ask, “You know that’s insane, right? Don’t you have undercover agents for stuff like this, or can’t you make one of the girls spill after the party? Hell, why don’t you do it yourself? You can get gussied up.”
She nods but doesn’t look happy about it. “We do have agents, a whole list of female agents who can get prettied up with the best of them. And trust me, I considered doing it myself. But the op got the red light, which makes absolutely zero sense. Our suspicions are circumstantial at best, but this is our best shot on two big fish like this. If I go in after being told no, it’d be career suicide. If you do it, I have plausible deniability. I hate to say that, but it’s the truth.”
She drums on the table, telling me wordlessly just how nervous she is about this idea. “Look, I know you’re not an agent or anything. But you’re something better.”
She pauses dramatically, like she’s coercing me to give her my best Barbie doll for her old one after she’d chopped its hair. Yeah, that happened, and I haven’t forgiven her even though it was fifteen years ago.
She continues, laying it on thick. “You’re an actress who can get in, strut around a little, and fit in with the other hostesses, but if they start talking gems and stuff, you have a brain in that thick skull of yours that might actually pick up on something important. That’s why I don’t want to use one of the other hostess girls. She’d be an unknown, and what if she’s ditzy as can be? I can’t risk that she might miss something. Don’t go snooping or anything dangerous. Just play hostess and listen. Small talk at most.”
She takes a deep breath, her eyes meeting mine, and I can see the fierceness lurking in their depths. “I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t the only way, Em. Please.”
“Tell me about the hostesses. I’m not going Pretty Woman hooker for your work, Sis. No matter how big the bust might be.” Though I don’t say yes, she hears that I’ve already decided in my heart. She’s my sister, and I can’t turn her down. Not on something this important, not when she’s virtually begging.
She shakes her head vehemently, unable to hide the smirk at my reference. “No, no, no, not hookers or escorts or anything like that. I mean, some of the girls I’m sure will be gold diggin’, but this will be just like one of Mom’s galas. Walk around, make small talk, and compliment all the men, basically just eye candy.”
She rolls her eyes at the same time I do. We have been to enough of Mom’s so-called charity events and Dad’s business get-togethers to know the routine by heart. Look pretty, play nice, and fawn over the guy’s substantial wallet so he’ll open it up, while making sure our legs don’t go the same way. It’s a role I could play in my sleep because I’ve done it most of my life.
“And the hostess company? How do they feel about me encroaching on their gig?” I ask, looking for any flaw in her plan. But Claire is a pro and has thought of everything.
She pulls a few pieces of paper from her bag, setting them down and slapping an ID on top with a picture of me from a few years ago.
“They won’t even know. The call went out for ten girls, and ten girls will show up. I’m afraid Jessica is due for a little car trouble and she won’t be able to make the party.” Claire’s smirk is one of pure arrogance. “The girls don’t always know each other. It’s a pretty high turnover rate industry, so you’ll just be the new girl.”
I pick up the ID, running my finger along the picture and words. “And my name is Kitty? Seriously, you couldn’t have chosen something a bit less ridiculous? Since you’ve already got my picture on there, I guess you thought I was a pretty sure thing, huh?”
She shrugs, not upset by my biting tone at all. “I strongly hoped you’d do it for me. And I had to do the fake documents on the fly. They’re good, will pass muster, but I had to take what I could get.”
I set the card down and look Claire in the eyes as I take a big breath. “Okay, but if this is like one of my usual acting gigs, I