“Miss you too,” and hung up.      
     As I left the phone store, I got a
text from D saying someone would be    
over to see me at ten. He couldn't make
it himself, but to call him if there   
was a problem.                         
     One problem down, and one more to 
go.                                    
     I still had to come up with a good
reason why I was going to be there     
tonight? It can't be something that    
looks or sounded suspicious, especially
after we left.                         
     If, everything went as planned,   
they wouldn't miss the Cat for a few   
days, and if we’re lucky, even longer. 
     If, everything went as planned.   
     Big if, because there was so much 
that could go wrong, that I didn’t even
want to think about it. Instead, I     
* switched gears on myself.                
     I've been in there late at night  
before, so that wouldn't be unprece-   
dented, but never after twelve. Maybe I
could make something up about          
Halloween, a late party, or I just     
forgot my keys.                        
     Any one of those should work.     
     When I got in the house, Beth was 
running around like a headless chicken,
cleaning everything in sight. Glad to  
see me, giving me a kiss, and then     
ordering me around just like a headless
chicken would.                         
     That's when I noticed Darryl at   
the end of the table sipping a cock-   
tail, still wearing his butlering      
stuff, but doing nothing.              
     He raised his glass to me, and    
shook his head, “Sorry, Crim, but she  
won't let me do anything.”             



CHAPTER 13: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31st
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