Read Online Take the Monkey and Run by Laura Morrigan - Free Book Online Page B

reach was unavailable and suggested I try my call again later. I shrugged and hung up.
    â€œNo answer,” I said to Belinda. She huffed out a dissatisfied breath and leaned back in her chair.
    â€œWell, damn.”
    My thoughts exactly. “Sorry. It looks like we went to a lot of trouble for nothing.”
    â€œNot nothing. You got your phone back.”
    She glanced at the screen and her eyes widened. “Is that the time? I’ve got to run. I’ve got a client coming in for a reading.”
    Out of her enormous bag Belinda produced a dark blue jacket, a colorful ski hat, and an extra-large Ziploc bag. She opened the bag and motioned for me to lean closer. With a few nimble plucks she removed the bobby pins holding my wig in place and moments later I was a brunette again.Belinda slid the wig, halo and all, into the bag and zipped it closed.
    â€œAnyone who saw you going into the hotel as a blond angel won’t be looking for a subdued local. Trade.” She held out the jacket. I shrugged out of the one I was wearing and handed it to her.
    â€œI have appointments the rest of this afternoon but if you need me you call me.” She handed me a business card and placed a set of keys on the table in front of me. She pointed one glitzy nail, first at one key, then the other. “Courtyard gate. Bike lock. The gate key also opens the side door into the kitchen.”
    â€œThanks,” I said with a smile and a small headshake.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œI was just thinking you deserve that halo.”
    She waved the comment off. “Please. I’m only seventy-five percent angel sixty percent of the time. Oh, and take this.” She fished a card out of her purse and handed it to me.
    â€œA parking pass?”
    â€œThe lot is two blocks away from my place, on Dauphine.”
    â€œWhy would I need a parking pass?”
    â€œNo idea. But you will.”
    â€œThe Tingle?”
    She winked and her glitter-coated lashes flashed like diamonds.
    â€œAlways listen to the Tingle.”
    She turned to glide away through the crowd, graceful as any ballroom dancer. It made me wonder if people would ever stop surprising me.
    The thought reminded me of Logan. I picked up the card he’d left in the package and studied it.
    What was going on with him? What was his connection to Veronica? Had he done something to her? They were the same questions I’d been asking myself since the day before. Not having any answers was becoming more frustrating by the minute.
    Slipping the card back into the envelope, I tucked the package into the messenger bag Belinda had loaned me.
    My phone began singing,
Oh, girls just wanna have fun!
And I snatched it off the table. “Emma?”
    â€œHey! You didn’t lose your phone after all. Did you forget to charge it?”
    â€œIt’s a long story. Is everything okay with you?”
    â€œOf course. Why wouldn’t it be?”
    I picked up the slightest strain in her voice. “Emma, what’s going on?”
    â€œNothing.”
    â€œEm—”
    â€œDamn it. I was trying to surprise you.”
    â€œWith?”
    â€œWell, because you couldn’t come to my birthday celebration, I thought I’d come to you.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œYep! We’re on the way.”
    â€œWe? You have Moss with you?”
    â€œAnd Hugh and Kai.”
    â€œWhat?” I sputtered.
    â€œSurprise! Don’t worry—I’ve already contacted the hotel. They can accommodate us and extend your stay.”
    I was too shocked to speak for several seconds. Finally I managed to say, “Em, you can’t go to the hotel.”
    â€œWhy not?”
    â€œIt’s not safe.”
    â€œOookay.” She drew out the word, then asked, “What am I missing here?”
    â€œA lot. Listen, it’s too much to try to explain on the phone. But there’s something fishy going on. I was being followed last night so I