Peyton jerked back, startled by the booming voice. She spun around and found the coffee shop owner / manager peering down at them. “No. We’re all set.”
“What are you doing?”
“Covert surveillance,” Noelle said. “Why do you ask?”
“Noelle Snyder,” he chided, gazing out the window. “Are you spying on Cheyenne Clifton?”
“Maybe. Is there a law against it?”
“No, but one…namely me…does wonder why you and Peyton, two upstanding island business owners, are spying on someone.”
“It’s for a friend,” Peyton answered evasively. “As a favor.”
Noelle turned, giving the man her full attention. “Are you going to rat us out?”
He tipped his head back and burst out laughing. “If it was anyone other than the ‘high-and-mighty’ Cheyenne, I might.”
“Good.” Peyton could feel herself relax. “We shouldn’t be much longer.”
“Take your time.” He offered them a free refill of their beverages to which they gratefully accepted.
Noelle waited for him to walk away. “You have to wonder if there’s anyone on this island who likes Cheyenne.”
“Robert and her parents?” Peyton joked. “She’s not a very nice person.”
“Nope.”
The women grew quiet, sipping their drinks and keeping a close eye on the apartment. The minutes slowly ticked past…fifteen…twenty…half an hour and then an hour.
At the two-hour mark, Noelle started fidgeting. “Nothing is happening. For all we know, they might not leave.”
“True.”
Taking turns for bathroom breaks, the duo resumed their surveillance mission, checking in with the other Mackies and sending a group text that so far all was quiet.
Two hours and twenty plus minutes in, at half past eight, Cheyenne’s front door opened.
“Grab your phone,” Peyton excitedly said. “I see activity.”
Noelle plucked her cell phone from the table, her hand trembling as she turned the recording app on and aimed it toward the apartment.
Cheyenne emerged first, wearing a ski jacket, black leggings, and knee-high black boots with a hot pink scarf draped around her neck. She turned back, smiling at someone still out of view.
“Are you getting this?” Peyton whispered.
“Yep. Every single move.”
Cheyenne lingered in the doorway, still smiling.
Within seconds, a man emerged.
Noelle zoomed in, getting a closeup of the guy who stepped out. He pulled the door shut behind him before slipping his arm around Cheyenne’s shoulders. Moving at a leisurely pace, the couple meandered down the sidewalk.
Reaching the stop sign, they turned left and began strolling along the back alley toward the main street, where the bars and restaurants were located.
“They’re gone.” Noelle tapped the screen and ended the recording. “It’s time to send an update.”
“And get phase two of this surveillance operation underway.” Peyton pulled up the Mackies’ group list. “I can do it.” She tapped out a text.Cheyenne and Robert are heading downtown.
