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“But they confessed to at least some of the crimes, and that is what’s important,” Regan urged. “Plus, now we know what their plan is for tonight. We can put all our energy into the ceremony and get this out in the open. With luck, this all will end tonight.”
The plan had gone exceedingly well. Wendy and Regan had played their parts to perfection, even going so far as to sign an agreement for the project. Regan had warned Wendy that they might have to do this, so they each signed their name with small imperfections, just enough to void any contract. This resulted in Anita, Jimmy, and even Jansen, gloating over their little coup.
Wendy nodded as she took a steadying breath. Regan noticed some of her color return to her face, and was proud that she was able to shift perspectives.
“You’re right,” she agreed, giving an affirmative nod. “That’s what matters. Okay, let’s call a meeting, and get this plan into action.”
“Atta girl,” Regan praised, reaching for the call button on his truck’s touchscreen display. Frieda picked up after the first ring, asking immediately how it went.
“Perfect,” Regan replied, “but we need to all meet and talk before the pageant, and I know you need to be there in an hour. Anita and Jimmy mentioned they were going straight to the Chamber of Commerce office to start preparing for the pageant, so we should be free to meet at the hotel. Can you gather everybody?”
“Absolutely,” Frieda agreed. “We’ll meet in our presidential suite. Unfortunately, our guests just vacated it, but we’ll have privacy there. Room 425.”
“Be there in ten,” Regan told her, then hung up the phone.
Wendy and Regan drove the rest of the way to the hotel in silence. In the parking lot, they saw Erik pull in almost right after them. By the time they reached the hotel entrance, Pierce and Tucker had also pulled in. In the lobby, Cynthia and Lorrie were waiting for them, and they all took the elevator up to the presidential suite, where Heidi, Davis, Birgit, Chris, and Frieda were waiting for them.
“Break it down for us,” Frieda asked, sparing any pleasantries. Regan gave her an appreciative glance.
“They want to take over the hotel,” Regan explained, “that’s confirmed. They also admitted to messing with you, which they referred to as ‘little doses of reality.’”
“Oh, I can’t wait to give them a ‘little dose of their reality,’” Frieda retorted, her voice biting.
“Trust me,” Regan assured her, “we will.”
“But what about tonight?” Birgit asked. “Do we know what’s going to happen?”
“They didn’t come right out and say it, but we think they’re going to try to do something ‘mortifying’ to you,” Wendy explained. “Which is why we’re going to have our little security team here have their eyes on you the entire time.”
“No, that’s too dangerous,” Heidi insisted, shaking her head. “These two are obviously crazy, and I can’t trust they’ll stop at just embarrassment or shame. I’m not letting my sister get physically hurt.”
“You think I would let that happen?” Davis asked her. He was standing behind her, and had gripped her shoulders carefully as he leaned forward to look at her. “Absolutely not. None of us will.”
“The ceremony is a public event,” Regan explained. “Which means we can have recording devices. We need to get them talking about Birgit and their plans and that’ll be easier if Birgit is right in front of them. These two are getting too excited about their success, and they’re going to slip up. We need to be there when they do, which is another reason why it’s important weallbe there. We’ve done a good job hiding that Wendy and I are your friends, so they don’t think of us as the enemy anymore. We can all be in one place without any suspicion. And the more of us there, the more opportunity we have of getting a taped confession.”
“He’s right, Heidi,” Frieda agreed, reaching out to grab her little sister’s hand.
Heidi nodded in acceptance, then drew her posture up straight. “I can deal with that,” she replied. “Okay, give us the details. What do we do now?”
ChapterSix
Frieda pulled the slipper zipper up the back of her sister’s dark red dress, then gently swept her fingers over Birgit’s shoulders, smoothing the already perfectly-laid fabric.
“You look absolutely beautiful,” she praised, tilting to the side just enough so that she could peek around Birgit at their reflection in the mirror. Her older sister smiled brightly, and she placed her hand over Frieda’s on her shoulder.
“Heidi and Wendy did an amazing job with my makeup,” Birgit replied with a nervous laugh.
“Well, they didn’t have to do much,” Frieda teased. But it was true. They had worked a great trick with black eyeliner and the perfect shade of red lipstick, but aside from that, it was Birgit’s natural beauty that made her so stunning.
“It’s been too long since I’ve seen you dressed up like this,” Frieda continued. “You should find reasons to dress up more often.”
Birgit let out a laugh as she shook her head, and turned to Frieda.
“How aboutyougetting dressed up more often?” she teased. “I’ve never seen you in formal wear except for my wedding.”
“And unless Heidi gets married again, this is thelasttime you’ll see me in formal wear.” Frieda laughed. “No, honey. This is more you than me. You look radiant. And you’re going toberadiant. I read your speech and I think it’s perfect.”
Birgit let out a tired laugh. “The whole thing just seems silly now. After everything we’ve been through, what’s it going to matter? It’s not going to fix anything. This isn’t for grant money or donations. It’s just an award.”
