Page 70 of In the Line of Ire

Delgadodragged his attention from the screen and swiveled his chair toface me. "It's boring as hell. If I have to do this undercover anylonger, I'll gnaw my own arm off from sheer boredom."

"So...not great?"

"Serenasaid one of her friends saw me and asked if I'm moonlightingbecause we're broke. She wants me to get a disguise."

"Serena?Or her friend?" I asked. I wouldn't be surprised no matter whom itwas.

"Serena.What am I supposed to disguise myself as?"

"Um..."I drew a blank. I had no idea.

"Exactly. I'm not going to dye my hair or wear a wig. I can'texactly hide my face."

"Youcould grow a beard," I suggested.

"In thenext few hours?"

"Whatabout a fake beard?" I was pretty sure Lily must’ve had onealthough I wasn't entirely sure why she needed one.

"I amnot wearing a fake beard."

"Faketan?"

"I'mHispanic."

"Haveyou thought about saying no?"

"So far,that's what I'm working toward. Serena is afraid other people willthink we're hard up."

"Shecould try telling people to mind their own business."

Delgadosighed. "Are you going to dinner tonight?"

"Yes,and going on a stakeout after."

Delgadobrightened. "Awesome. Who? Where?"

I filledmy new brother-in-law in on the discovery Lily and I made theprevious evening and he widened his eyes. "That's some good work.What did Solomon say?"

"Same.We're both hopeful the contact is the same person who's supplyingthe stores at the mall."

"Thatcould be the break we need! I'm telling you, no one knows squat atthe mall."

"Noteven the other security guards?"

"I'm notconvinced any of them know they're working security. It's more likea senior stroll-and-chat. Not one of them could catch the mostinept shoplifter."

Ilaughed and Delgado joined in. "It's no better in the store. Ispend most of my time dusting or being glared at by my supervisor,"I told him.

"Thesooner we’re outta there, the better."

Ipunched my password into my laptop and nodded. "Iagree."

After anhour of pulling up any program I could think of and typingCharlaine Beck's name into it, I still had no idea what I waslooking for but there had to be something. I just couldn't matchher expensive lifestyle to the terrible knockoff purse that Ibought from her. I wondered if anyone else received one? Then Ithought about how smart Amy Vos was to resist purchasing one. WhileI waited for the search results to return, I calledLily.

"Did youhear anything else about the party?" I asked.

"Like what? The caterer for thosecanapés? I would love to know theirnumber."

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