Part 30 (2/2)

”Oh, Prozac, honey, I knew you'd come through for me! Underneath your p.r.i.c.kly exterior you've got a heart of gold, after all!”

Yeah, right. Whatever. Where's that belly rub you promised?

She rolled over on her back to get her belly rub, but she couldn't fool me.

The little monster really did care about me.

Her belly rubbed to her satisfaction, she licked my cheek with her sandpaper tongue (no doubt hoping for a wayward sc.r.a.p of pepperoni), then curled up in a ball under my chin. Her soft fur was like Valium to my frenzied psyche.

At last I was able to relax.

As I lay there on the brink of sleep, I thought back to how it all began-my first day working at Dates of Joy. Random images flashed before my eyes: Joy on her Missing G.o.diva rant. All those models and actors waiting to interview for a nonexistent part. And Travis in his duct-tape gla.s.ses, showing me Joy's Web site- Omigosh. The Web site!

I sat up with a jolt.

Now I remembered where I'd seen that photo of Ca.s.sie's mother-on Joy's client database, when Travis was showing me the Web site.

I'd stopped to admire the photo of an ethereal blonde, a Grace Kelly look-alike, the same blonde I'd seen today in Ca.s.sie's bungalow.

Travis told me she'd been a client of Joy's. Had Joy treated her badly, like she'd done with Alyce and Barry? Had Ca.s.sie taken the job at Dates of Joy-not to escape the world of hairdressing-but to avenge whatever wrong Joy had done to her mom?

I remembered the tattoo I'd seen earlier on Ca.s.sie's shoulder. Ultio Dulcis Est.

At the time I'd thought it was a family motto.

Now I got out of bed and fired up my computer.

Seconds later I was typing Ultio Dulcis Est into a Google search.

The translation came up instantly: Revenge Is Sweet.

YOU'VE GOT MAIL!

To: Jausten

From: Shoptillyoudrop

Subject: In My Pocket All Along!

Guess what, darling! I was just cleaning out the pockets of my new Georgie O. Armani jacket before I put it in the wash (That's right, sweetheart! A designer original-and machine washable, too!) when I reached in my pocket and found my Valentine's ring! I must have put it there when I was was.h.i.+ng my hands in the ladies' room at Le Chateaubriand.

Which means the Pinkuses didn't steal it after all! Which means your daddy is marching over to Lydia's townhouse with Lester's ring, an apology, and a check for a new plate gla.s.s window.

XOXO,.

Mom

To: Jausten

From: DaddyO

Subject: A Wee Bit Wrong

Well, Lambchop, it turns out I may have been a wee bit wrong about the Battleaxe stealing your mom's ring. It seems she and her gasbag brother are in the clear this time. But who knows what those two are capable of?

And if Mom thinks I'm going to pay a stranger good money to replace Lester's windowpane when I can do it myself with my Belgian Army Knife and a bit of putty, she's crazy.

I'll head over there tomorrow to take care of the job.

Love 'n' snuggles,

Daddy

Chapter 26.

The next morning, after reading about Mom's miraculous recovery of her Valentine's ring from her (machine washable!) Georgie O. Armani jacket, I made my way up the block to my Corolla.

In the bright light of day, my street seemed like a set out of Wisteria Lane. Lots of green gra.s.s and lilac bushes and birds chirping gaily in the trees. A far cry from the nightmare alley it had been less than twelve hours ago.

And you can imagine how foolish I felt when I saw a freckle-faced teenager getting into the black Jeep that had sent me running to my apartment in such a panic.

So much for the killer following me home.

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