“I got invited to an after-party at Jason Dourif’s house,” I blurted, producing the card from my dress.
Sebastian’s eyes widened then darkened. He nodded solemnly. “I see. And you’re going?”
“Well, yeah. What is the proper etiquette for these things? Do I change? When do they start? Do I bring something?” I leaned forward, my excitement bubbling over.
“For what? A murder, or a party?” He snickered. “Yeah, you bring me,” he grumbled. Tugging on his bowtie, he loosened it and sat back with a huff.
“You don’t have to come. I’ve got this.”
He gave me a stern look. “You’re not going to this dude’s house alone. He’s a creep.”
“They’re all creeps.” I crossed my arms. “I can do this. You upheld your part of the bargain. You got me close enough to…do what I have to do.” I hesitated to speak about it with a driver up front, even with the privacy screen shut.
“I have no doubt in your…determination. But your plans have a way of going awry. I’m coming, end of discussion,” he said, pushing the remote to open the screen to speak with the driver. “Anton, I have an after-party to go to.”
He instructed the driver to stop by his house to grab clothes. He ran in and out, planning to change at my place. He came back out with a backpack. When I asked about it, he grinned.
“We might be out late again, like last time.”
Last time being when we killed Glenn.
I looked away and let the driver take us to my place. Sebastian followed me inside and up to my room.
“What do I wear?” I walked into my closet, looking for something comfortable but nice enough to fit in with the other partygoers.
“Well, if you’re going for dramatics, I’d look over here.” Sebastian pointed to the other side of my closet, where all of my mother’s clothes sat on hangers. I hadn’t been able to throw them out. “What did he call you again? Little Lita?” He stuck his tongue out and shuddered.
“He did.” I drifted to her clothes and began yanking hangers to the side, searching for the right outfit.
“Ooh.” I pulled a red-and-black blazer off the rack. It had pants to match. Perfect. I pushed Sebastian out of the closet and climbed out of my dress, sliding on the pants and jacket. I came out and gave him a mini runway walk. “What do you think?”
His Adam’s apple bobbed. “I vaguely remember Lita wearing that, but…she had a shirt underneath.” He looked away quickly.
“Well, this is more my style. Plus, Dourif was wanting Lita, but new. I’d say this fits the bill.”
“You’re nothing like her,” Sebastian muttered. When I didn’t reply, he continued. “She was great, but...not you.”
I didn’t have time to dissect his statement. My mind was elsewhere, already halfway to the party.
“What’s that?” I asked after I came out of the bathroom, ready to go. Sebastian was adjusting a long blond wig on top of his head. It looked rather good. He shoved a beanie on his head and slid thick-framed glasses over his nose.
“Thisis Ash Wilkes. My disguise for whenever I don’t want to be noticed.”
“Ash Wilkes, as in…”
“Evil DeadandMisery.” He grinned.
I pursed my lips and looked toward the closet.
“Should I put on a wig too?” My mom had a dozen of them, probably for the same reason.
“Sure. Let’s find one.”
We dug through the boxes, and I found a long, straight, ruby-colored wig. I had to pin back my bangs, but I tugged it on and tied a scarf around my head, pairing it with large sunglasses with pink frames. I stared at my reflection, trying to think of a name.
“I’m Beverly Bradford,” I decided.
“As in?”
