Page 10 of In the Line of Ire

"Hey," Isaid, "Did you take the purse back yet?"

"Notyet," said Solomon. "I planned to take it back later today butsomething came up. I'm at the agency and about to have a meetingwith the manager of the mall. I figured I'd take it up withher."

"Themall manager?" I repeated. "Huh."

"Something wrong?"

"I'm atthe mall with Lily," I told him. "We just ran into Serena and she'spretty upset after buying a purse yesterday. When she got home, shefound out it was fake. She tried to return it and the salesladythreatened to call the cops on her. Serena asked me to look intoit. I have to wonder how two counterfeit purses managed to bepurchased from the same mall at approximately the sametime."

"That'sinteresting," said Solomon. "I thought it might be an accident orjust a really unfortunate case but two similar incidents makes itmore than suspicious."

"That'swhat I thought. And now the mall manager is at the agency? Did heor she say why they wanted a meeting?"

"No, butI think I can guess the reason."

"Metoo," I said, staring at Serena's shopping bag.

"Whereis Serena's new purchase now?" asked Solomon.

"I haveit. I told her I'd investigate."

"Howsoon can you get to the agency? I have your fake purse here in myoffice and I think we should show the mall manager bothcounterfeits."

"I'm onmy way."

ChapterThree

SamanthaStrong was a short woman with the most luxurious, thick, goldenmane of hair and brilliant green eyes I'd ever seen. If she were aspirit animal, she would probably have been a lion. Or a verypampered cat. Either way, with the sun pleasantly casting a haloover her head, she was no less than mesmerizing.

"Doesshe have an eyesight issue?" asked Samantha, glancing at me beforeasking Solomon.

"Remindme to request all employees to have mandatory eye checks," saidSolomon to me as I blinked. I pulled myself together long enough toclose the door behind me. "This is Private Investigator LexiGraves. Lexi Graves Solomon," he added, his lips curling into asmall smile.

"Are yourelated?" asked Samantha.

I lookedat Solomon and wondered if she were on crack. We couldn't look moreunrelated. But I replied with a straight face, "Recentlymarried."

"Ah,"she murmured, looking disappointed.

Idropped Serena's shopping bag at the side of Solomon's desk and satdown in the only other available chair.

"Yousaid it was an urgent matter," said Solomon, looking at Samantha."How can we help?"

"I thinkthere's a problem at the mall. I've heard some gossip regardingsome issues with at least two of the stores having unresolvedcomplaints and some disgruntled customers."

"Itisn't something mall security can handle?" askedSolomon.

Samanthashook her head, her hair flicking like a model on a shampoocommercial. "It's not something they can handle. You might not knowthis but we've actively been trying to attract more high-end storesto the mall in the last couple of years. We hope to cater to someof Montgomery's wealthier and more motivated consumers. Theseboutiques and chain stores create a nice balance with our regularstores and independent shops."

"Goon."

"We'vealways had problems with shoplifters and pickpockets. Every malldoes, of course, and we can deal with them. We usually just ban theregular offenders. Theft is never tolerated. Every store has itsown security system as well as plenty of cameras that are placedthroughout the mall to spot any anti-social behavior. However,right now we have a security issue that we just don't exactly knowhow to tackle," she explained.

"And youthink we can tackle it?" asked Solomon.

Samanthanodded. "We must be discreet. If word gets out, we could lose a lotof customers. If our patrons no longer trust us, they will goelsewhere. We won’t be able to attract new business and currentstores may close. Shopping loyalty is a fickle thing and any badpress could devastate us."

"Discretion is a given. What's the problem?"

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