Jennifer rapid voice sharpened as she spun on her heels. "You don't know anything."
The bookstore had customers in their aisle. It was more than time to go. Alice said, "I thought we came here today to see this store Vicki wants to open."
Vicki walked down the aisle to gaze out the big window. Alice didn't see anything unusual in the morning crowd that was shopping on the million-dollar boulevard. She scanned the street for signs of another bad guy, but nothing clicked in her head. "Okay, I think the coast is clear."
Alice joked, "You sound like your brother, the FBI agent, with that sentence."
Both women chorused, "John was in the FBI?"
Alice almost tripped over her feet. John had joined because of her. She hadn't realized she'd divulged state secrets. "You didn't know? Vicki, he's your brother."
"I love my family." Vicki stood at the threshold. "But I've been M.I.A. for a while now."
Jennifer joined in. "Peter never said anything."
Alice quipped, "'Friends with benefits' doesn't exactly inspire communication."
Jennifer's tongue came out of her mouth like she'd swat this conversation in the butt. Then she sucked it back in and rolled her shoulders. "Like you have any answers, Alice. I don't remember anyone ever finding you the least bit interesting."
Vicki crossed her arms and turned toward Jennifer, "You're both my friends, so stop that."
Jennifer would never be her friend, but Vicki was always friends with everyone. Alone, she might end up adopting a three-legged dog and every down-on-their-luck person they passed. Alice chose to smooth things over. "Okay, let's go."
Jennifer shook her head, but said nothing else. Instead all three of them walked outside and a few minutes later, they stood in front of an empty building on the Miracle Mile. Alice asked, "Is this where you want your shop?"
Vicki smiled and nodded her head.
Jennifer shrugged. "I don't get what you want a shop for."
No? Alice understood Vicki's plan to be independent and peered inside the empty window. "This place has potential, Vicki. All the brides will want to come to you."
"Come." Vicki rifled through her pocketbook and found a key. She unlocked the door and as she threw it open to the sunshine of the morning, she said, "I bought this place yesterday to be the base of my fashion empire. The address is perfect."
Good. Independence was something they should all enjoy. Jennifer had it with her telenovelas. Vicki would have it with her store and fashion world, and Alice would have it too once she found a buyer for the farm products, moved into her condo, and the potential threat was gone. The three walked inside, and Vicki locked the door right behind them.
Alice twirled on her heels. She could imagine the mirrors on the walls, and rows of changing rooms. The aisles would be filled with white dresses designed to help a woman feel beautiful on her special day. Right now, the place was completely empty of everything, but it had lots of potential.
"I've already sent the designs for how this place will look to my decorator." Victoria nodded, eager for someone to say something positive. "I'll have it open in two weeks."
Jennifer's face pulled back. "You're crazy. That's a lot of work."
Alice jumped forward. Vicki deserved someone's support. "The Morgans can have this place open in an hour."
Vicki added, "And the store is just the start of my plans."
Jennifer turned toward Alice. "You have a point."
Alice's heart grew lighter that her friend was alive. Her life had all the people she loved in it. One day soon, John would stop his emotional see-saw and recognize how beautiful his life could be. He had his family and it was a miracle.
Victoria paid neither of them any mind. Instead she hugged herself and said, "See, my friends can get along."
Police sirens echoed in the air. Alice's heart froze. Her limbs grew goose bumps as she looked out of the glass. Jennifer pressed her nose against the window. "I wonder if they arrested your stalker."
The police cruiser stopped right outside the dress shop. Alice bit her lip and took a step into the shadow. The memory of the man who had followed her replayed in her mind.
Then a split second later, John's car stopped in the street behind the police. Alice's breath caught in her throat. Maybe that's why he hadn't returned her texts.
Then her brother Colt got out of the passenger side as John stepped from the driver's seat. She held the pendant at her neck. She hadn't seen Colt in months, so she had no idea how he stood right next to John like they were old friends.
They had played football together. Perhaps her brother stopped at John's house, but that didn't seem right. She hadn't told her mother the address, though she had blocked her mother's number the other day which prevented her from calling. Her brother hadn't asked for an address either. The two men walked toward the store. Alice asked, "What are they doing here?"
Jennifer whistled and nudged her side with her elbow. "Is that your brother?"
"Yeah." Alice turned around now. She expected Vicki to be right behind them, but the two of them were alone. Alice scratched her head. "Where is Vicki?"
Jennifer pushed her arm toward the door as the men knocked. "It's better if you go out to the street and not let them in here."
Why? Her friend had vanished as if she were a ghost. Since she was alive, it wasn't possible, but Alice had no idea why Vicki would just take off. Surely the police were not here to arrest Vicki of all people.
"Okay, I'm leaving then."
Jennifer smiled and stepped into the door frame like she'd block anyone who entered. Something strange was going on, but right now she'd solve one mystery at a time. Alice stepped outside into the suffocating humidity.
John didn't wait for one word. He reached out, grabbed her and kissed her.
The world faded to black with his touch. All that mattered was the fireworks inside her.
Leaving John without a broken heart was no longer an option.
Chapter Twenty Four
"Get in the car." Colt gestured to John's Mercedes.
This made no sense. The last time either man had seen each other was years ago at a football game. They never spoke, and they were not friends. Her brother was in the Marines. If he was here in Miami, then he'd be with his daughter. Her gaze shifted from Colt to John.
John's expression seemed relieved.
Alice bit her lower lip, held John's hand and asked, "Why are you both here?"
"You and Vicki texted me." Then John repeated Colt's message. "Get in the car."
That wasn't an answer. She tugged her hand to take it from him, but he held firm. She shook her head. "I have my own car in the parking lot."
Colt worked in unison with John. He opened the backseat of the car. John walked her and placed his hand on her head as if he could protect her with his body from a shooter. Colt assessed the crowd. "Sis, don't be an idiot. Get inside."