Page 34 of Macaron Massacre
“An old girlfriend?”
“Most likely. But she didn’t call him Essex. Weird.”
“Really weird. I saw her walk by twice since your mother left. She just drove off in a blue sedan.”
My heart drums wildly in my chest as I rush to the door and glance up and down the street.
Everett is being watched.
And so am I.
* * *
Red Satin Gentlemen’s Clubis located in the dark armpit of Leeds. Come to think of it, all of Leeds is a dark armpit that feeds off the seven deadly sins.
Noah is already here on the premises someplace, and Everett is yet to join us since he’s running behind at the courthouse. I showed up early, per Meg’s instruction, and the first person I see when I walk through the dark cave of an entry is Nell Sawyer, whooping it up on stage with the best of them.
“Now there’s a sight,” I say mostly to myself as Nell chortles out an echoing laugh that radiates up to the ceiling.
It’s fairly dim inside the establishment. Tables and chairs are scattered throughout with red velour plush couches near the back, the stage runs down the center of the room like a long, illuminated tongue, and the pole is lit up like a lightning rod, clear acrylic with what looks to be glitter inside of it. There’s a metal pole to the right, and both are currently occupied with scantily clad dancers. The women are “Barbie” beautiful. Even the waitstaff is made up of supermodels gone wayward. Their only uniform is a thong, sequin pasties, and an apron no bigger than a paper towel.
Nell swoops her way over to me. “Oh my, I can’t remember the last time I had that much fun.”
“Great. Now at least I know where you are when you’re not by my side. I’m here looking for Claret,” I whisper as I do a quick scan of the room for any familiar face.
“You’ll find her. She’s down in that dungeon doing all the paperwork for that louse who stole her heart. Her words, not mine. I just left her office.”
“Do you think she did it?”
“I don’t know. But I did think it was odd that the picture she has of her father has a toy arrow adhered to his face with a suction cup.”
“What? That’s so bizarre. Sounds like she was using it as target practice.” I gasp at the thought. “I wonder what reason she wanted him dead?”
A thick familiar cologne envelops me from behind. “And that’s exactly what we’re here to find out.”
“Noah.” I turn and offer him a quick embrace, my hand accidentally rubbing over his holster, and I feel infinitely safer. I hate that I do. “I was just talking to Nell.”
“I figured as much.” He glances around at the air above us. “Hello, Nell.”
“Hello, right back.” She gives a wave as she begins to float backward. “I’m off, Lottie. I’ll try to make sure Claret doesn’t leave the building before you get to her.” And with that, she speeds right through the back wall as she heads down to the bowels of this dicey institution.
“So, what are your thoughts?” He nods to the stage. “Do you think Meg is going to have you spinning on a pole while I wait below to catch you?”
“Oh, actually”—I may have forgotten to tell him that Everett would be joining us for couples’ therapy as well—“we’re going to have company.”
His head inches back, and his evergreen eyes all but glow in this dim light. “We’re not going to accomplish much that way.” His dimples dig in as if he’s acquiescing to the idea. “How about after I finish up my counseling with Britney, you and I head to see the real deal ourselves?”
“I don’t know, maybe. But I guess since I’m on the wait list, I still have some time to decide.” And, as much as I hate the wait list, I have no idea what I’ll do when there isn’t one.
“Hey? Iknow—why don’t you take Cormack?”
His eyes close an inordinate amount of time. “I’m not taking Cormack.”
“I’m being serious. She needs to see that she’s in a one-sided relationship. Honestly, between her and Britney, I don’t see a lot of hope for the two of us. They’re ruthless, they’re unshakable, they’re constantly looking to get under my skin. And, despite all of that, I don’t harbor any bad feelings for either of them. Britney is your wife. She has every right to fight for her marriage. And Cormack thinks Everett and I are engaged.” I stare down at my ring, and Noah picks up my hand and runs his thumb over it.
“You’re still wearing it.”
“Are you kidding? I’m terrified if I leave it at home one of the cats will eat it. Or, God forbid, there be a break-in.”