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“You mean, Nick is fixing something to eat.”
Dani giggled. “Don’t hate.”
“How about four at The Shop? Maybe by then my stomach will have settled down to a quiet roar.”
The digital clock on the nightstand illuminated eleven.
“Sounds good. Did you call Mia?”
“No, not yet. Would you mind? It’s going to take me a while to get myself together as it is, and I don’t need Mia slowing me down by needing all the details of a simple late lunch.”
The friends laughed. Of the trio, Mia Turner was the organizer—to a fault. As head of her own events management business, she was a stickler for planning each and every move. Although it was an outrageously annoying habit, her obsession with order and detail always ultimately paid off.
“Sure. I’ll do that as soon as we finish. What’s up, anyway? Just need to get out?”
“Actually it’s a little more than that.” She lowered her voice and got off the side of the bed to make sure Blake was still parked securely in front of the television. She closed the bedroom door. “I have another assignment, and I need yours and Mia’s help.”
Mia Turner had been up since daybreak. She fixed a spectacular breakfast for her and Steve—homemade Belgian waffles; egg-white omelets filled with mushrooms, tomatoes, green peppers and cheddar cheese; fresh orange juice and an incredible Turkish coffee that she’d received from one of her corporate clients as a thank-you gift.
Of the trio it had always been efficient Mia who hadn’t had a man in her life. Savannah had Blake and before Danielle finally starting playing house with Nick, she always had men to keep her warm and well tuned.
Mia had always known about Steve Long: she’d seen him from a distance from time to time, since he and Savannah’s husband, Blake, were tight buddies and business partners. But they’d never spent any time together, and it had never occurred to Mia to do so. It wasn’t until she’d planned a get-together, with Steve being an invited guest, that they both realized what they’d been missing. They’d been an item ever since, and Mia couldn’t have been happier.
Steve left shortly after breakfast for a game of tennis, and Mia decided to get a jump start on the week. She went into her immaculate office, where not a paper clip was out of place, and settled down for a few hours of planning. She had several corporate clients that were planning major conferences as well as restaurant locations that she needed to set up for more intimate meetings.
She turned on her seventeen-inch flat-screen computer and quickly clicked on her color-coded spread sheet program; then she opened up another program window, this one with a grid of Manhattan.
Just as she started plugging in information, her phone rang. It was Dani.
“Hey, girl, what’s up?” Mia kept her attention on the screen while she talked to Dani on speaker.
“I hate that damned speakerphone! Makes me sound like I’m underwater.”
“Oh, don’t be silly.”
“Can you please just stop doing what you’re doing and pay attention to me for a minute?”
“You know, you sound like a whiny five-year-old,” Mia said, taking the call off speaker. “Better now?”
“Much,” Dani said with a huff.
“So what is it? You’re breaking my flow.”
“Savannah just called. She wants us to get together around four at The Shop.”
Mia frowned. That was not on her agenda for the day. She’d have to rearrange things to make that happen. If there was one thing that worked Mia’s nerves more than anything, it was surprises that knocked off her schedule and her plans.
“Well, okay. I’ll have to shift around a few things. Why today? Did she say what it was about? Our get togethers are always planned in advance…”
“Dang, Mia. This is the best advance notice we can give. Five damned hours. Now do whatever it is that you do to get yourself in gear, and we’ll see you there at four.”
Mia huffed with indignation. “You don’t have to be nasty…I was just saying…”
She almost sounded hurt, Dani thought. “I’m sorry. Didn’t mean to snap. You know my mouth sometimes. Anyway, Savannah said it was important.” She paused. “She needs our help.”
Mia knew exactly what that meant.
Chapter 2
For four o’clock on a Sunday, The Shop, located in the West Village, was pretty crowded. The hum of conversation interspersed with bits of laughter floated over the pulse of some nondescript listening music.
Although she’d complained about the disruption in her day, Mia was, of course, the first to arrive and had secured their favorite booth in the back. She was sipping on a mimosa when Dani walked in looking like a super-model, followed moments later by Savannah, whose petite frame was getting plumper by the day.
“Movin’ kinda slow there, sis,” Dani teased, as Savannah lowered herself into the seat next to Mia.
Savannah put her purse on her lap and took off her sunglasses, setting them on the table. “Don’t make fun. It ain’t funny,” she grumbled over a half smile.
Mia put her arm around Savannah’s shoulder and pulled her in for a short hug. “At least you look cute.”
That much was true. Much like Danielle, Savannah loved to dress, and being pregnant only upped the ante. She was determined that the worse she felt, the better she would look. No expense was spared when it came to her wardrobe.
Today, she wore a bolero sweater, cuffed at the elbow, in a sea-moss green that sparkled in the sunlight, over an empire shirt in the same color, with tight accordion pleats that fell just to the waistband of her designer jeans, and a pair of emerald-green ankle boots in butter-soft suede.
“Thanks. And thanks for coming.”
“No problem,” the duo murmured.
Dani flipped open a menu. “So whatsup?”
Savannah leaned forward. Dani and Mia drew closer.
“I got another assignment.”
“We figured as much,” Dani said. “So how can we help?”
“I got major grief from Jean about pulling you two in the last time around. But because everything turned out so well, she sort of gave me a pass to ‘use my resources.’ Anyway, I’ve been feeling so crappy I know I can’t handle this alone at all.”
“The suspense is killing me already. What is it?” Dani asked.
“Well, it’s identity theft.”
“Whoa.” Mia reared back, then lowered her voice. “For real? Like the kind of identity theft that’s been on the news lately?”
Savannah nodded. “Apparently there is a major ring operating right here in New York.”
Dani leaned in. “Why aren’t the cops or the FBI or somebody handling this?”
“They are. But it goes a little deeper than that. This thing is extremely sensitive due to the nature of the people involved, so Jean was called in by a friend of hers in the Bureau.”
“This is pretty major,” Mia said.
“There’s more.” Savannah folded her hands. “This is where it gets kind of James Bond-y. There are some folks that have come to Jean…on a personal level. People who can’t go to the police or the FBI and who are in the same boat.” She looked from one friend to the other, making sure they got her meaning. Their eyes brightened in understanding.
“Illegals?” Dani asked.
“No. Just folks who can’t be scrutinized by the authorities. They can’t risk this showing up in the media.”
Mia flopped back against the leather seat. “How much time do you have?”
“A few weeks. A month at best.”
“That’s going to be a problem on my end. I’m out of town for the next two weeks setting up several conventions, one in Atlanta the other in D.C. I leave tomorrow afternoon. Of course I’ll do what I can—any contacts and resources that I can provide…”
“Count me in,” Dani said. “Do you think I’ll get to use a gun this time?” Her eyes sparkled with hope.
Both Savannah and Mia looked at her and shook their heads.
“I would hope not,” Savannah said.
Dani sucked her teeth in disappointment. “Figures.”
“However, this time I’m not taking any chances. This is major and we can’t afford to screw this up.” She zeroed in on Danielle. “I’m going to make sure I have clearance to bring you in. You’re going to have to meet Jean.”
A big grin dashed across Danielle’s mocha-colored face. “The head chick in charge! Well, all righty then. That’s what I’m talking about.”
“What about me?” Mia whined.
“Since you won’t be directly involved, I don’t think it’s necessary.”
“Damn.” She finished off her drink and slunk down in her seat, pouting.
The waitress finally came over. “Sorry, ladies. It’s crazy busy. Can I get you anything?”
They flipped open their menus and one by one gave their orders.
“Now that we have that out of the way, how have you both been doing?” Savannah asked, sipping a glass of water.
“I finally know what always keeps a smile on the two of your faces,” Mia said.
“Oh, really?” Dani said with a raised brow. “And what might that be?”
“Having a fine, sexy man to wake up to every morning.” She flashed a wicked grin and a wink.
Savannah and Dani laughed.
“So you’ve discovered the secret of sublime happiness,” Savannah said.
Mia bobbed her head. “Yes, chile,” she said, emphasizing each word. “Steven is absolutely a dream come true. And to think we’ve known each other for years and never took it further than hello.” She looked off wistfully. “It’s just so wonderful. I mean, I’ve never really had anyone that made me feel good all…the…time. Know what I mean?” She looked from one to the other. Well, there was someone once, but she’d never told her friends about him then and with good reason. And with everything going so right in her life with Steven there was no point in bringing it up now. It was old news and best that it stay buried in the past.
“I know exactly what you mean,” Dani offered. “And you know me, Ms. Love ’em and Leave ’em. I think I’ve been whipped, my sistahs.”
Savannah and Mia applauded.
“We never thought we’d see the day,” Savannah said.
“Me, either. Nick has totally taken me by surprise. It’s like those romance novels where the heroine gets swept off her feet and lands flat on her back, ready and raring to go,” she added in her typical ribald fashion.
The trio broke up laughing.
“Some days,” Savannah offered, “it’s still hard for me to believe that me and Blake are still so crazy in love and still hungry for each other.”
“Even with the loaf in the oven?” Dani asked.
Savannah’s eyes widened. “Girl, it’s even worse. When I’m not sick, I’m horny as hell! Can’t wait for the man to get home from work! Hormones are in overdrive or something. And Blake, Lawd, he never felt so good!”
Dani started fanning herself and Mia quickly followed suit.
Their meals arrived, and they continued swapping stories of their scorching love lives.
Outside the restaurant, the three women hugged.
“Have a safe trip, Mia,” Savannah said. “And I’ll be in touch if I can use your help.”
“Yeah, take care, sis.” Dani kissed her cheek. “What is Steven going to do while you’re gone?”
“Miss me.” She rocked her head to the side. “I intend to wear the brother out before I leave. Make sure it holds him over until I get back.”
“Now that’s gangsta,” Dani teased.
“See you guys in two weeks.” Mia waved as she headed down the street to where her car was parked.
Savannah turned to face Danielle. “Let me know when you have some free time. I’m going to call Jean in the morning and try to set up a meeting as soon as possible.”
“You know me. I’m my own boss. My schedule is pretty light this week with photo shoots. I have a couple of location shots, but that’s it.”
“Great. So as soon as I get it set up, I will give you a call.”
“Sounds good.”
“Thanks, Dani, I really appreciate this.”
“Hey, that’s what superspy friends are for, right?” she teased.
“Yeah, exactly.”
When Danielle returned to her apartment, it was empty. She was surprised that Nick wasn’t there. He hadn’t mentioned he was going out.
She tossed her purse on the table in the hall and deposited her keys in the glass bowl right next to it before heading to the kitchen for an ice-cold beer.
