Nicole had convinced Mick that she would be safe to drive around town during the day where people could see her and be witnesses, just in case. And today, Nicole had to run some personal errands.
She mailed a few letters, dropped off her dry cleaning, and headed to the store. As she pulled into the parking lot, she noticed through her rear-view mirror, a black truck following her.
Nicole tightened her fingers around the steering wheel and pulled into a parking spot. She kept an eye on the black truck with the tinted windows. It parked on the lot a ways up, but the truck faced Nicole.
She was tired of feeling scared, and it took all of her willpower not to ram her leased car into Tara’s truck. But there were other ways to handle Mick’s ex-girlfriend. Nicole just needed to clear her mind and think about them.
She climbed out of her vehicle and headed toward the store’s automatic double-wide doors. Through the glass, she saw Tara following her at a distance. Suddenly, an idea popped into Nicole’s head and she grinned. She knew exactly what she could do to Tara.
Nicole grabbed a cart and turned down the first aisle. She quickly stopped, pulled out her cell phone, and texted Mary.Find your voice recorder. Quickly.
Not more than three seconds passed before Nicole’s phone buzzed.
Why?
Mick’s ex is following me. I have a plan, but I need to record her voice.
Give me a minute.
While giving Mary aminute, Nicole proceeded to do a little grocery shopping. A few times as she turned up another aisle, she noticed Tara following, pushing her own cart. Nicole headed toward the section of the store that wasn’t as busy as the rest. She stopped and peered at the car batteries as though she’s deciding which one to buy.
Her phone buzzed, announcing a text.
I found the voice recorder.
Nicole grinned.Great! Call me now and start recording, and don’t stop until I tell you to.
She only had to wait two seconds before her cell phone buzzed again with an incoming call. She answered it. “Hello?”
“Okay, it’s me,” Mary said with a chuckle in her voice.
Nicole started her acting, hoping Tara was listening. Laying on the dramatics, Nicole gasped. “What? You’ve got to be kidding. Tell me everything.”
During the pause, she nodded or muttereduh-huh. After a few lengthy moments, she huffed. “He didwhat?” She lifted her voice in anger. “Mr. Remington wants topayyou to do that?” Pause. “Uh-huh. You mean Mick’s father?”
She laid on the dramatics again and stomped her foot, just in case Tara was somewhere watching. “Oh, no he didn’t! Well, what did you say?”
She didn’t wait very long before gasping. “What?If you do that for him he’ll make you his mistress? That’s unbelievable.”
She paused again, trying to see if Tara was somewhere close. She prayed the other woman was or this would never turn out the way Nicole wanted.
“What about the mistress he has now? I heard she was a model or something.” She paused a few seconds. “Oh, I can’t believe how badly he treats women. But I guess if he’s going to pin my car accident on someone, it may as well be that woman, even though I know he was the one behind it.”
Quick and heavy footsteps came up behind Nicole as her upper arm was grasped by a strong grip. Nicole looked into the angry face of the strawberry-blonde woman who’d been with Carl at the restaurant the other day. But Nicole couldn’t stop her acting, yet. She scowled at the other woman.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
“End the phone callnow,” the model demanded.
“I will not.” Nicole glared.
Tara huffed and opened her handbag enough for Nicole to see a handgun. A lump of panic formed in her throat. Perhaps she shouldn’t have upset the other woman.
“Uh... Mary? I’ve got to go.”
“Nikki? What’s wrong? Is everything okay?” Mary’s voice was unsure.
“Yeah, it’s all right,” Nicole said into the phone while keeping her focus on the crazy woman by her side.
