Page 156 of Say Yes to the Death

Claire’s head popped up. “I’m going to start accepting out-of-area proposal inquiries.”

Mindy’s tablet fell over. “You are?”

Claire nodded. “If we can pull together all of this in less than twenty-four hours, we can totally plan something a couple of time zones over. Big-ticket proposals only for now, though. We’re going to need the capital if we’re going to expand.”

Mindy clapped her hands together. “Oh my god, I’m so excited. I have a couple emails flagged that we should start with?—”

“Later, Min. One thing at a time.”

“Fine,” Mindy grumbled.

A line of cars wound around the circular driveway in front of the Walker House. The house was built in the 1800s by wealthy merchants and had stayed in the family for several generations before it was left to the Haven County Historical Society. The house backed up to Skylight Lake, and forest shrouded it on every other side.

Claire pulled the company van up to the service entrance. She, Nicole, and Mindy unloaded a couple more boxes, then Mindy parked.

They walked through the house to the ballroom.

“Holy shit,” Nicole said, taking a step back and bumping into Claire.

“I know. It looks…”

“Amazing,” they said in unison.

A fleet of cocktail tables cloaked with glittering champagne tablecloths were scattered through the room in a half circle. Gold bunting hung from the stage. Star-shaped pastries were already laid out along a banquet table in the back of the room. Sawyer and Luke were in the heart of it all, seemingly having a heated conversation.

“I really think the Pacific rhododendrons would be best for the cocktail tables,” Luke said, holding a vase full of trembling faux flowers. “It adds violet tones and a pop of interest.”

Sawyer shook his head fervently. “No way. The blush peonies are more elegant, and they fit the color scheme without being too loud.”

“Are you calling my flowers too loud?” Luke thunked the vase down onto a table.

“Gentlemen,” Claire interrupted, stepping between the two of them. “They both look great. Why don’t you do both and alternate tables?”

Luke and Sawyer both humph’d and went to opposite ends of the room. Glittery gold ribbon was hanging out of the back pocket of Luke’s Levi’s. Never a dull moment.

Claire followed Sawyer, half-jogging to keep up with his gigantic steps. “Hey. Where’s Kyle?”

Sawyer pointed to one of the long banquet tables lined with pastries. “He crashed. He tied a tablecloth around his neck like a cape, said he was going to Birmingham, and laid down under there.”

She nodded. “That sounds about right. Did you have a chance to plant the nanny cams?”

“We’re all set. They’re hooked up to the network, so I can monitor them from the van outside later on.”

“Perfect. Thanks again.” She scuttled across the room to Luke. “You didn’t bring your camera?”

“For what?”

“I assumed you would want footage of a chapter of ESA getting brought down.”

Luke shrugged and picked up a pair of scissors. He measured the gold ribbon from his fingertips to biceps and cut. “I told you, I quit the documentary. I’m going to find something else that doesn’t bring back the worst memory of your life.”

Claire put her hand on his. She gently tugged the ribbon from his grasp and turned him to face her. “Luke. You have to do the documentary. This isn’t about me. It’s about the victims. And tonight, we’re going to get a little bit of justice for each of them. Bring your camera.”

CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

To Do:

- Impersonate Wendy

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