My hands curled into fists. Oscar peered up at me, as if to ask, “Was this part of the plan?”
I have to let her do it. It’s the only way to get the information we need to save Morrie.
I slunk back to stand in the line, trying to look like I didn’t give a fuck that Tara was now straddling my boyfriend, grinding against his crotch as she decorated his arm with swirls and love hearts. I couldn’t go back behind the velvet rope, so I ended up standing beside the two staff members.
“Typical Tina,” the assistant leaned toward her friend. “She’s fawning all over that guy because she knows she can get away with it, since his girlfriend’s blind.”
“She’s disgusting. Andsodesperate. Did you see her have an argument with that Ticketrrr CEO backstage? What’s his name, Grant?”
My ears perked up.Grant and Tara are together?
“No. Spill the deets!”
“Grant and Tara have been an item, and her latest photoshoot was sponsored by his company. She’s been telling everyone she got Ticketrrr the gig here at FanCon, but in reality that was Kate’s pet project. Tara seemed to believe Grant was giving her a permanent job as a Ticketrrr brand ambassador, but I heard him say he was looking for someone more ‘young and fresh.’ He’s been over at the Ticketrrr booth all day, handing out his business card to every pretty girl who walks past and telling them to apply for jobs at his company. If he’s trying to break the gender barrier in the tech industry, he’s going about it the wrong way.”
“I wish it was Kate here today instead of Tara,” the second assistant lowered her voice. “Did you hear they found Kate’s body out in those woods where she disappeared, and it wasn’t suicide?”
My ears pricked up.They know about Kate.I shuffled closer until I was standing right beside them. I expected them to withdraw or stop their conversation, but they kept on talking as if I wasn’t there. I remembered something Marjorie told me about being a blind person. “Sometimes people will treat you as if you’re invisible.” I knew there would be times when that would hurt like a motherfucker, but right now it was a blessing. I could spy in plain sight.
“…my friend has an in with the police, and apparently, Kate faked her suicide last year. Isn’t that crazy? I bet she did it for the insurance money after that weird events company of hers folded. Only now someone’s killed her for real. My money is on Tara. She wouldn’t be able to bear the idea of Kate coming back and stealing her spotlight, especially since it seems like she’s also trying to take Kate’s old job—”
“Can I pat him?” Someone tugged on my dress.
“Oh, sure,” I muttered as I strained to hear the conversation.
“—although it could’ve been that Grant character. I was working the bar at the FanCon VIP event last night, and he was telling everyone who’d listen that he and Kate had a sordid office affair. He said she faked her death so they could run away together, but then she just disappeared—”
No way. I can’t believe that. Someone’s lying, and I bet it’s sleazeball Grant. I have to find a way to get a meeting with him—
“Mina!” Edie appeared in front of me, her hands on her hips. “What are you doing?”
I glanced down in horror. While I’d been focusing on eavesdropping, ten girls had broken free of the line to crowd around Oscar, stroking and patting him all over. One had even tied a giant pink bow on his collar.
“Oops. Shite.” I tried to shoo them away.
Heathcliff appeared at my side, his torso covered in dripping glitter and his face and neck smeared with lipstick kisses. “I feel violated. Get me out of here.”
Chapter Eleven
“Well, that was… interesting.” I looked pointedly at Heathcliff as we pushed our way outside. I wanted to try to get to the Ticketrrr booth, but it was packed with people and Edie was already annoyed with me about letting those girls fuss over Oscar. We’d have to figure out how to get to Grant another way.
“My nipples hurt,” Heathcliff muttered as he tugged his shirt back over his head. “She pressed the penhard. I need a drink.”
“You have your flask in your pocket.” I bent down to tie the Superman bandana to Oscar’s lead.
“Yes, but I should make an effort to appear normal in company.” He pointed to a small cafe on the corner of the convention center. “I’ll go pick up our bird friend while you grab drinks? You know what I like.”
“Coffee that’s as black as your soul. I’m on it.” Heathcliff shoved his way toward the box office while Edie, Oscar and I headed toward the cafe. My head buzzed with everything I’d learned. Tara and Grant an item? That couldn’t be a coincidence. But I couldn’t see how it related to Kate’s murder…
Oscar tugged on his lead, and I felt a new confidence as I gave him his command and we headed for the door to the cafe.Everything is going to be okay. We’ve got a new lead in Morrie’s case, and with this little dude by my side—
“Excuse me, ma’am, you can’t come in.”
I kept walking, not realizing the person was talking to me. A disgruntled server stepped in front of me, blocking our way. Oscar reeled, stopping in his tracks so I didn’t crash into him.
“What did you say?” My fingers gripped Oscar’s harness.
“We don’t allow dogs inside for hygiene reasons.”
