04 - Shock and Awesome by Camilla Chafer Read Free Book Online Page A

paused.
     
          "I have friends." He turned to look at my car again. "We'll get you wheels to suit your new heiress status. You have any more of those dresses?" He gave my pink dress another appreciative glance, one that left me thoroughly confused. I could have been making that glance bit up too. Nevertheless, I intended to go with it because it gave me a tingly little boost. I thought of Serena's closet and the many expensive garments she no longer wore, now that she was a work-from-home mom. It seemed such a shame to waste. Thank heavens, several of them were in my trunk. "I have access," I told him.
     
          "The dating agency will cover any reasonable costs," Solomon continued. "You'll have to go deep cover to make this work. You okay with leaving your life behind for a couple weeks?"
     
          I thought about what might happen over the next month. Oh, wait, nothing. "I'll make it work... hold on... deep cover?" Last time I went deep cover, it was at the aforementioned Fort Charles case. This time, at least I knew that I was posing as a single woman, and could rule out any Solomon-sexy-times, so what did that leave? No friends, no family, no life? Maybe this case wasn't as cool as it first appeared.
     
          "The thief is being careful. He's only targeting rich women from whom he can steal high value items and cash. He's a pro. It stands to reason he's back-checking the stories of anyone he might potentially date. If he sees your apartment and car, he's going to smell a rat. They are not millionaire accoutrements. So, we set you up with a new home and car while you're on the case, both of which say money ."
     
          "Okay, makes sense. I can manage the wardrobe, but where am I going to get a new house at such short notice?"
     
          "My neighbors are taking an extended vacation in Europe and they need a house-sitter. I volunteered you. You'll say you're renting it, as you haven't found a place yet, so it won't matter that your name doesn't come up in any searches."
     
          "Your neighbors know why I'm really house-sitting?"
     
          "They know you're my employee so you’re vouched for. Plus, it's the ideal set-up. I can wire the house and monitor it from mine so there will always be someone on hand if there's any trouble."
     
          My newly knitted broken arm, received in the line of duty, twinged, although it could have been psychological. "Should I expect trouble?"
     
          "So far, nothing indicates that the thief is violent, but you never know if he will get desperate and escalate, so we can assume nothing. The homes are burglarized while the women are out, so I think you'll be safe, but we need to monitor the house at all times."
     
          "Okay, but no cameras in the bedroom."
     
          Solomon inclined his head and smiled, making me wonder if the thought crossed his mind. "You'll know where all cameras are and I'll give you a remote to shut them off." He turned away, but not before I heard him say, "Besides, I've already seen you naked."
     
          I shivered. "You have. But Delgado, Fletcher, and Lucas haven't, and I'd like to keep it that way. Flaherty, too."
     
          "Me too," agreed Solomon as he turned on his heel, walking towards the stairwell.
     
          I didn't watch him leave, mostly because I found the way he walked mesmerizing and I didn't want to start getting any funny ideas in the lot. Instead, I mostly pouted at my VW. It might not be the most awesome car in the world, but it blended in and got me from A to Z, and all the stores in between. I wondered what kind of vehicle Solomon would provide for my cover story, as images of an Aston Martin Vanquish, or a sleek Viper flashed through my mind. I should be so lucky! All the same, as far as assignments went, this could be a fun one. I wouldn't have to stay at the Chilton house the whole time, surely?
     
          I imagined I’d spend some days and nights acting as