The Shoes Come First: A Jennifer Cloud Novel

by Janet Leigh

  ~

  Marco led everyone in, and as Caiyan passed me, I spoke in a hushed tone. “The next time you use force on someone who is doing me a favor, I’m coming after you.”

  “Promise?” he asked. I frowned at Caiyan, and he replied, “Just following orders.” So now I had Jake and Caiyan to blame for Ace’s forceful summons.

  We sat around Marco’s living room while he explained the wedding was a masquerade theme and a costume would be required. He clarified the Mafusos were a very generous sponsor to his racing team, hence the relationship.

  “Probably a ploy to lure you to their side,” Brodie suggested.

  “Hasn’t worked so far, but I’ll take their money for my team,” Marco said.

  Jake decided Marco should take Ace as his date instead of me.

  “I’m not taking a dude as my date,” Marco sputtered.

  “Well, then think of him as a good friend,” Jake said.

  “No.”

  “Look, gorgeous, when I get all fixed up, there’s not a dude in here who can tell the difference.”

  “He’s right there, mate,” Brodie said. “I thought he was a chick for the first week. Until that stint in Afghanistan.”

  “Hey, I had to pee, and there are not a lot of options in the desert.”

  “Why can’t I go instead of Ace?” I asked.

  “No, it’s too dangerous; the Mafusos might recognize you,” Jake replied. “I need my people to go in separately to avoid detection. The Mafusos know we are trying to get Gertie. They are assuming she is a transporter.”

  I frowned but felt like I was outnumbered.

  Jake walked around the room as he plotted. “I will go to headquarters here in the city and get a van, where we can monitor you from outside. After you and Ace get in, we need to get Caiyan and Brodie inside.”

  “Not a problem for me; I have my own invitation,” Caiyan said.

  Yeah, I knew how he got it, and why did I care if Caiyan was trading information with the enemy? Because now I knew he could cause unprecedented pain to his friends and didn’t seem to mind doing it. There was something else I couldn’t put my finger on. The way he felt when I touched him.

  Jeez, there I was, lost in my own thoughts, and I wasn’t paying attention to what was being said. Just like high school. I snapped back to attention, noticing Caiyan was watching me with a curious expression. So I deduced the plan was for Jake to leave for headquarters, Caiyan and Brodie were going to the flat Caiyan had somewhere in the city, and I was to go with Ace to help find a costume for tonight’s shindig. Jake gave us strict orders to keep a low profile in case the Mafusos were out and about. We would meet back at Marco’s at 1600 hours. I felt like I should be on an episode of Get Smart. If Jake started talking into his shoe, I was going to raid Marco’s medicine cabinet for some Valium.

  Caiyan and Brodie left for Caiyan’s flat. I pictured something deep and dark, like Dracula’s lair or the Batcave.

  Ace and I stood outside Marco’s building. The sun was shining, but a cool wind was blowing, and I shivered.

  “You know the best thing about today?” Ace asked.

  I did a palms up. “No idea.”

  “Today we are working for the WTF, so that means we can turn our receipts in for reimbursement.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes, and you know what else?”

  I shook my head no.

  “You don’t have to worry about me trying to get in your pants.” I laughed. Ace grabbed my hand and yelled, “TAXI!”