Page 101 of Say Yes to the Death

The front door of the apartment opened, and they all jumped, slinking down into their seats. “See you later, babe,” a masculine voice called through the crack in Claire’s window.

Jason walked out into the moonlight, wearing a sports jersey and baggy blue jeans. Claire rolled her eyes. He was off to his poker night with the guys from his college frat, same as every Saturday night.

“Oh, wait,” he said, turning around. “Do you have an extra twenty? I just remembered I’m short.”

“Yeah, in my wallet. But just take one, not four like last time. I know when you steal from me, Jason.” Wendy’s shrill voice penetrated the night air like a tornado siren.

Jason’s dramatic eye roll was clearly visible from their hidden position. Claire smirked. There had been many occasions when she’d check her wallet at brunch on a Sunday only to find a handful of ones.

“See you later.” He reappeared and strutted down the sidewalk, humming a song that Claire immediately recognized from Mindy’s preference for pop radio.

“Right on time,” Claire said as his car disappeared around a corner.

“What do we do now?” Mindy asked in a hushed whisper. “Sneak up to the window and try to listen?”

“Too risky. There’s not enough cover,” Claire said, gesturing to the flowerbeds outside Wendy’s windows. “We’ll just have to wait to see if she leaves.”

As if she had been summoned, Wendy’s head poked out the front door. Her beak-like nose swung from side to side as she surveyed the parking lot. Seemingly satisfied, she shut the door and disappeared back inside.

“She was one hundred percent making sure that Jason’s car was gone,” Nicole said, grabbing the binoculars that were slung around Claire’s neck and leaning into the front seat.

Claire gagged and pulled them off. They all pressed forward, staring at the curtains that covered the windows. Was she about to come out? Where would she go?

Suddenly, Claire’s car horn honked.

“Shit shit shit,” she said. Betrayed once again by her oversized breasts. How was she supposed to have a covert operation when they were sabotaging her at every turn?

Claire and Mindy pulled the levers on their seats and flew backward. If Wendy came out and caught them like this, it would only add more ammunition to her lawsuit. Claire said a silent prayer as the seconds ticked by.

“Maybe she didn’t hear,” Nicole whispered. Her leg was trapped underneath Mindy’s headrest.

Claire raised herself slightly off the seat. “Shit, I think she’s coming out. What the hell is she wearing?”

Mindy and Nicole popped their heads up.

Nicole gagged. “I think I can see her cervix.”

Wendy was wearing a black dress that looked part bandage dress, part catsuit. It was so short it would make an adult film actress blush. She had thoughtfully paired the outfit with thigh-high boots. Claire would have bet her last dollar that there was a riding crop in her purse.

“Is she going clubbing? Or maybe to one of those underground rich person sex parties?” Mindy whispered.

“There’s only one way to find out,” Claire murmured. She slid her keys into the ignition.

“Shh, she’s coming,” Mindy hissed.

“Yeah, I’ll meet you in the lobby in a few minutes. Yes, I’m wearing what you asked.” Wendy opened her car door and tossed her purse inside. Claire shut her eyes as Wendy swung her legs into the car. She didn’t need to know if Wendy was wearing underwear beneath the skintight dress.

“Ohmygodshe’sanescort,” Nicole said all in one breath.

“She can’t be talking to Jason, he just left,” Claire said. Every nerve in her body was tingling head to toe. What was this feeling? Vengeance? “I almost feel bad for the guy.”

Wendy checked her makeup in the mirror for what felt like an eternity. Finally, she threw her car into reverse and careened for the exit.

“Follow her!” Mindy cried out and pointed out the windshield.

Claire turned the car on and stomped on the gas. She swung out onto Bramble Drive and followed Wendy at a distance. They were heading northeast, back in the direction of downtown.

“Shit, that car is about to cut us off—” Nicole gestured to a car pulling out between Wendy’s car and Claire’s. “We’ll lose track of her.”

---