Page 85 of Love Under the Microscope
“I’ll be telling Mr. Carrington not to do business with you. I’m not even sure he wants to, anyway. Frank seems to think you’re genuine, but I’m not so sure.” She moves to her right as though she wants to block our exit, so I step to my right, going opposite her. Zelda’s feet catch under my own, and we almost topple over, but I quickly right us.
“Move,” I whisper in Zelda’s ear. “Stat.”
Zelda groans and releases an ear-piercing sob in that strange prepubescent boy tone again. I hold my breath to refrain from laughing and guide Zelda out of the room as quickly as humanly possible, reminding myself to stop Zelda from making any more of her ridiculous plans.
“If anything has been taken from this room, I’ll know who it was,” Malisha calls after us. I’m surprised she’s not following us with a switch like my great-granny used to do when I got into trouble at her house. “And I’ll be calling your boss. Frank remembers the name of the company and the email address from your letter.”
“Frank must have a photographic memory, then,” I quip quietly, maneuvering us out the door and into the garden.
Outside, I take Zelda’s hand. “Keep your head down and walk quickly.”
As we hurry across the pathway, I step on something that squeaks. I jump. “What was that?”
Zelda points at a plastic hamburger. “A dog toy.”
She glances around without slowing down, and I do the same. Although I have no idea what we’re looking for, I don’t think it’s the half-chewed tennis balls, torn-apart stuffed animals, giant bone, or plastic hot dog with bites on it.
“What are we looking for?” I ask.
“Bobo.”
“And Bobo is …”
“The Carringtons’ dog.” Her tone suggests I should’ve known that, and maybe she’s right, given the dog toys, but I’m more concerned with getting out of here without a police escort and wearing handcuffs. “Thinking about Bobo reminded me of the gate at the side of the house to keep thedog in. It’s short enough for us to climb over.”
“I thought Nigel’s dog had some prissy name.” I walk fast enough across the lawn to win a gold medal. “Who the hell names their dog Bobo?”
“The Carringtons. He farts all the time. I’m not sure how that dog is still alive. I think Mrs. Carrington told me he was nine or ten when I dated Nigel. Maybe he’s one of those breeds that lives a long time.”
“Good for Bobo, living his best life.” I grip Zelda’s hand tighter. “But we need to move. That Frank guy is coming our way and doesn’t look happy.”
Frank strides toward us and points. Neither he nor Malisha seem big on manners. “You two. Stop where you are.”
I tug Zelda’s arm. “Quick, run.”
Frank thunders toward us as we run to the side of the house and scramble over the gate. An impressive sight in fancy leather dress shoes.
Racing across the driveway to the rented van, I practically drag Zelda behind me. “Hurry, baby, he’s still following.”
“I’m trying.”
I reach into my pocket for the car key and press the fob to unlock the doors. We jump inside. I start the engine and gun it. With a scattering of pebbles, I roar down the driveway of the Carrington mansion.
Thankfully, the gates are still open, and I wonder whether they care about security at all. I turn onto the street. “I’m not sure how we made it out.”
“Oh my God.” Zelda pulls off her cap and the band tying her hair on top of her head. “I thought he was going to catch us.”
A glance in the rearview mirror shows no one following us. I relax into the seat and loosen my grip on the steering wheel. “Talk about a close shave.”
“A little like the one I had this morning,” she says in the terrible man voice she’s been using while stroking her chin.
We burst out laughing, and Zelda pulls the pieces of paper out.
“But we did it.” She waves the pages around. “I can’t believe it. We found my original formula.”
“I didn’t think we would.” I grin. “I honestly didn’t, especially when they weren’t in the safe.”
“I’m so relieved.” She leans her head against the headrest and clutches the pages on her lap. “I could actually kiss you.”
