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Chapter 15
Why was the electrician excited to go shopping with his wife? She said they were going to the outlet mall. ~ Text from Hailey to Suzie
I’m off to shop for new dishware and glasses on Sunday. I may be a woman, but the mall is not my favorite place to be, especially not on a Sunday when every single teenager in the city is hanging out here. I grit my teeth and force myself out of my car. I can’t not go shopping. I have exactly one intact glass and zero dishes. I’ve been using paper plates and mugs all week. The environment will not thank me.
Suzie volunteered to join me, but I am not an idiot. I know better than to shop with my best friend. The woman thinks shopping is a game and you win when you have the most items in your cart. I’d probably end up going home with an entire new kitchen by the time she left the homeware store. No, thanks. My phone pings as I enter the store.
Had a great time last night. Sorry had to leave.
No worries. Had a great time 2.
I put my phone away, assuming our chat is finished. In my experience, men aren’t big on texting. Pops would rather clean the toilets at the bar than text. Slight exaggeration but you get my point. My phone pings again.
When can I see you again?
I squeal when I read the text. Play it cool, Hailey. Play it cool.
*emoji of woman shrugging her shoulders*
Shit. Work calls. Later, honey.
I’m not ashamed to admit my lady bits sigh when he calls me honey. I force myself to put my phone back into my purse and get back to the task at hand. Replacing stuff some idiot burglar destroyed. What was he looking for anyway? And will I ever know?
I’m dragging when I walk into the office on Monday morning. I spent entirely too much time chatting with Aiden last night. I feel giddy like a teenager with her first crush. What am I saying? Aiden was my first crush. But this isn’t a crush. No, this is something more. I think. Maybe?
“Good morning, Lover Girl!” Suzie greets when I open the door. I may have been able to convince her to not come over on Saturday night before my date with Aiden, but she showed up Sunday afternoon and wouldn’t leave until I gave her every last detail.
“Coffee,” I mumble.
“You need to buy a coffee maker.”
I jump and spin around at Phoebe. “Shit. I didn’t hear you come up behind me. What are you? A ninja?”
“Yeah, Phoebe, are you a ninja?” Suzie asks with a gleam in her eye that spells disaster.
Before she can start throwing questions at Phoebe, I stop her with a question of my own. “What time is the prospective client arriving?”
Suzie looks at her watch. “She should be here in fifteen minutes.”
“This better not be another cat lady.” I glare at her. We get some strange requests here – case in point the ‘Smiths’ – but a woman asking me to tail her cat was a new one. And not one I’m anxious to have repeated.
“Ms. Bostwick sounded lovely.”
Yeah, right. “I’m sure Debbie Monroe sounded lovely on the telephone as well.”
I grab a coffee from Suzie’s desk and walk to my office to catch up on paperwork before the prospective client arrives.
I’m staring at my computer and wondering if I can get away with killing Suzie for making me review this spreadsheet when there’s a knock on my office.
“You’re ten o’clock is here,” Suzie announces before opening the door.
I stand to greet the potential client and nearly stumble when I get a look at her. The woman is dressed like she’s ready to board her private jet. I thought Phoebe was over the top with her clothes, but Phoebe has nothing on this woman. Even I know the Hermes tote she’s carrying is worth over $4,000. She reaches out to shake my hand and my eyes widen when I notice the diamond-encrusted Tag Heuer watch, which must be worth at least $5,000.
What the hell is this woman doing here? In my office? Our clients aren’t normally destitute, but we definitely don’t cater to the rich and famous.
“Ms. Bostwick, please have a seat.” I motion to a chair before taking my place behind my desk. “How can I help you today?”
“I need you to prove I’m not a murderer.” My mouth drops open. Never in a million years would I have expected those words to come out of this woman’s mouth.
