He hung up. She stared at the phone and realized she was shaking.
Her doorbell rang and she dropped the phone. She was so not cut out to be a spy. She retrieved the phone, put it on its charger, and went downstairs.
“Hi, Shauna, it’s Melanie from across the street. I was hoping you had a cup of milk for a recipe?”
She opened the door and said, “Come in,” in a monotone. She closed the door and locked it. “He’s crazy.”
“Are you okay?” Melanie asked.
She motioned for Melanie to follow her upstairs, then pointed to the dress she had hung on the back of her closet door.
“Oh. Wow.”
Shauna stared at the emerald green ball gown. Strapless. Fitted bodice with exquisite beading. The skirt flowed with raindrops of beads. When it moved, they shimmered slightly. He’d also sent Cinderella shoes—clear and light, they almost looked invisible.
“I made a mistake. I don’t think I can do this.”
“You’re shaking. I’ll call Agent Hooper. We’ll figure out something.”
She shook her head. “No, no, I’m okay. Really. Nerves. Mack deserves justice, and I want Austin in jail if he had anything to do with it. Let’s just get this over with. Wait.” She went downstairs and wasn’t surprised when Melanie followed her. She probably thought she was going to run away.
Instead, she went to her dining room and rummaged through a cabinet until she found an unopened bottle of Brennan’s Irish Whiskey. She poured a double shot and downed it. It burned, but the taste reminded her of family and the alcohol calmed her nerves.
“Okay,” she said. “Do you want one?”
“I’m working,” Melanie smiled. “But I’ll take a rain check.”
“You got it. Besides, I want to know everything about what you do and how it feels to carry a gun all the time and interrogate bad guys.”
“You want to make a career change?”
“Oh, no,” she said, “I’m just curious. Believe me, after tonight, I’m done with playing cops and robbers.”
Shauna was very happy she had someone to keep her company while she put on makeup and did her hair. Because of her unruly mess of curls, she took the time to pin sections up, off her neck, which had the added benefit of keeping her cool. She found herself talking too much, but Melanie had a great laugh and was smart to boot. She also loved Shauna’s house and saw the potential, which made her tops in Shauna’s book.
“We need to figure out the best place to put the listening device. It’s not large, but if we put it too close to your skin, your perspiration may interfere with the transmission.”
“How small?” she asked.
Melanie took a box out of her purse. She removed a round object smaller than a cell phone battery.
“That records?”
“No, it’s just a transmitter. It has a battery life of up to eight hours and transmits to a secure channel that ASAC Hooper will be monitoring and recording. We can hear you; you can’t hear us.”
“Okay, I get it. I have an idea.” Shauna went to her jewelry box and retrieved a green and gold Celtic knot cloisonné hair comb. “This was my mother’s. She always wore combs like this—she had the same curls I do.”
“Perfect—there are two small hooks. If you have a couple bobby pins, I can secure it between your hair and the comb.”
Shauna let Melanie attach the piece. “How will I know it’s working?”
“We turn it on from our end. I’ll test it before I go.” She looked at her watch. “I should be leaving in fifteen minutes. I’d rather Davis didn’t see me here.”
“Can you just zip up my dress?”
Melanie helped her into the dress. “I can’t believe he bought something that fits you so perfectly, without you even trying it on. You’re stunning.”
Shauna didn’t like that Austin knew her size and build so well. “Let’s test the transmitter-thing,” she said.
Melanie went through the steps, gave her the thumbs up, then packed up the equipment. “You’re going to do great,” she said.
A sound downstairs made Shauna jump.
“Stay here,” Melanie said.
Shauna nodded. Melanie went downstairs, hand on the butt of her gun. A minute later, she heard voices, then Melanie came back upstairs. She was angry.
“Your boyfriend broke into your house,” she said.
Sam stepped into her bedroom and stared at Shauna. “Wow.”
Melanie said, “You were ordered to stay clear.”
“I snuck in through the back. I just want five minutes.”
Melanie looked at her watch. “We need to be out of here in four. I’ll be downstairs, Shauna.”