Page 152 of Say Yes to the Death

“Good point. Boys, here’s my vendor book,” Claire said, digging a small black book out of her purse and flinging it onto the breakfast nook. “Divvy up the list and start calling people until someone says yes. The ones marked with purple stars usually answer their phones after hours, so start there.” She turned away from the group and gripped the side of the kitchen island. She took a couple deep breaths and tried to get her heart to stop galloping.

A wave of rose hip shampoo hit her. Mindy. “I know you’re freaking out right now, but don’t. We can do this. Remember when we took four finals in two days and still managed to co-chair Whiskeypalooza? This is nothing compared to that.”

There was a thwack of plastic hitting wood. Claire turned around. Luke had laid an empty binder on the table. She could have kissed him, but there wasn’t time.

She pulled her phone out and scrolled through her contacts. When the phone started ringing, she held her breath.

“Sally? Hi. Sorry for calling so late. I need you to help me save someone’s life.”

“This is torture.” Mindy moaned from the back seat of the company van.

“I know, but it has to be done.” Claire eyed the sun that was slowly peeking over the mountain. “Wendy’s bragged about being a runner five million times, and if ESA’s been watching her, they already know that. I would bet my last dollar that they’re staking out her running route right now and finding a quiet spot where no one will overhear a struggle. We have to get to her before they do.”

“If the cops would happen to investigate our car right now, we’re going to look sketchy as hell.” Nicole held up a blindfold, a pair of fuzzy handcuffs Claire had been using to shackle herself to her bed frame, and a ball gag that Mindy had thoughtfully donated.

Claire shrugged. “It’s nothing illegal. Any word from the boys?”

Mindy pulled out her phone. “Luke just texted. Yuffie committed because someone cancelled on her last night. So, we’ll have the pastries and hot and cold apps that were supposed to be for that group.”

“Good enough.” Yuffie had catered during Nicole’s proposal. Her pastries were divine, but her manners left much to be desired.

“The only thing is, it was a bachelorette party. So, all the food is shaped like penises.”

“Oh, boy.” Claire bowed her head. “It’s ok, we’ll cut them up into different shapes. Put small star-shaped cookies cutters on the shopping list. We’ll make it fit the theme somehow.”

Nicole glanced at her screen. “Kyle says we have a bartender. One of his friends from law school knows a guy.”

“The guy knows how to make more than Irish car bombs and lemon drops, right? This is a high-class event honoring women in business.”

Nicole turned to Claire and raised her eyebrows. “This is a fake event fakely honoring the girl who is suing you.”

“Right. Sorry. I got caught up in the cover story. Shit. Here she comes! Everybody out.”

Wendy had just stepped out into the early morning light. Her shoulder-length brown hair was tucked back in a ponytail, and earbuds were already in her ears. She was practically a sitting duck.

The three of them approached as Wendy grabbed her right foot and pulled it up into a quad stretch. She leaned against the wall away from the girls. Sawyer would have been ashamed of her obliviousness.

“Hey,” Claire said when they were just a few feet away. Wendy didn’t seem to hear.

“Hey,” Mindy said even louder. Nothing.

Claire crept up and tapped her on the shoulder.

Wendy screamed like she had been shot and crumpled onto the ground.

“Jesus Christ,” she said, pulling out one earbud. “What the hell are you doing here?”

Claire fought the urge to mock her by surveying the parking lot for Jesus. “We need you to come with us.”

“No way. I’m about to go on my run. Some of us like to say in shape,” she said, looking Claire up and down.

Bold words for a woman marked for dead.

Claire sighed. “You’re in danger. Someone’s planning to kidnap you. The only place they won’t expect to find you is with us.”

“Bullshit. You’re just messing with me because of the lawsuit.”

Claire turned to the other two. “We don’t have time for this. If they have to wait too long on the trail, they’re going to come looking for her.”

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