Page 21 of The Body in the Backyard
Alistair waved away her hesitation. “You’re the decoy. Everyone is looking at you while Nick does the blending.”
Shedidfeel just the tiniest bit spectacular in the dress. And itwouldbe nice to show a room full of Griffin’s friends that she’d finally come out on top.
“This uncultured swine is wrong ninety-nine percent of the time, but it’s possible this is the other percentage point,” Robeena said grudgingly.
Alistair placed a hand over his heart. “That’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me, Robeena.”
“Don’t let it go to your head.”
“Don’t worry. I know any kindness you display is just an attempt to lure in your next victim.”
The bickering restarted with an energetic intensity, so Riley headed back into the dressing room. There, she pulled out her phone, snapped a photo of herself in the mirror, then fired off a text.
Riley: Too booby or just booby enough?
An instant later, her phone rang. It was Jasmine.
“There’s no such thing as too booby,” her best friend announced in lieu of a greeting.
“Not even if you’re going to a masquerade gala thing?”
“Oh. My. God. Is Riley Thorn going to the Harrisburg Arts Council Masquerade Gala?”
“It’s for work. I’m not suddenly rich and popular,” Riley explained, turning around to check out the rear view in the mirror.
“You work for your PI boyfriend. What’s going down at the gala? Should I change my RSVP to yes?”
“We’re working security…for Griffin.”
“Tell me you mean Peter Griffin. Or Kathy Griffin,” Jasmine said, enunciating each syllable like it was a threat.
“I wish. It’s Griffin Griffin.”
Riley held the phone away from her ear as Jasmine shouted a string of colorful oaths. Her friend had not only represented Riley during the divorce, she’d also smashed her car into Griffin’s outside the courthouse after the judge had ruled in his favor. Riley took the full sixty seconds of her friend swearing to change back into her regular clothes.
“Are you done?” she asked Jasmine as she zipped up her jeans.
“What would make youeveragree to play bodyguard to that lying, cheating, sniveling little troll doll?” Jasmine demanded.
“The business kind of needed the money. Besides, Nick doesn’t think Griffin’s in any actual danger. So we’ll go, we’ll eat some shrimp cocktails, stare at some important people, and then we’ll go home.”
Jasmine blew out an irritated breath. “Definitely wear the dress. I want a full report tomorrow.”
“Speaking of full reports, Kellen Weber was over this morning.”
“What did that rule-abiding pain in my ass want?” Jasmine asked.
“He was reinstated. And he asked about you.”
Jasmine’s tone was the epitome of boredom. “And you’re telling me this why?”
“I think he was looking for you. Did something happen between you two at the party last night when you were luring him into Nick’s office?”
Jasmine scoffed. “BetweenmeandDetective Dick?”
“You already kissed him,” Riley pointed out.
“That was to piss off his horrible mother.”
