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“I did not get arrested.” Deirdre felt a flush rising from her neck to her forehead. The dweeby J.J. Newberry security guard had squeezed her arm as he dragged her to the back of the store and propelled her up a smelly staircase to an office with windows that looked down over the store’s vast aisles. He’d sat her down and made her give him her name and phone number. Thankfully neither of her parents had been home to take his call. But before that asshole let Deirdre go, he made her sign a paper promising she’d never set foot in the store again. As if she would have. But the worst part was when he’d taken her picture and pi
“You must have been quite the pair,” Jackie said.
“The original odd couple,” Joelen said. “She was Miss Goody Two-Shoes.”
“And you were”—Deirdre searched for the right comparison—“Bo
“Bo
“He’s such a child.” Joelen pursed her lips. “What do you expect?”
They were quizzing Jackie on iconic rock singers, old TV shows, and more movie roles when the phone rang. For a moment, Deirdre’s throat went dry. Joelen crossed the room to the bedside table and answered it.
“Sure. Okay, I’ll tell her.” She hung up and turned to Deirdre. “That was Sy. He’s waiting for you. I’ll get the car and meet you by the back door.”
“Honey,” said Bu
Chapter 17
Bu
They were halfway down the back stairs when Bu
Deirdre froze. She nodded.
In the half-light, Bu
“Take care—?” Deirdre didn’t know what to say.
“Get rid of it.”
“Because?”
“Because no one needed to know that you were there.”
“I was?”
“You don’t remember?” Bu
“But—”
“So what are you going to do?”
“Do?”
Bu
From outside came the sound of a car horn tooting. Deirdre automatically looked toward the noise.
Bu
In truth, Deirdre didn’t, but Bu
Joelen came in to meet them. “What’s the holdup?”
“Just putting on the finishing touches,” said Bu
“She looks good. Just fine,” Joelen said. “Let’s go.”
“Good isn’t great and fine isn’t finished,” Bu
“Good isn’t great. Fine isn’t finished,” Joelen singsonged. “I stepped right into that. What can I tell you? She’s a perfectionist.”
Deirdre rubbed her arm where it was sore and reddened from Bu
Moments later Bu
Deirdre threw the purse and shopping bag into the backseat and got in the front, her crutch across her lap. She wiped the sweat from her forehead. The too-tight underarms of her “uniform” were already damp with perspiration, and the fabric stuck to her back.
Joelen started driving down the long driveway. As she pulled the car out onto Sunset and turned south toward City Hall, Deirdre ran through the conversation she’d had in that dark stairway with Bu
You have no idea what you’re playing with here. She’d been right about that.
“Are you okay?” Joelen asked.
“Sure,” Deirdre lied. “Why?”
“I don’t know. You seem . . . tense. Upset.”
So you found the dress?
Your father was supposed to take care of it.
No one needed to know that you were there.
“You always were good at reading me,” Deirdre said. “I guess I’m feeling anxious about talking to the police. And”—she looked down at her getup—“ridiculous. Conspicuous.” She tugged at one of the sleeves. “Hot and uncomfortable.”
Joelen turned the A/C up and adjusted one of the vents so the cool air blasted out at Deirdre. “Does that help?”
“Thanks. Yeah, it does.”
“You’re sure that’s all?” Joelen gave her a concerned look.
“I guess it just seems weird.”
“What?”
“You know, being back in the house with you and your mom after so many years.”
“I hope not weird in a bad way.”
“Your mom’s the same—”
Joelen laughed. “I know. She’s a tidal wave. Wouldn’t want to get in her way, that’s for sure. What do you think of Jackie?”
“Handsome as hell.” Deirdre ran the back of her hand across her damp brow. It came away coated with dark makeup. “Sweet, actually. Is he still in school?”
“I wish.” Joelen waved her hand as if she were swatting away a fly. “He barely finished high school. Not because he’s not smart. He just wasn’t buying what they were selling. But he’s doing okay.”
“Doing what?”
“Selling his favorite toys. Harleys. He’s pretty good at it, too.”
Deirdre remembered seeing the bike in the driveway. “Really? Where?”
“Marina del Rey. There’s a dealership there that’s been in business forever, and . . .”
As Joelen went on about how great the dealership was and how well Jackie was doing there, Deirdre sat in stu
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to go on like that,” Joelen said as she double-parked in front of City Hall. She put her hand on Deirdre’s arm in the same spot where Bu
Deirdre spotted him, too, sitting beyond a news team that was broadcasting from the sidewalk at the base of broad steps that led to the main entrance. The center bell tower provided the perfect backdrop for the suited man talking animatedly at the camera.
“Go on,” Joelen said. “Get out. Brazen does it! Before I get a ticket for double-parking.” She reached across and opened the passenger door. Hot air flooded the car. “You’re in good hands. I ought to know.”
A car behind them beeped. Deirdre set her crutch on the macadam and got out. Before she reached the sidewalk Joelen had pulled away, and for a moment Deirdre felt completely exposed. The massive Spanish colonial building that housed city government as well as the police and fire departments towered before her. She adjusted her grip on her crutch and the ridiculous handbag and started past the film crew, stepping over wires that snaked back to the van. The Ralph’s shopping bag banged against her side with every lurching step.