A long walk was what I needed after how the gala had ended. Bryce said he had business to tend to and celebratory cigars to puff with the boys. I was grateful for a reprieve from him because I was so angry and disappointed with how he had treated Shannon. She didn’t deserve that. He had completely humiliated her in front of all of Buckhead. I had told him I was going for a walk and would Uber home from the salon. Earlier I told Jenny that I had left my purse there, and she said she’d wait up for me so I could grab it. But it was late. Honestly, I just wanted a walk to clear my head, so it didn’t matter if Jenny was still up. A cool breeze made the humidity bearable and the walk from the gala to Glow on Peach Street pleasant. I had never seen Buckhead so quiet and peaceful. Not a person or car in sight. The only sound I heard was the click of my heels along the sidewalk. I turned onto Peach Street and saw the sign for Glow up ahead on the left. From where I was, it looked dark inside, so I assumed Jenny had gone to bed. I considered calling an Uber right there, but my feet kept moving forward.
A large man dressed in black shorts and a hoodie suddenly darted out from one of the businesses, and I was sure it was Glow when I saw a shimmery gold bag in his hands. That was my bag. He was just ten yards away, rifling through it.
I quickened my pace and called out, “Hey!”
He snapped his head in my direction. The ski mask covered most of his face except his wide eyes and partially open mouth.
“Goddamn it. I didn’t sign up for this,” he said as he turned on his foot and ran in the opposite direction.
A large inky tattoo covered the back of his pale calf. It looked as though it hadn’t been done by a professional because it was unclear. I considered chasing him down but stopped in front of Glow when I saw the broken glass and the open door. I dialed 911 and placed the phone back in my bag. I was about to yell out, but I heard rustling inside followed by a scream.
My hand went back into my bag and emerged holding a Ruger .380 ACP pocket pistol. It had a chrome finish and a hot-pink grip.
“Better safe than sorry,” I recalled my stepfather saying when he gifted me the gun all those years back. “Treat it like a cell phone and always have it with you.” I was grateful for his advice now. Taking a deep breath, I quickly decided between running in, guns blazing, or making a careful entrance. The man I just saw clearly didn’t have a weapon. The odds were if anyone else was in there, they wouldn’t have one either.
Running through the door, I threw open the velvet curtain and found a man dressed in black, pinning Jenny to the ground. I fired a warning shot. The man quickly scrambled off her and ran down the hallway, crashing into a cabinet as he furtively fled for what I’m sure he thought were his last moments. I flipped the light switch as Jenny sat up. Her eye was already blossoming into what would be a massive bruise. Her mouth was bloody. And vicious red marks covered her neck. She gasped for air, sucking deep, painful breaths that brought tears to her eyes.
“Oh my God, Jenny,” I said, running to her side.
20
Jenny
present
Detective Sanford enters the room carrying two cups of coffee. This time, instead of the Styrofoam cups full of essentially stale brown water, it’s Starbucks. He places one in front of me. He’s gotten more accommodating as the hours have passed, or perhaps he’s taken a liking to me.
“Thank you,” I say, bringing the cup to my lips.
He nods. “I appreciate your cooperation and you coming forward.” Detective Sanford pulls out a chair and takes his seat. “So, the gala didn’t go well?”
“It was a disaster.”
He takes a sip of his coffee. “Shannon must have been very upset after that.”
“Obviously. Bryce embarrassed her in front of everyone who was anyone in Buckhead.”
“And there was tension between Shannon and Olivia?” He raises an eyebrow.
“I think there was tension between everyone,” I say matter-of-factly.
“I found a police report that indicates that Glow was broken into the night of the gala, and you were injured that evening.” He gives me a sympathetic look.
My hand runs along my neck, rubbing it. Sometimes I can still feel my windpipe being crushed. I simply nod. I’m not sure what else he wants me to say. He clearly read the report, my statement, and Crystal’s statement. There’s nothing more for me to add.
“They never caught the people responsible?”
“No, the police never caught the people responsible.” I take another sip of my coffee.
“Had anything like that ever happened before?” He tilts his head.
“No, never.”
“According to the report, only a gold purse was stolen?”
“That’s correct. They couldn’t get the register open.” I swivel the Starbucks cup slightly.
“Do you think it was random?” Detective Sanford raises an eyebrow again.
I lean forward a little in my seat. “I don’t think anything that happened in Buckhead was random.”
21
Olivia
I had to wear my long-sleeved red Valentino dress today thanks to Dean grabbing my arm so aggressively last night. I don’t know what the hell got into him. I mean I get it; he doesn’t want me stirring up trouble, but still, it was unnecessary, and I left this morning without speaking a word to him. I’m sure I’ll come back home to a new designer bag and a few dozen red roses. I was off to Glow Salon for our monthly book club, and I was excited to discuss Vogue and, of course, Shannon. I assumed she wouldn’t even attend after her embarrassing episode at the gala. Ugh! Glow’s left window was boarded up and there was duct tape holding together the glass on the door. This place was going downhill fast.
“Why does this place look abandoned?” I called out as I threw open the velvet curtains, making my way into the salon. “I almost didn’t come in, in case someone saw me. What would they say? But it’s my pick this month, so I had to be here.” I turned up my nose and slid off my sunglasses. The place did look a little dingier, not as clean as usual. A makeup vanity was missing.
“Jenny should really get a maid in here. This place needs a lot of work.”
Crystal and Karen were seated on a couch, while Keisha was filling glasses with mimosas and finishing setting up. The coffee table was covered in platters of fresh-cut fruit, croissants, and sliced cheese. Crystal looked rough. Dark circles sat under her eyes, and she was dressed in Lululemon leggings and a white T-shirt. Karen looked average as well. Had these women just given up? I rolled my eyes.
“Glow was broken into last night.” Karen looked at me.
“What? That’s terrible.”
“And Jenny was hurt pretty bad,” Crystal said. Her eyes were glossy and her lip trembled.
“What?” My hand flew to my mouth. “Where is she?”
Before any of them could answer, Jenny walked in from the back. Her right eye was black and blue. Her lip was swollen and bruises covered her neck.
“Oh my God, Jenny. Are you okay?” I ran to her.
“I’m fine. It’s not as bad as it looks,” she said, beelining for the vanity. She applied some powder onto her neck, trying to cover it up, but the injuries were too dark.
“Can I get you anything? I have Vicodin,” I offered.
“Oh, no. I just want to enjoy this book club meeting and not talk about it, if that’s all right.” She forced a small smile, but winced a little, bringing her finger to her lip.
There were nods all around.
“You know I can handle everything here, if you want to go upstairs and lie down.” Keisha offered.
“Nonsense, I’m fine.”
I took a seat on the couch. “Well, this is absolutely appalling, and I’ll be bringing this up at the next committee meeting for a potential charity event,” I said.
“Olivia, it’s fine. Insurance is covering everything. The windows are getting replaced today,” Jenny said, pouring herself a glass of orange juice.
“But your face. It’s hideous.”
“Olivia!” Karen scolded.