I roll my eyes. “I thought I asked you to dress in something plain.”
Serenity is dressed in wide-leg jeans and a white crocheted top that doesn’t cover much more than her bra, and decked out in jewelry with a ring on every finger and several necklaces of various lengths. Her long blond hair is separated into thick braids that hang over each shoulder. She’s in her early forties but could easily pass for ten years younger.
“This is as plain as I get.”
“I guess it’s fine for what I need you to do.” I motion for them to follow me back to Camille’s car, opening the driver’s side door for Serenity. “Get in and we’ll go through everything.”
Serenity climbs in, running her hands along the steering wheel. “Oh, I could have a lot of fun in this car.” She shuts the door then rolls down the window.
Deacon and I step closer to the car. “Not today,” Deacon says. “Today we’re sticking to the plan in every way.”
“Serenity, please. I’m nervous enough. Don’t make me worry you’re going to go rogue on me.”
She reaches her hand out of the open window and cups my cheek. “Sweetie, we’re all in for you today. You know that. We’re not going to do anything that jeopardizes what you’re doing.”
Smiling, I squeeze her arm. “Thank you.” Then I pull out Camille’sphone from my back pocket. There’s a notification telling me Ben texted her a little while ago, but because of her privacy settings, I can’t read the message.
I hand the phone to Serenity. “When you get out, stick this in your pocket and ignore all the notifications. It’s locked, so all you need to do is keep it on you wherever you go. If anyone calls, especially Ben, just let it ring. Camille says he always texts if she doesn’t answer and she will deal with it on her end from her iPad.”
Serenity nods then puts the phone in the cup holder. “Just to clarify, I’m going to that little park near downtown and just walking around there. Right?”
“Yes. Camille wanted me to buy a few things there but we’re not doing that. Don’t want to take the risk of someone questioning you about her credit card.”
Even with the wig, I would barely pass as Camille if someone was comparing me to her driver’s license picture, but there’s no way Serenity would hold up under scrutiny. She’s barely five feet tall while Camille is five seven, and they look nothing alike.
“Just keep walking around. If that gets old, drive around and browse some stores. We just need movement. I’ll spend more of her money when we switch back.”
Camille isn’t the only one who needs a few hours to be a ghost.
She nods. “Got it!”
Deacon and I step back and she raises the window while she pulls out of the spot. She gives us a final wave as she drives away.
“Is this a mistake?”
Deacon laughs. “This whole thing is either going to be the best ideaany of us have ever had or it will blow up in our faces. Either way, we’re on our path now and there’s no turning back.”
I follow him to his car and climb in the passenger seat. I pull off the wig and cap just as he turns onto the highway. I lower the visor to get a peek at my hair, only to discover it’s sticking up in every direction. “Oh wow.” I spend a couple of minutes trying to get it under control.
“I may have a brush in the glove box if you want to check.”
Deacon is the one I’m closest to in the house. His full name is Francis Deacon, which I learned from a random piece of mail he received after he moved in. When I teased him about it, he rolled his eyes and said, “My mom is the only person allowed to call me Francis.” Although I think if he gave anyone else an exception, it would be me. Over the years, I’ve witnessed a softer side of him that I don’t believe many people get a chance to see.
“You think Ben was surprised to see Eddie pull up in the Mustang?”
Deacon nods. “I’d bet so. They’re supposed to call me after they leave there.”
The morning after Camille fled Doug’s Tavern in the middle of a rainstorm, Shane and Eddie told us Ben had hired them to fix up an old Mustang. I was hoping it was some weird coincidence, but Deacon pointed out it was my name on the napkin with our address, not Shane’s and Eddie’s. And after talking to the guys, we realized there was more going on than Ben’s desire to restore an old muscle car.
When Ben would drop by to “check on things,” he showed very little interest in the car. He did, however, have lots of questions about who lived in our house. At the time, the guys just thought he was being nosy, but Camille’s visit to the bar puts a different spin on things.
We decided that morning that Eddie and Shane would keep playingit cool with Ben until I could track Camille down for another conversation about her husband and Deacon had time to do a little digging of his own.
“She’s probably freaking out watching that go down.” Camille doesn’t know Shane and Eddie are my housemates. And since Camille has never mentioned the Mustang anytime we’ve talked since that first night, I’m pretty sure he kept that purchase from her too.
Deacon laughs. “Yeah, I’m sure she is. Honestly, I’m going to be shocked if she’s able to stick to her part of the plan and sit in that attic all day. My money’s on her being the one who screws this all up.”
Shifting in my seat, I pull one leg underneath me so I can turn toward him. For this part of the day, Camille has me wearing some designer jeans and a flowy silk top that probably cost more than the old Honda I drove here. It’s surprisingly comfortable.
