Kara took a sip of her coffee and looked back, pursing her lips, frowning.
“Something wrong with your coffee?” Shay pushed her foot against a stair, stretching her leg.
“I need something else...” Kara nodded toward a bar down the street. “Wait here. You want this? No? I’ll be right back. I can’t go hiking up and down that many stairs without something a little stronger to inspire.” She poured the coffee on the ground as an old man clucked at her and jogged toward the bar.
The other three women laughed and waited for her to return. Soon she returned with her cup full of beer, the top firmly in place. “Much better. Let’s go.”
The women headed toward the Micheltorena Stairs that had the words, in pursuit of magic stenciled on them.
Guess we found it.
Shay felt herself relax. No tracking treasure over the internet, negotiating with ancient Oricerans, or gunning down cartel members. Just a simple hike around a neighborhood appreciating art with her friends.
Kara sipped her beer as they hit the bottom of the stairs. “I think I need to try harder to find a guy.” She winced. “Sorry, Bella. I know you just broke up with your boyfriend.”
“You did? You didn’t mention it.” Shay saw they were all distracted looking at Bella and took the opportunity to scan the steps. No one standing around in a suit trying to fit in. No one wearing a coat in the warm weather.
They continued making their way up the long flight of stairs, the colorful paint job making it more of an adventure. Some of the stairs were painted like piano keys, pointing out the song they were playing depending on where they stepped.
Bella gave a small smile. “I didn’t want to bring everyone down. I looked up one day and realized I had a really good roommate. We realized we liked each other but don’t love each other. It’s getting easier and we’re still on good terms.”
Janelle was breathing harder, planting her entire foot as she stepped up. “That just leaves me with the only man right now. Not sure how that happened. Unless Shay’s got something to tell us?”
I wonder how Brownstone would look in some tighter pants.
Shay’s face warmed, and she prayed her friends would attribute it to the walk up the stairs, rather than her sudden embarrassment.
“Nope. Too busy to worry about men at the moment.”
Damn it. Just because the guy has some muscles, can handle himself and isn’t an idiot doesn’t mean I should be thinking of him the first time someone mentions dating. I have other options. Kind of. Sort of.
“You better hold onto Darius. A good man is hard to find.” Picture anything but Brownstone.
They all shared a laugh.
Just a normal, everyday life. No trouble. I could get used to this.
The group worked their way to another set of bright blue stairs and headed up, swinging their arms and keeping a good pace. Everyone was sweating and their breathing was labored except for Shay. She had a sheen as she breathed easily, taking in long breaths and holding back from sprinting up the stairs. She could feel the ache in her calves. I should add stairs to the warehouse.
Janelle brushed damp hair off her forehead and looked over at Shay. “Damn, Shay. You’re not even breathing hard after three different sets of stairs. That’s like a vertical mile. Are you running an obstacle course every night?”
Well, yeah, actually.
Shay laughed. “I jog a lot around the university.”
Shay’s watch let out a soft tweet. It was a Garmin Tactix Bravo GPS watch that she’d purchased after her recovery of the solid-gold owl in Paris. She looked down and saw there was a message from Peyton. A possible job. Later.
Bella looked at the watch and whistled. “Professors’ salaries have gone up.”
Shay forced a smile on her face. A sloppy mistake. The small details can expose lies.
“Boyfriend bling. A gift from an old boyfriend. He was trying to get back together with me by wallet slapping the honey.”
“I thought you didn’t have a man.”
“I said he tried, not that he succeeded.”
Her friends all laughed.
“What if he gives you a car?” Kara stopped on a stair, her hands on her knees.
“We’ll just have to see.” Shay winked and jogged ahead of her friends, checking the message from Peyton.
I’ll explain the Fiat on the day they notice. Having normal friends was even better than meditation, taking her away from the darker parts of her life, but it did complicate things.
I’ll need to be more careful next time.
No matter how close she grew to the women, they could never know the other side of her life. Shay’s plan was to create two fully formed lives till they both were the truth.
Better plan next time. No big deal. At least none of these get togethers will end with me having to shoot anyone. I hope.
“Come on, girls,” Shay shouted. “We still have seven more sets of stairs to see.”
A mixture of laughs and groans arose from below her as she bounced in place, waiting patiently.
Chapter Twelve
Shay relaxed in a Warehouse Two lounge chair reading the local paper on her iPad. She glanced over at the office where Peyton tapped away at his keyboard, a look of concentration on his face. He was researching the details of the new job.
He gave no sign that he knew his dead man’s switch was disarmed.
Not so bad, if I do say so myself.
“I know you have a place all picked out. Think it over. This setup is looking pretty nice and I’m not sure you know the difference between a showdown online and a gun in your face. One will obliterate a lot of expensive equipment and the other flies through your brain pan. You listening?”
Peyton shot out of his chair and ran out of the office, planting himself in front of Shay.
Shay
