Shirleen grinned. “That’s it. You talk to Lee about paperwork. You give him lip about paperwork. Now, that I’d like to see. Make sure Shirleen’s around when you talk to Lee about paperwork. He loves to talk about paperwork.”
At this juncture, wisely, Kitty Sue decided to intervene, “Ally, get that pile from the end of Shirleen’s desk and you and Indy help sort. Shirleen, move out from behind the desk, Sadie’s going to type labels on the computer and make up folders. Daisy, start with the A’s, file what already has a folder in the cabinet, give Sadie the rest so she can make folders. Come on girls,” She clapped her hands. “Let’s go.”
Boy, you could tell Kitty Sue was a Mom. Even Daisy and Shirleen did as she ordered which meant Shirleen moved to the far more comfortable couch and kept polishing her nails.
I found the folders and labels and started typing. Daisy started filing. Kitty Sue, Indy and Ally kept on sorting.
In an hour, we were done, the last label typed, the last folder put away. Kitty Sue closed a drawer with her foot and swiped her hands together like she was brushing off dust.
“Oowee, world’s put to rights, Lee’s paperwork is filed. I’ll call the mayor,” Shirleen announced from her reclining position on the couch, her head coming up from her perusal of Us magazine.
Daisy, Ally, Indy and Kitty Sue all went red in the face and glared at Shirleen.
“Why don’t we go to dinner? My treat,” I offered before anyone could commit a violent act, or worse, say something they regretted.
“Can’t,” Shirleen said, sitting up. “Orders are you stay here unless one of the Hot Bunch is around to escort you. They’re all tied up. You’re stuck.”
“Then we’ll order pizza,” I decided.
Shirleen nodded and grinned. “That’ll work. I got Famous on speed dial.”
Of course she did.
“I’ll call the girls, the Hot Bunch are all working tonight so they’re all free,” Indy put in.
“Tell Jet to stop by Pasquini’s and pick up dessert,” Ally threw in.
“Tell Jules to bring Max, I haven’t seen him in ages,” Kitty Sue said.
“Tell Roxie to pop by the liquor store and get beer,” Daisy finished.
I moved out from behind the desk to give Shirleen room and walked to the side of the couch to pick up my purse so I could call Ralphie and Buddy to see if they wanted to come around.
I grabbed my phone, dropped my purse to the couch and turned, back to the door, to face the girls, all of whom were across the room.
“I’ll call Ralphie and Bud –” I started but didn’t finish.
The door opened behind me, I didn’t have a chance to turn but I did see Daisy’s face grow pale, her mouth opened to say something but I felt something very unpleasant touch my neck.
I dropped the phone and everything went black.
Chapter Twenty-Two
He Taught Me How to Make S’Mores
Sadie
It was well past dawn when the door opened, the lights went on and Jerry walked in.
I’d been up for hours, watching the sun lighten the dark room as it peeped through the closed curtains at the window.
I did not spend this time scared.
I spent it angry.
I was over this.
Over.