Page 60 of Forever Endeavor

He lifted the mirror and let out an admiring whistle. “Who is that unmasked man?”

“Not bad, hmm? Maybe once Sonny sees you, he’ll let me take a crack at that cookie duster on his upper lip.”

“Not a chance!” Sonny cackled as he pushed on the screen door. “What have you two been up to?”

“Voila!” Billie held out her hands before her creation. “Calvin Hayes, two-point-oh.”

Sonny stepped around the grey mass of hair clumps. “Wow, ya really rolled back the ol' odometer, Cal.” He turned to Billie, smoothing his fingers down the Black Stallion as he spoke. “And here I thought you liked my ‘stache.”

“I do,” she said, giving him a good-natured poke. “But maybe I’m curious how it’d feel to kiss you without it for a change.”

Cal laughed. “Ooh, I’d take the lady up on that, Son.”

“Maybe someday.” Sonny smirked. “While you two were in here playing barber shop, I kept the news hounds at bay.”

“Geez, how’d you manage?” she asked.

“I convinced them that they’d reached a dead end because no one with the name Hayes owned the house. They looked it up and saw it’s legally registered to someone else.”

“Melissa?”

“Better. Her father,” Sonny said. “So that bought us a bit more time.”

“It’ll only stall them a few hours at best,” she said. “They’re bound to trace you back through Melissa or to the garage unless someone in town has already spilled the beans.”

“The garage is closed and I filled in Gurdeep. He and Gary will cover for us.”

“That’s great, but what about—”

All three of them chimed in at once: “…Yvette.”

Billie nodded. “She’s a sweetheart, but she’s also a nosy parker with loose lips. This is probably the talk of the coffee shop and everywhere else right now.”

Cal swatted his hand. “Aw, let ‘em talk.”

She looked to Sonny. “It’s only a matter of time before the vultures circle back. Then what?”

His shoulders heaved. “I haven’t thought that far ahead. Got any bright ideas?”

Sonny

Naturally, she did. Billie picked up her phone, and her thumbs flew over the screen. “Who are you texting now?” Sonny asked.

“Fielder. I’ll tell him what’s going on and ask for his advice. You know, fight media fire with media fire.”

“Smart girl,” Cal said, raising an eyebrow in Sonny’s direction.Yeah, I know she is.

Seconds later, the phone buzzed. “It’s him!” Billie announced, immediately putting the device on speaker.

“Billie? I got your message. Are you all right?”

“Yeah Bart, we’re fine. I’m here with Cal and his nephew Sonny. We’re in hiding until the hoopla dies down.”

“Good. Stay where you are. And don’t speak to any other members of the press yet. This story is about to blow up.”

Billie’s eyes widened. “You mean it hasn’t blown up yet?”

“Mr. Hayes, can you hear me?” Fielder asked.

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