“Me? Jealous?” Vinnie chuckled. “Impossible. I’m a car. Not a feeling being. I use my knowledge to know when someone has ulterior motives. Mick has an ulterior motive.”
“And what would that be?” I asked without saying that I might have thought about Mick’s muscular arms holding me or his scruffy face rubbing against my neck.
“I can tell by his actions how intrigued he is with you and your mysterious ways. Not to mention your looks.” Vinnie was going much slower than usual, which meant he wanted to have a conversation. “He reeked of cologne when he decided to walk around me after he left the diner. He was being very nosy, which tells me he is looking into everything about you.”
“Or it could be the fact you are a vintage car and he’s a man.” I noted how men always took a second look at Vinnie. He was in mint condition. He purred like a kitten and there weren’t very many like him in our area.
“And.” Vinnie hesitated as though he was keeping something from me.
“And what?” I asked.
Vinnie took a left on Magnolia off of Fourth Street, rolling in front of St. James Court and Central Park. I couldn’t help but look at the police substation where all of this crap had started.
I gulped, trying to swallow the haunted eyes of the informant. The five times I had stared into them, were burned into my brain. The first was at the diner when he sat at my counter. The second was when I saw him in the moonlight, under the impending thunderstorm right before I turned him into the cat.
“You are a beautiful girl. He is a man.”
“A handsome man.”
“If you like the beefy type.” Vinnie took a sharp left on Sixth Street.
I grabbed the door handle as my body went flying to the right. “Oh my God, you are jealous. And Mick is far from beefy.” I recalled what his muscles looked like all drenched from the night this whole thing started. “He’s in shape. He has to be if he’s a spy. I mean. . .” The thought of seeing him in action and me next to him did excite me a tad bit. Okay, a whole bit.
“He sneaks around, Maggie.” Vinnie huffed. “I’m just telling you that you need to be careful and not let his looks sway you from staying the course of your life’s journey.”
“Yeah,” I remembered how we started discussing Mick. I had asked about my journey. “About that. What is it?”
“Is what?” he asked pulling up to the front of Belgravia Court.
“I’m confused at what my journey is and what Mick has to do with it.” I get that Mick was in my life along with SKUL because of the beginning of my journey, but what did this situation have to do with all of my journey?
“That I don’t know.” Vinnie’s engine shut off and he opened my door.
“I guess we are done.” A deep sigh escaped my lips. “I’ve got work to do anyways. I’ll be back in a few minutes.” I ordered him to stay put so I could get ready for the meeting and come back out.
There was no way I was going to look dumb going into a Mystic Couture meeting without me knowing exactly what I was walking into. Thank God for the Internet and Google. I was going to try to find out everything about Tawny Fawn and Mystic Couture.
“Maggie!” Mrs. Hubbard high-tailed it down her front steps with King on her heels. She was shaking the wire stems of what used to be a bouquet of her fake flowers. “Maggie Park!”
I hadn’t even made it past the entrance of the courtyard before King was beginning to nip at my ankles. But that stopped as soon as I lifted my hand, sending him racing back toward their house.
Mrs. Hubbard’s open mouth popped closed; she watched the yappy dog run past her and under the bushes in front of their house. She turned back to me, green wire stems still lifted in the air. Her eyes glowed with an inner fire I had never seen.
“What did you do to King?” She twirled on her toes, rushing back to her squealing dog. “King? King honey?” Her voice whined. “Momma’s coming.” She bent down and picked up the shaking dog, snugging him close to her with her free hand.
I shook off my encounter and trotted up the steps of my house.
“Maggie! This is not over! You tell your crazy aunt that I know what she has done to my garden! She won’t get away with this!” Mrs. Hubbard mistook King for the hand with the plastic stems, shaking him toward me. Her head snapped back when she realized she was shaking the shit out of her dog, pulling him back to her chest and lifting the other hand, shaking it profusely. “I’m calling the cops!”
“Heavens to Betsy, what is that nut job doing over there?” Auntie Meme opened the front door, eyeing Mrs. Hubbard.
“I know what you did awallago!” Mrs. Hubbard was so mad, her southern twang was running together with her words. “I saw you try to sneak over here and ruin my garden!”
“I did no such thing!” Auntie Meme pushed past me, flinging me to the side and planting herself on the top step.
“I saw it with my own two eyes!” Mrs. Hubbard let King out of her arms. “Go bite her King!” she ordered.
The dog whimpered and huddled his shaking body next to Mrs. Hubbard’s front door.
“And you did something to my dog!”
“You have lost your cotton pickin’ mind!” Auntie Meme yelled louder. “You’re crazy is showing, you might want to tuck that back in!”
They seemed to be trying to out yell one another. The sound of front doors, and creaking front porch wooden boards echoed down the courtyard before peering sets of eyes glanced from all the houses on Belgravia Court.
“All of these people are watching you Meme Park! Watching you!” Mrs. Hubbard flung her front door open, stomped in and slammed the door behind her.
“Heaven help the fool who did her wrong.” Auntie Meme tsked, grabbing my elbow and forcing me inside.
Chapter Sixteen
“What the hell was that?” I asked Auntie Meme when we got inside the house.
“Watch your mouth, young lady.” Auntie Meme scolded me. “Just because you had your Witchy Hour doesn’t make you too big for a whoopin’.”
“Fine.” I put my hands in the air to signal a white flag. “Did you do something to her flowers because she saw it with her own two eyes.” I did my best to mimic Mrs. Hubbard.
“I did no such thing. Why would I risk all we have to ruin some plastic flowers?” Auntie Meme shook her head and waddled back into the family room where Mom and Lilith were watching TV and smashing up herbs using a pestle and mortar. She picked up her bowl and pestle, grinding away and sitting in the lazy boy.
“I’m going up to my room.” I pointed toward the stairs, leaving the scene between Mrs. Hubbard and Auntie Meme outside where it belonged. “I’m going to meet Mick. So I won’t be here for dinner.”
I left out the fact I had a Mystic Couture meeting and was going undercover for SKUL.
No one seemed to notice. Their eyes stayed on the TV and their hands working on the herbs.
I grabbed my laptop and scoured the Internet to see exactly what a sales consultant from Mystic Couture looked like. Her hair, her clothes, her shoes, and not to mention the makeup. With a whip of my hand, I had transformed into a Mystic Couture consultant.
My hair was parted in a deep part on the side and cascaded down my back in long lose curls. Most of the consultants I could find were older than me, but they were all put together, wearing monogrammed jewelry.
I tapped my wrist and chest, making a sterling silver monogrammed bracelet and necklace. Swiping my hand up to my cheeks, along my eyes, and across my lips, I created the perfect palate using Mystic Couture colors.
Then I went back downstairs to find my family still in the same spot.
“Bye!” I yelled over the TV to no avail, and looked out the windows on the door to make sure Mrs. Hubbard wasn’t lurking in the bushes or King planted on the front porch ready to nip me.
The coast looked clear and I tried to stay out of view of her house as I ran to Vinnie.
“I’m not sure why you have to look like that.” Vinnie didn’t mind voicing
his displeasure about all the makeup on my face. “You are a very pretty girl without all of that caked on your skin. Or did Mick tell you to do that?”
“Thank you, Vinnie.” I typed in the address of the meeting Mick had given me earlier on Vinnie’s screen. Tawny Fawn lived in Glenview, a suburb of Louisville that screamed new money. It was a far cry from historic Old Louisville. The million dollar homes were new and had the latest technology and upgrades. There weren’t too many people who lived in the affluent neighborhood, only around one hundred and fifty.
“Too bad you aren’t a human. Every girl would love to hear sweet words like yours.” I ignored his comment about Mick. There was no way I was going to change the mind of a computerized familiar. If I were really in danger, he’d insist on me not communicating with Mick.
“I mean it, Maggie. You are too pretty to be engaging in such behavior. Especially around Agent Jasper.” Vinnie had me in Glenview in no time. Tawny Fawn’s mansion was breathtaking. “He doesn’t care if you get hurt, he only wants to bring down Mystic Couture.”
“Agent Jasper?” I asked, bee-bopping my head to each side, taking in the stately front entrance. “Why so formal?”
“I’m not convinced he has your best interest at heart.”
Vinnie’s car stopped, giving me enough distance to take in my surroundings. The large brick home looked to have three floors with windows spread across the front and five dormer windows on the top floor. Red brick steps led up to the rotunda porch with the white fencing as decoration. The lawn was the best of the bluegrass money could buy. Especially this time of the year, the limestone in the Kentucky soil brought out the lush grass for as long as my eyes could see. To the left of the house, there was a big barn, bigger than her house. A few stallions were out in the pasture, making me wonder if she was into racing. It wouldn’t be uncommon. Most people who lived in Glenview had some sort of business in the racing industry.
“Well, if I can help in any way to bring down an international crime ring, I will. Especially if it has to do with my journey.” The words of the informant began to haunt me. Red.
Vinnie rolled to the front of the house, coming to a complete stop.
“Welcome to the party.” Vinnie’s door swung open and Mick was standing there in a tuxedo suit.
“Mick.” I jerked back in surprise from seeing him. My mouth dried, my heart thumped.
Damn. Did he look good in everything put on his body? I tried to stop my eyes from soaking up him all dolled up in a tuxedo.
The lights across Vinnie’s dashboard started blinking on and off, trailing up and down, letting me know of his displeasure of my thoughts without talking.
“Don’t speak to me like you know me,” Mick warned, taking me out of my lusty thoughts. I gulped, putting the idea out of my head.
His face not looking at me. He held the door open. “Here is your valet ticket, miss,” he said loudly as other guests were pulling up and other valets pulled off in their cars.
I grabbed the ticket. Our fingertips touched. Visible sparks shot between them. He yanked away, letting go of the ticket. I ignored the look on his face, the wondering in his eyes and slipped the ticket in my purse.
Mick must’ve chalked it up to static electricity because he hopped in the car without saying another word. When I heard Vinnie click the locks, I closed my eyes and gulped. Before I could stop him, Vinnie squealed the wheels and took off like a cannonball, with Mick holding on for dear life.
Vinnie swerved all over the road as far as I could see. Inwardly I groaned wondering how I was going to be able to explain my “car’s” unusual behavior.
It was going to have to wait, because Tawny Fawn was standing at the top of the marble staircase leading up to the massive French doors opening up to her house.
“Maggie, darling.” The smile on her face told me she had been studying the photos of me Mick had given her so she would know who I was. “I’m thrilled you are here.” She held her arms out, giving me a kiss on each cheek. She smelled of money. She dripped of money in her pearls and rubies hanging around her neck and off her ears.
Her blond hair was styled into a chic bob, hitting right below her earlobes. Her neck gave away her age, but she looked fabulous. Nothing a little nip tuck wouldn’t take care of.
“I’m honored to be here.” I smiled, making sure I played every bit the part of a Mystic Couture sales girl.
“Leonard, dear,” She put her hand in the air. Leonard dear rushed over in his tux, leaning down to hear her. “Please show my friend, Miss Park, to her table.”
Leonard dear stuck his arm out, shoving his elbow toward me and I took it, letting him lead me through the door of the mansion.
The decorating was very minimal compared to the warehouse office. The buttercream walls and white tiled floor with black diamond accents was enough to send out a scent of wealth. On each side of the entryway was a mahogany staircase, meeting in the middle at the top. On each side of the bottom of the stairs were large wrought iron planters with lush ferns dripping over them.
As Leonard dear and I passed through the entryway and directly to the back door, I stuck my head in each room along the way. They were similarly decorated, but the study caught my eye. It was the only dark wood room I had seen. The walls were lined with different shapes and sizes of awards and plaques, not to mention medals. A large portrait of Tawny hung over the fireplace.
“This way, Miss Park.” Leonard touched my elbow to get my busy-body nose back on track, leading me out to the marble back porch that spanned the entire seven-thousand-square-foot home. The large marble pillars were enough to make Greek gods groan in delight.
Out on the lawn beyond the swimming pool, was a large white tent filled with men and women who wore a lot of makeup. The Mystic Couture design was in the middle of the tent in ice block formation, nestled in a pool of water where geese were floating around. There were large round white lanterns hanging down from the ceiling of the tent, giving the party a nice warm glow.
Leonard dear took me to the front of the tent. I could feel several pairs of eyes on the new girl, and obviously where you were seated was a status statement. Leonard dear marched me right up to the front of the tent to the largest table there. Right next to a name tag that read Tawny Fawn.
I had arrived. I didn’t care how I got there and why, but I was in with Mystic Couture. Good for SKUL and great for me.
“So, you are Maggie Park?” The young brunette had a bob just like Tawny’s, but had blunt bangs. “I’m Tessa Fawn, Tessa Suley. Tawny’s daughter. Mom has been raving about how you have outdone yourself on sales.”
I nodded politely. I wasn’t sure who knew the reasons I was there, so I kept my mouth shut.
“This is my husband, Bo Suley.” She ran her hands down the handsome gentleman with the brown khakis, pin-striped shirt, and blue blazer on. He looked like he was going to Churchill Downs for a little bet. Typical outfit. His dirty blond hair was a little unkempt, but that was a typical rich kid feature in Kentucky. He had blue eyes that put the bluest of skies to shame.
“Nice to meet you both.” I shook their hands.
“Can I get you a glass of wine or a cocktail?” Bo asked.
“Bourbon on the rocks?”
“A true Kentucky girl.” Amusement danced in Bo’s eyes. “See here, Tessa. She likes a little bourbon, maybe you should try it.”
“No dear, I’ll keep with the wine.” She shoved Bo off toward the bar before returning her attention to me. “Tell me what your favorite product has been so far?”
“Definitely the Jockey Red.” I glanced around the area, trying to seem as though I knew what I was talking about. I might have done my research on how I needed to dress but I didn’t do my research on all the products. I had never been able to afford them so I didn’t want to put myself through the agony of coveting something I couldn’t have. Tonight, all that changed.
“You like the new line?” she asked, giving a few people walking by the “nod
.” “I mean you do if you like Jockey Red. It’s very popular, don’t you think?”
“It is.” I smiled, thankful I saw Bo walking over with my bourbon. “All my clients love it.”
“What do you have on tonight?” she asked taking her glass of wine from her husband.
“I have on a mix of two colors.” I grabbed the glass taking a gulp. “I bet you had a great childhood growing up in this big house.” I pointed to the mansion nestled behind the tent.
“I didn’t grow up in that house.” Her lips thinned. “I lived with my dad. Mom didn’t want to be a mom. She only wanted to mother the women you see here today. Some of them have been around since the beginning.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.” I had no idea. I wish all of this had been in the file.
“You wouldn’t know. In fact, no one here knows. Mom did a great job on her promotional material with me in a cute dress all done up in her makeup. I actually hate the makeup.” She laughed. “Bo and I actually live in the trailer park just on the outskirts of town.”
“Shrimp cocktail?” A server busted between Tessa and me.
“No thank you.” I tried not to smile too big when I saw it was Mick. I couldn’t wait to hear what he had to say about his ride in Vinnie. “Do you know where the bathroom is?” I asked him.
“Yes, ma’am. If you would like to follow me.” He turned and I excused myself from Tessa and Bo.
When we got a safe distance away from the tent, he started in.
“What in the hell is up with your car? It’s got a mind of its own.” Mick’s hair was not as neatly gelled as it was when I first came to the party. “It was like I had no control. It swung me around like I was in one of those bouncy houses.”
“Maybe you aren’t used to a car with that much power. It’s an AC Cobra. Duh.” I laughed it off and took another big swig of my bourbon.
“That’s what you are going to go with. Just like the black outfit and the camera. The car has so much power that when I took my foot off the gas and hands off the wheel because I was holding on for my life, I was able to drive it with my mind.”
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