Page 61 of The Mouse and the Maestro

“Oh, Blue, right. How’s it going?”

“Super, and I need to call in a few favors.”

“If you need me to kill someone for you, I’m afraid you’ve got the wrong spouse on the line,” she said.

“I have someone who needs a makeover, and Ethan really stinks at those,” he said.

“Fun. Who is it?”

“Her name is Jane. She needs to go less Ann Taylor and more Daft Punk, pronto.”

“Double fun. I take it this is time sensitive,” Amelia said.

“Tomorrow, if possible.”

“I can squeeze you in after the salon closes, if that works.”

“That works perfectly,” Blue said.

“One condition,” Amelia said.

“Condition? I don’t remember adding a condition when you were stranded in Africa and in need of a passport,” Blue said.

“Only because you didn’t think of it,” Amelia replied. “When you show up at the salon tomorrow, I expect you to be unshaved.”

“I’ll let Jane know.”

“Not Jane. You. Don’t shave in the morning or the deal’s off,” she said.

“Why?”

“You’re going to have to trust me.”

He looked around and lowered his voice. “Look, I have to warn you about Jane. She’s not going to be easy. She’s…really entrenched in her ultra-conservative style. You’re going to have a hard time making her…”

“Let me interrupt you right there. I’m not going to have a hard time because you’re vastly underestimating my abilities. See you tomorrow. Don’t shave.”

“You’re a weird child,” he said, but she’d already disconnected.

The next daywas spent planning and in meetings, making sure Jane was comfortable with the plan and well prepared to carry it out. Blue had set up a meeting with the hackers who represented the forger by going on the dark web and pretending to be an interested buyer. Jane would be going to authenticate the sale and ID the forger’s work. The rest of the team would be listening in and providing cover, should the need arise. Blue would likewise be armed. He was trying to project a confident image, but, like Jane, he had never actually been needed in the field before. He was usually the one in the trailer running information behind the scenes.

Finally the day ended, and it was time to see Amelia.

Jane was nervous, but there was nothing new about that. Blue was cagey about where he was taking her, and when they showed up at a swanky salon in the nice part of town, her anxiety didn’t back down.

“Um,” she said.

“Amelia’s going to fix you up,” he said.

“Who is Amelia?” she asked. Blue kept referring to her as if Jane should have any idea who she was.

“Maggie’s sister.”

Jane rolled her eyes. Great. Just what she needed, another paragon of perfection. Did Blue have a thing for the sister, too? They parked and Blue held the door for her. They hadn’t had much time alone together during the day. Now that it was just the two of them, the tension was back full force.

They reached the door of the salon. Blue put his hand on the door, but before he opened it, he leaned down and whispered in Jane’s ear. “Just so we’re clear, I’m a huge fan of the before.”

Jane smiled up at him, her heart beating triple time. “And I yours,” she said, then closed her eyes and shook her head. Why did the awkwardness have to come pouring out of her at the most inopportune times? Blue laughed and touched his finger to the end of her nose before opening the door and ushering her inside.

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