Page 2 of Pied Sniper

“Definitely ask her. Don’t ask, don’t get,” I said, sounding suspiciously like my mother.

“I will. She’s already got six thousand questions but at least mine is original, right? No one else owns a bar... I think.”

I nodded while trying to mask the skepticism on my face. Not about owning a bar, but the originality of her question. A lot of people were eager to collaborate with Tiffany for online content since she had such a huge audience. Her patronage was more valuable than currency to less well-known vloggers who longed to achieve her level of fame.

“So you’ll come over and we’ll watch her livestream Q and A together? It’ll be fun!”

“Okay,” I agreed, “But not because I need the fashion tips. I’m already fabulous.”

“Of course you are,” agreed Lily. “It starts at eight. Come a little bit before? We need to prepare our snacks and cocktail ingredients.”

“I’ll be there.” I checked my watch. “I need to go. Solomon wants me to help tail a couple.”

“You’re doing honey traps now? I thought Solomon didn’t like those kinds of cases.”

“No. Much worse. A couple of dogs.”

“No need to denigrate them!” gasped Lily.

“I’m not! The couple we’re seeking are actually dogs. Apparently, there’s some kind of ongoing pedigree dognapping ring right now in Montgomery and Solomon’s handling the case.”

“Oh. In that case,tailingthe dogs is kind of a pun.” Lily giggled and I groaned.

“I’ll see you later,” I told her as I hopped down from the bar stool and reached for my purse, which I always hung on a hook under the bar. “Wish me luck.”

“Good luck. I wouldn’t want this case todogyou for days.”

“Please stop!” I rolled my eyes as I turned to walk away, holding back the laugh that nearly escaped me. I just hoped I could still see the fun side of the case after a few hours of surveillance. I wasn’t entirely convinced Solomon even needed me on it. I figured he was just bored waiting around for something to happen and wanted my delightful company to help him pass the time. I knew he had fewleadsalready.

I stepped out into the sunlight, confronted by the same dilemma that was plaguing me for weeks, ever since my car swiftly exited this world in a fireball. Shall I take the bus, call a cab, or ask for a ride? The latter was more like begging now, after getting multiple rides from just about everyone I knew. All the pool cars at the agency were occupied by other employees, leaving me with few options. I hated riding the bus; it took forever and there was always someone next to me who wanted to chat instead of doing the decent thing and leaving me the hell alone. I could walk or run but I wasn’t wearing athletic wear and my heels were too cute to seriously pound the pavement.

Dropping my shoulders, I pulled out my cellphone and called a cab. Twenty minutes later and many dollars lighter, I climbed out of the cab half a block from where Solomon said he was staked out. I hightailed it to his car and slipped inside.

“Did you bring any snacks?” he asked after leaning close to brush a kiss across my lips.

“Hello, darling husband,” I said, “and no.”

“Do you have anything in your purse?”

After a quick investigation, I produced two items. “A squashed chocolate bar and some mints.” I dropped them into Solomon’s waiting hand and he checked the wrapper.

“The expiration date hasn’t passed yet!” he exclaimed happily as he unwrapped it.

“Of course it hasn’t! I haven’t quite turned into one of the guys yet.”

“Never turn into one of them,” he said, biting into the chocolate.

“No problem. I’m sure I can pull off masculine fashion but I might have some trouble with the hirsute element.”

“Plus, I’d have to divorce you.”

“Over my beard? That’s harsh.”

“I’m not kissing you if you grow a beard.”

“Just because you have boundaries doesn’t mean you need to communicate them.”

“I think I do on that one. I love your soul but I promised ‘in sickness and in health’ not ‘in beard and you get weird’.”

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