Page 161 of Rush of Jealousy

Claire: What’s up buttercup?

I take a deep breath and type out my plan. I haven’t really thought it through, given that I have to act fast or I will miss a potential opportunity. However, something tells me this meeting is going to be a key component in figuring out Paul and hopefully in catching Mark in a criminal act.

Angie: I need you to dress up in disguise, go to the Hideaway bar tomorrow at 4 PM and see if you can spy on Mark and this guy named Paul.

Claire: Is this going to piss the Teddy Graham off?

Angie: Only if he finds out.

Claire: I’m game. I love playing dress-up.

I shake my head at her response. I knew she would find this whole adventure fun. I lock my phone and slip it into my pants pocket. When my break time is over, I wash up to get ready for the new customers entering.

“You can take your break now, if you want,” I suggest to Paul, who nods and moves off to the side to grab his phone. He then takes a rest on a stool at the bar. In my periphery, I try to watch his reaction over his messages from whom I assume is Mark Tanner. Paul might be the messenger and connection on campus to help with the administering of the drugs. Mark obviously would know which girls should be drugged since he has access to the Entice database.

When I can’t spy any longer without it being obvious, I move over to the register and greet the next customer. I ring up the order and go to the prep station to make the drink.

The girl drops a dollar into the tip jar. “Thank you,” I respond with a smile. “Have a good day.”

“You too,” she says, moving off to the side to open her straw.

“Hey Angie.”

I look up from the cash register to see Resa’s boyfriend waiting in line. “Oh hi, I’ve been meaning to reach out to you to ask about Resa.” A wave of guilt washes over me for not trying harder to contact her. She made it clear she wanted to be left alone and was spending a chunk of time at her home with her parents. We text on occasion but that’s about it.

“You tried with her. I tried. But she really was looking for a way to get out of going to college. The whole night she was chased did her in and gave her a way to drop out and go home.”

“That’s a shame. Hope you got some closure for your relationship.”

He shrugs. “Not really. But it’s okay.” He looks over the menu. “I’ll have the strawberry banana with oat milk.”

“Coming right up.”

I fall into the rhythm of serving customers, enjoying the routine and mindlessness of the task. There is something refreshing about not having to overanalyze a recipe. I just follow it and am done.

“Hi.”

I look up into sapphire blues and my lips curl into a smile. “Hey! What are you doing here?”

“I heard that this place has the best smoothies in town.” He places his hands on the counter and leans in closer to me. “And the hottest girl on the planet making them.”

“Hush,” I hiss, looking around to make sure no one heard his comment.

“I can start this drink,” Paul says, sneaking up behind me to look over my shoulder at the screen, “if you type in the order.”

Graham looks over and behind me to glare at an innocent Paul. Despite whatever shady business he is doing on the side, he has been nothing but kind to me since I first started interviewing for this position. So, the last thing I need is for an unnecessary testosterone showdown to make my daily work-life stressful.

“I got this one,” I tell Paul. “I know this guy.”

“Oh yeah?” he asks.

“Yes,” Graham interjects. “I’m theboyfriend.”

I roll my eyes at how he says the word. Could he be any more transparent in his possessive feelings toward me?

“What would you like to drink, boyfriend?” I ask sweetly, relaxing a bit once Paul stands a few feet away from me.

Graham’s megawatt smile makes me stifle a giggle. He is so sure of himself. “Surprise me. But make it big enough so I can share it with the girlfriend.”

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