Page 23 of When Fashion Turns Deadly

“She will.” Marit grabbed her bag. “It’s time to go, so let’s head downstairs, and I’ll introduce you.”

Esmee and Nadia were already in the lobby when Marit and Isabelle arrived. They saw Marit exit the lift and walked over to meet them.

“Esmee and Nadia,” Marit said, “this is my good friend Isabelle Rogers. Isabelle, my agent, Esmee Scheffer, and my colleague, Nadia Muller.”

“Nice to meet you,” Isabelle said, extending her hand to Nadia and then to Esmee.

Nadia gave her a polite smile, but Esmee eyed Isabelle critically. “You were right, Marit.” She released Isabelle’s hand and circled her slowly. “Flawless skin, green eyes, thick hair, long legs, and a good figure. She certainly has potential.”

If Esmee had not been completely serious in her physical assessment of Isabelle, Marit would have broken down in a fit of giggles at the look on Isabelle’s face. As it was, Marit bit her lip to contain her laughter and offered up a silent prayer that Isabelle would not be so affronted by the blunt appraisal that she would walk away.

“I... I think so too,” Marit managed, and then, tucking her arm through Isabelle’s, she tugged her toward the door before her friend had a chance to voice a response. “I see Cole and Lars waiting for us outside, and if we don’t want to be late, we’d better head over to Henri LaRue’s casting session right now.”

***

Cole really needed to find time to spend with Isabelle that didn’t involve police, guns, and undercover work. As it was, he and Lars stood outside the design house and waited for Isabelle and Marit to disappear inside.

Isabelle cast a panicked look over her shoulder.

Cole mouthed the words, “You’ll be great.”

Marit must have picked up on Isabelle’s nerves, because she wrapped her arm around Isabelle’s shoulders and guided her forward.

“They’re going to be okay, right?” Lars asked from where he stood beside Cole on the sidewalk.

“Yeah.”They’d better be.Cole wasn’t crazy about Isabelle taking an active role in protection duty, but she was armed with his spare weapon. Plus, she was never without her wicked right hook. Cole hoped she wouldn’t need either method of defense anytime soon.

He supposed he should be grateful that Lars and Marit had accepted the idea of Isabelle sticking close to Marit for protection. Even though neither of them was aware of her employment with the CIA, they had both witnessed her skill with a pistol and her self-defense abilities.

“What now?” Lars asked.

“We find a new hotel room.” Cole had completed his checkout and was now saddled with hauling his go bag around with him, never an optimal situation. The hotel from last night had been two blocks from Marit’s flat—two blocks too far away.

Cole headed for the nearest Metro stop. “Where are you staying while you’re here?”

“I haven’t made a reservation for tonight yet.” Lars pulled out his phone and tapped on the screen before turning it toward Cole. “Here’s the info for the place where I’m supposed to stay. Hopefully, they’ll let me check in a couple of days early.”

Cole checked the address and nodded his approval. “This is perfect. It’s right next to Marit’s place.”

“That makes sense. She’s the one who recommended it.”

“We’ll try there first.”

Ten minutes and one transfer later, they arrived at the hotel. Cole studied the exterior while Lars headed for the door.

Marit’s building was directly next door. If he were lucky, Cole could get a fixed vantage point to help him choose a room facing Marit’s building. He continued past the hotel to the corner. When he looked down the crossroad, the Eiffel Tower came into view.

Lars caught up to him. “What are you doing? The hotel’s that way.”

“I just needed a little perspective. Come on.” Cole entered the lobby, where a man around Cole’s age stood behind the counter. “We need to check in.”

“Name?”

“Hendriks,” Lars said. “My reservation doesn’t start for a couple more days, but I arrived early.”

The clerk frowned slightly. “We’re very busy at the moment, but let me see what we can do for you.” The man tapped on his computer keyboard. “Ah, yes.” He nodded. “It looks like you requested a superior double room, and there is actually one available. Shall I add the extra days to your existing reservation?”

“Yes,” Lars said. “That would be great.”

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