and gestured toward the two men.“I think they need help.”
The clerk grinned and headed over.
“Anything I can help you find?Do you know the size you’re looking for?”
Both men looked down.Con couldn’t see comprehension widening their eyes because they hadn’t taken off the dark glasses.He did see the red flooding up into their faces.
Weird how they did everything almost in sync.
Con didn’t hear what they told the clerk.With satisfaction he did see them back up, then hastily exit the store.
As soon as they were out of his sightline, Con moved quickly, knowing they’d find a way to get eyes back on them.
He found some boots, sturdy and not too stiff, in the right size and took them to Rita.
She handed him the tags and he saw she’d donned the pants and shirt.
“Hat,” he said.He took the tags and the shoe box, grabbed a couple of hats and a jacket for him to put over his shirt.
“Is there a back way out of here?”he asked the clerk when he’d finished paying, deploying the smile that had always worked to get him out of trouble in the past.“Those two, they won’t leave my friend alone.”
