More silence.

I persevered. “So, not only do we need to get Smithie out of the tree without anyone getting arrested, someone needs to do something about the Moms because so far Olivia has been cool about the counseling. I think she’s coming to terms with her man troubles but, you know, we don’t know her very well. Your Mom has the best of intentions but, from what I’ve seen, Olivia can throw some attitude. I don’t know, she might turn at any moment. Not to mention, Tex is totally pissed because we have to swing by the mall –”

“Ava. Quiet.”

He said it in the tone where I knew he meant it and if he had been close I knew I wouldn’t have had the words but a hard shut-Ava-up-kiss.

Then he said, voice still low and angry, “Give the phone to Ma.”

“Okay,” I agreed readily and didn’t delay but turned to the huddle. “Mrs. Stark, Luke wants to talk to you.”

She smiled happily, looking like she didn’t have a care in the world, and walked up to me. She took my phone, put it to her ear, listened for about five seconds, smiled and said, “Of course. Be safe.” Then she handed the phone back to me, her eyes giddy happy, she ignored my open-mouthed stare and she walked back to the huddle.

Then she said something truly frightening, “Christine, we have to go. Luke says we need to make a reservation at a steakhouse. I’m thinking Buckhorn Exchange or Morton’s. If we get in at Morton’s, we can dress up.”

Slowly, with creeping dread, I put the phone to my ear. “Why is your Mom making reservations for dinner?”

He ignored my question. “Lee’s calling Eddie right now, Eddie will deal with Smithie. You go to the mall. I’ll pick you up at your place at seven.”

My body got tight and I repeated, “Why is your Mom making reservations for dinner?”

“You can call off the Rock Chicks and tell Winnie’s granddaughter to stand down. We got Dexter in the holding room.”

My tight body went stone still and my lungs evacuated all oxygen. “Luke,” I whispered.

“After the mall, if you want, you can have Tex or Duke bring you here if you got something to say, or do, to Dexter.”

“Luke –”

“You got two hours, you’re not here, we’re finishing with him.”

“Luke –”

“Two hours, babe.”

“Luke!” I cried, fear taking hold of me as oxygen burned a wake into my lungs.

He didn’t hear me, he had disconnected.

The tribe gathered around as I numbly flipped the phone shut. Sissy knew me better than anyone. She read my body language, got close and took my hand.

“The hunt’s off, the Hot Bunch got him,” I whispered and everyone looked at each other.

“Well, that was no fun,” Olivia remarked. “Just a brother in a tree. I hope the mall works out. I need me a good top if I’m gonna find a decent man. This season, there ain’t no good tops. I need cle**age. Cleavage was last season. I can’t find cle**age anywhere.”

“Sugar, you okay?” Daisy asked, eyes sharp on me.

No, I was not okay. I needed a new plan and I needed it fast.

I closed my eyes, took in a deep breath and then, as usual, I winged it. I opened my eyes and looked at Duke. “Eddie’s going to take care of Smithie,” I said and Duke nodded. Then I looked at Jet. “Can you call Indy and Ally, tell them it’s over?” Jet nodded too. Then I looked at Tod and Stevie. “I need an outfit for Morton’s and really good underwear. The outfit has to be the f**k-me outfit to end all f**k-me outfits. The underwear has to be good-enough-to-manipulate-a-macho-man underwear. The kind he can’t say no to. Can you do that?”

“You betcha, girlie,” Tod told me on a huge smile.

My eyes went to Roxie. “I need the works and I need it fast. Once Tod and Stevie get the clothes and shoes, can you do the works?”

She knew exactly what I was asking and answered, “Of course.”

I turned to Olivia. “Go to your grandma, I’m going to be calling her in half an hour. If she agrees to my plan, you both have to be ready to roll.”

“This mean I’m not goin’ to the mall?” Olivia asked.

“I’ll take you to the mall tomorrow,” I told her.

“Works for me,” she said.

Finally I looked at Tex. “Luke says you’ll take me to the offices after I’m ready. Will you do that?”

Tex’s gaze cut to Duke then back to me. “No problem, darlin’.”

My eyes moved to Shirleen and I said simply, “I need you.”

Without hesitation Shirleen said, “Whatever it is, I’m there.”

Sissy squeezed my hand. “You want me to come with you too?”

I turned to her. “No, I need you to babysit Marilyn and Sofia and I want you to come to dinner with us tonight. Can you do that?”

“Absolutely,” she answered.

That’s when we heard sirens.

“What the f**k!” Smithie shouted. “Where did you all go? Is anyone f**kin’ there? I’m in a f**kin’ tree. Jesus f**kin’ Christ.”

Tex got close and his huge hand settled on top of my head. “Let’s go,” he said, the boom muted but still there.

I nodded.

I looked back at the Rock Chicks as Tex, Shirleen and I headed to the Navigator. There were smiles, waves and chin lifts.

I waved back but didn’t smile.

I was too busy freaking out about what I was going to do next.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Octuple Revenge

Tex drove his bronze El Camino into the parking garage under the Nightingale Investigations offices and I saw Olivia wheeling Winnie’s wheelchair around the side of her Lexus.

Tex parked and barely had the car shut off when he shot out, hauling ass over to Olivia. I followed as fast as I could which wasn’t very fast in four and a half inch, spiked heels.

“Shee-it, girl, you’re about five foot two and wearin’ pumps. You shouldn’t be doin’ transfers. It ain’t safe. Get outta my way, I got it,” he boomed to Olivia and I watched with surprise as he pushed her aside while he explained to Winnie, “Don’t worry. Jet taught me how to do this. Nancy, my girlfriend, Jet’s Mom, was still recoverin’ from a stroke when we got together. She’d get tired, she’d need her chair.”

Olivia and I stood back as Tex expertly transferred Winnie from car to chair.

“You’re good at that,” Winnie said when she settled in.