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She looked at her phone and then at the women as an idea popped into her head. Forget protocol. Why investigate when a picture said a thousand words?
Mercedes and Tiffany were huddled together, their heads bent over their phones. She couldn’t tell if they were connecting the USB sticks to their phones or if they were simply texting. She needed the right angle to get a good picture of the women and what they were doing.
Julie quietly positioned the cell phone. She tried for a tight shot of their faces and the phones in their hands. She pushed the button.
The camera flash went wild. It reflected on the mirror, the bright tiles and the shiny fixtures.
Oh, shoot. She held the phone against her leg. Make it stop, make it stop!
“What the hell was that?” Mercedes whirled around and saw her. Her attention zeroed in on the phone. “Were you taking pictures? Of us?”
“In the bathroom?” Tiffany asked with outrage.
“I’m…I’m so sorry.” Julie watched as the women unplugged the USB sticks, stuffing phones and cords into their designer purses.
“What is wrong with you?” Mercedes took a threatening step toward her.
She had to come up with a convincing excuse. Julie went with the first thing that popped in her head. “I love the dress you’re wearing.”
Mercedes, Tiffany and Julie stared at the tiny velvet dress that had a bold mix of patterns and animal prints.
Julie nervously licked her dry lips as she took a cautious step back. “I wanted to take a picture for the next time I go to the thrift store.”
“The thrift store?” Mercedes’ face turned red with anger. “I’ll have you know that this is Versace.”
“Huh. You don’t say. Well, that’s way out of my price range.”
“No kidding.” Tiffany gave a disparaging look at Julie’s dress as they walked past her. “Now get your thrift-store ass away from us.”
“All right. All right.” She raised her hands in surrender. She didn’t want them to take her phone or start a fight. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”
Julie watched the two women march out of the bathroom before she slumped against the mirror. She felt shaky, almost nauseated, as her blood pumped hard through her veins.
That had been a close one. Still, the next time she was cornered, she would know to act like a dumb party girl with a taste for designer clothes.
She wasn’t sure where she came up with that strategy. Definitely not the Sapphire books. Maybe she was getting better at this. Julie slowly smiled as she started to follow. Today a decoy, tomorrow a private detective.
* * *
ERIC HELD BACK AS HE watched the door to the women’s restroom. He was concerned when he saw Julie follow Mercedes and Tiffany. It was a simple surveillance maneuver, but he couldn’t back up Julie.
When Mercedes and Tiffany returned to the bar, he noticed their expressions. He knew Julie had made a move. A confrontation? A mistake? Eric couldn’t tell. He knew the redhead was angry. The blonde had a haunted look in her eyes.
That was never good. A pursued criminal was a dangerous creature. Unpredictable, violent and defensive.
He didn’t see Julie anywhere. It was difficult to determine if she was keeping a safe distance or if she was in trouble. Eric was about to storm into the women’s restroom when he saw Julie. His relief was short-lived. Eric saw the determined set to her jaw and her gaze was focused intently on the women.
Every instinct warned him to go for Julie. She was being ruled by her emotions. He needed to get her out of there before she made a scene.
He moved for her. The music and voices faded as the beat of his heart pounded in his ears. Everything felt as if it was going in slow motion. Eric saw Julie raise her hand. Only then did he notice the cell phone.
Eric checked the position of Mercedes and Tiffany. The redhead was kissing a man, her hands all over his body. The blonde was a little more reserved. He saw her put her hand in the guy’s jeans pocket.
Mercedes was returning the guy’s key chain just when a bright flash reflected against the chrome and glass.
Mercedes whirled around and he knew the moment she saw Julie. The look in the blonde’s eyes made him lurch into action.
He reached Julie but he sensed Mercedes approach. He grabbed Julie by her shoulders and pushed her in the direction of the exit. “Go, go, go!”
“I got it!” she squealed excitedly.
“I know.” He saw the quickest route to the exit and slalomed through the crowd. “Mercedes and Tiffany know. The whole damn nightclub saw you take that picture.”
