Page 65 of Evidence of Deceit

Hillary nodded. The server brought all their checks to them, and everyone but Hillary picked up their check. Sam watched Hillary wait, hands on her purse but seeming in no hurry to pay.

Claire noticed. “Oh, Hillary, let me get this since I invited you.” Hillary handed her the check.

The server returned with their receipts.

They collected their things, air-kissed and walked outside. The women all headed toward their cars except Grace and Sam.

“That was a strange lunch, and Hillary is peculiar,” said Grace. “I wonder why Claire hangs around with her. Hillary certainly didn’t feel comfortable with us, and I get the feeling she doesn’t like Claire much. And what’s with her dating Hank? Are they serious?”

“You picked up on that, too?” asked Sam. “I don’t know what it is about her, but I’m getting strange vibes.”

“You and your strange vibes,” said Grace, laughing. “Just because someone doesn’t fit in doesn’t mean anything, does it?”

Sam shook her head. “As for Hank … it’s none of my business. He’s a big boy and can handle himself.”

“True. Listen, I’ve gotta go, or I’ll be late for an appointment. Don’t think too hard about Hillary.” Grace hugged Sam and raced down the street.

“Hmmm,” said Sam. Her gut feelings never let her down, and she didn’t like this one at all. It could be nothing but then again…

Hillary clutchedClaire’s arm as they walked toward Claire’s car. “Well, that was fun. I like your friends. Thanks for inviting me. Again.”

“I knew you’d like them if you got to know them. They’re all accomplished, strong women, especially Sam.”

Yeah, Sam was the one she needed to look out for.She’d caught Sam several times staring at her when she made some comments, suspicion on her face. Why couldn’t she keep her opinions to herself? She could have slipped under the radar. But not her. No sirree. She just had to be sarcastic, put Claire down. The other women hadn’t noticed. But Sam did. Sam was too inquisitive; she could be a problem.

It didn’t matter. She had Claire right where she wanted her. The best part of this was that Claire had no idea she was pulling all these pranks on her. It was giving her pleasure just thinking about all the ways she was scaring Claire.

Just a couple of days ago, Claire was working late cataloging art for a new show. It was dark, and Hillary knew Claire was alone on the second floor. She made a big show of saying goodnight to her after everyone had left. She snuck back in and killed the lights. Made a lot of noise as she walked up the stairs, then stood in a corner and whispered Claire’s name.

Claire frantically looked around and called out, “Who’s there?”

Why, no one, Claire, except for your worst enemy.

Claire had fumbled for the lights, turned them on. Hillary stepped out of the shadows and said, “Hi.”

What fun it was to see Claire jump, scream, hold her chest and hyperventilate.

She laughed when Claire said, “You scared me. I thought you left.”

Hillary told her that she’d come back to help when the lights went out. Claire took her excuse at face value. Such an innocent. Claire would never think someone was out to get her. That was half the fun in what she did.

What Hillary did get that night besides scaring the hell out of Claire and having a good laugh was stealing a duplicate of the keys to Claire’s house. The stupid woman left her purse at her desk. She wasn’t sure she would ever need the keys, but who knew.

She shook her head. So many dumb, innocent people. If they screwed her, she would screw them doubly in return. They deserved what they got.

The new partner at the law firm was going to learn that lesson soon. She had a plan in place to ruin him and his conniving fiancée. Bitch. Keith had taught her all sorts of ways to destroy people. It was all too easy, and she was a fast learner.

Chapter Thirty-Six

“Ooof.”

Claire glanced around the small room the shelter was using as a makeshift gym. Veronica “not Ronny” Stiles, one of the new employees Sam hired, had just sent one of the women from the shelter flying to the mat. The resident got up furious and ready to rumble, but Veronica put up her hand.

“The anger is good but has no place in protecting yourself. Be calm. Be smart. Want to try that again?” The woman took a deep breath and nodded. Claire had just spent the past fifteen minutes being thrown to the mat, getting up and doing it again, so she understood the woman’s pain and frustration.

Claire was in awe of the KnightGuard employees who volunteered at the shelter once a week to show the shelter women how to protect themselves and, perhaps, learn to trust men again.

“Hey.” Sam stood in front of her, her brows furrowed. “Are you okay?”

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