Page 18 of Hemmed

“Thank you, boys. Thank you.”

Ian and Ghost walked down the hall and out of the building to see their wives seated in the grove. They waved them over, and the women grinned at them.

“We going on an adventure?” asked Faith.

“A shopping adventure,” said her husband.

Ian and Ghost explained what was happening as they drove into the city. Pulling into the parking lot of the little shop, they both looked at their wives.

“Don’t take anything off,” said Ian. “Just hold it up to you and turn several times. See if you can see the camera in the same spot that Sonja did.”

Faith and Grace nodded, getting out of the car with their husbands and stepping inside. It didn’t escape notice that this was the third place they’d found cameras in, and they were all smaller, independent shops. None of them were chains.

As the women looked around for something to wear, they noticed a man in his late twenties and a woman in her early thirties whispering to one another. Finally, the woman walked over and offered to help them.

“I think you should try these on,” said the woman. “They’ll really enhance your assets, and I’ll bet your husband would love that!”

Faith laughed, shaking her head.

“My husband likes all of my assets. Don’t you, babe?”

“I do,” he smirked.

“Well, then, let’s try these on. When you’re done, we’ll get you to sign up for our mailing list,” she said, leading her to the dressing room. “Would you like some help undressing?” Faith turned to the woman, cocking her head with a strange look.

“No. I think I know how to try clothes on all by myself. If I need help, my husband or my friend can help me.”

“Okay, just offering,” said the woman, backing up.

Grace stepped into the dressing room with her, and both women smiled at one another. She held up a few dresses, turning in the mirror.

“Hey, I can see that you haven’t removed your jeans,” said the saleswoman. “You can’t know if the dress will look good with your jeans on.” Faith snapped the curtain back, staring at the woman.

“Are you watching me beneath the curtain? Are you observing me?” she said.

“What? No, it’s just that I can see your jeans,” laughed the woman.

“Really? What else do you see?” said Faith, stepping out.

“Oh, shit,” muttered Ian. “I think my wife is about to go off.”

“I don’t know what you mean,” said the woman.

“I mean, what else are you looking at, you sick, twisted bitch! Did you think we wouldn’t see? Did you think I wouldn’t notice the cameras inside the mirror, the one in the ceiling? Did you think I was that stupid?”

“I think you need to leave,” said the woman. The salesman at the desk reached for the phone and screamed so loud the woman turned.

“You touch that phone, and I will break every bone in your body,” said Ghost, gripping his wrist. He pulled him from behind the counter and threw him in a chair. The woman tried to run around Faith, but Grace stiff-armed her, forcing her backwards. Faith held out her leg, the woman tripped over it and hit the floor.

“You’re sick,” said Faith. “Sick and about to be a felon.”

“No! N-no! Please, I didn’t know,” she said.

“You’re lying. You knew, and you tried to get me to remove my clothes.” Faith looked up to see Code and Ace walking in the door.

“We’ll take care of it,” said Ace.

“What are they doing? No! You can’t touch anything,” said the woman. She heard the sounds of sirens and placed her face in her hands, crying. “You don’t know what you’ve done.” Ian just stared at the woman, shaking his head.

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