AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“By some means yet unknown,” Calder said thoughtfully. “A means no one has considered.”
“That’s an even more frightening prospect,” Elle said.
“Exactly what I was thinking.” Calder dug his thumb and index finger into his eye sockets. “But I’m really too tired to think straight. The first order of business should be some sleep.”
Elle turned around to look at him. “They’ll be watching our houses. Yours, too, Glenda.”
“I thought of that,” Glenda said, reaching across the console to pat Elle’s knee. “I took the liberty of making a plan for you. I brought the keys to a house we keep guest-ready for out-of-town clients who come to shop properties in the area. Celebrities, sports stars, and such, who want to stay under the radar and not check into a hotel. It’s got every amenity imaginable and is more hush-hush than that so-called safe house they put you in.”
She paused. “If you’re worried about the sleeping arrangements, it’s got two master suites in opposite wings of the house. Besides, you’re grown-ups who’ve already done it.”
Upon reaching Dallas, she drove them to an imposing house on an expansive lot in an imposing neighborhood where every lot was expansive. She used a remote to open the garage, then led them in through a multipurpose utility room and beyond it into a chef’s fantasy kitchen.
“I brought food from my pantry and fridge. Basics, mind you. I’ll put everything away while you’re cleaning up. You’ll find the bathrooms are well stocked with toiletries.”
She’d carried in a duffel bag and now handed it to Elle. “There are several changes of clothes in there. I also brought a hairbrush, lip gloss, blush, and mascara. Which is all she needs, right?” she said, addressing the question to Calder. “It’s demoralizing.”
Continuing with him, she said, “No clothes for you, I’m afraid, but you can use the laundry to wash and dry yours, and there are spa robes in the guest room closets, so you’ll be decent while you wait.” She pointed him down a hallway. “Why don’t you take the suite on this side? I’ll get Elle settled into the other.”
Calder went to his assigned suite. As described, the house did have every amenity imaginable. He found the spa robe and took it with him into the utility room, where he shucked his clothes, put them in the washer, and set it on a short cycle. He hung up his jacket and hoped that by morning it and his boots would be dry.
By the time he had scrubbed in the luxurious shower, the washing machine was on the spin cycle. He waited until it was finished and transferred his clothes to the dryer.
Then he took the bottle of Jack with him into the kitchen, where Glenda was busily moving about, unloading tote bags of food. She laughed when she saw him in the spa robe with his bare feet and hairy calves.
He said, “I’m lost and need directions to the pedi chairs.”
Still laughing, she said, “What you need is a glass.” She took one from a cabinet and brought it to him.
“Thanks.”
“Ice, water, Coke?”
“After the night we’ve had, the neater the better.” He tipped the bottle toward the glass.
She picked up a glass of white wine she’d been drinking and raised it in a silent toast, then resumed unpacking the foodstuffs. “I hope you like chicken salad. It’s my housekeeper’s secret recipe,” she said as she placed a sealed plastic container in the refrigerator. “She made it fresh yesterday. And…” She pulled out another container. “She also baked a batch of brownies, which are so decadent that I don’t typically share them. You should feel privileged.”
He leaned back against the counter, crossed his bare ankles, and sipped his whiskey as he watched her.
“I was thinking,” she said, as she placed apples and oranges in a wire bowl. “I could send someone out tomorrow to buy clothes for you. Not someone from the agency, because Compton will probably have people watching it. I was thinking of my hairdresser. She owes me a favor.”
Over her shoulder, she confided, “I paid the fine for her DUI. Not for her sake, but for that of my hair. What would I have done with my roots while she was in jail? Anyway, write down your sizes.” She passed him a pad of Post-its and a pen. “Shirt, pants, undies.” She looked down at his feet. “Shoes?”
“Sneakers. My boots might not dry out overnight.” He wrote down his sizes, then placed the Post-its on the counter within her reach. “Think you could get us some prepaid phones? A couple of burners would come in handy.”
“Great idea! I wouldn’t send my hairdresser for those, though. I could use the guy who keeps all the electronics in this house working. He should go to two different stores, so it won’t look suspicious. And buy them with cash.” She bumped the pantry door shut with her hip.
“Oh! Do you need cash? I forgot that. Neither of you should be using credit cards or ATMs. That’s the first thing they’ll look for. I’ll bring you some legal tender tomorrow.”
By then, she’d finished emptying the last tote bag. “There. All done. You’ve got provisions.” She beamed him a smile and picked up her wineglass.
“Glenda, what are you keeping from Elle?”
She nearly choked swallowing the wine. She blinked several times and played dumb. “Pardon?”
He moved nothing except his hand to swirl the whiskey in his glass. “What are you keeping from Elle?”
“What are you talking about?”
