“Speaking of creative…” He reached into the pocket of his ripped jeans and turned toward the window. When he twisted back around, he said, “Do you think I can pull this off?”
“Oh…my…oh…no…” Vivienne laughed until her stomach ached. “I can’t take you seriously with a mustache.”
“Your laugh would give us away for sure.” He peeled off the fake facial hair and left it in his cup holder.
“And I’d hate to ruin my perfect record.” She tied a light blue scarf around her neck and climbed out of the car. Before they reached the mall, she asked him the plan.
“Apparently, the perfume we want is only sold in this department store.” He pointed to the entrance. “We also need to get that blue tie with silver stripes.”
When she suggested they split up, Deacon didn’t look happy, but agreed.
“You get the perfume,” he said, turning toward the escalator, “and I’ll get the tie. I’ll meet you back here in ten.”
When she made it to the beauty counter, there was only one woman on duty, and she was busy helping an elderly lady choose between three boxed gift sets. The perfume they needed was stored behind the locked glass cabinet.
Instead of waiting, she went to the neighboring jewelry counter to ask the clerk there for help. “Excuse me. I need to buy a bottle of perfume, and I’m kinda in a hurry. Is there any way you could get it for me?”
“I’m so sorry,” the girl, who didn’t look much older than Vivienne, said. “We’re not supposed to leave our assigned areas.”
“Thanks anyway.” Vivienne checked her watch. Seven minutes. She went back to where the elderly lady had narrowed her choices from three to two.
“I just don’t know which one she’d like more.” Her wrinkled hands shook as she pulled the boxes on the counter closer.
“Why don’t you go with the newer one?” The worker pointed to the red box with shimmering gold lettering.
“Which one is more expensive?”
The woman checked the tags on the end of the boxes. “They’re both the same price.”
The elderly lady set her black purse on the counter and pulled out her wallet. “How much did you say they are?” She withdrew two twenty-dollar bills.
The worker flashed an apologetic smile toward Vivienne. “They’re seventy-five dollars each.”
“Oh…”
“Why don’t you buy both of them?” Vivienne suggested, stepping closer to the counter. “Then you can decide when you get home?”
The elderly lady squinted over her bifocals at her. “I don’t think I have enough.”
“But they’re on sale. Buy one get one free…right?” Vivienne winked at the woman behind the counter and took out her own wallet.
“That’s…that’s right.” The worker’s eyes were wide with surprise.
“Is this enough or do you need more?” Purple and blue veins protruded from beneath the thin skin covering the older woman’s hand as she slid the twenties across the glass counter.
“It’s just enough.” While the older lady was distracted by the clerk bagging her purchase, Vivienne slipped the rest of the money next to the register.
She checked her watch again. Three minutes.
“Thank you, sweetie.” The older lady hooked her bags over her forearms and hobbled toward the exit.
If Vivienne hadn’t been in such a rush, she would have offered to help the woman carry her bags.
“You really didn’t have to do that,” the clerk said.
“It’s not a big deal.” Vivienne pointed to the perfume cabinet. “Can I have the 100 ml bottle of that?”
“It comes in a gift set too.” The clerk turned and retrieved one of the white boxes behind her.
“I don’t need the set. Just the perfume.”
“Are you sure? The set’s actually cheaper, and you get—”
“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be rude, but I’m in a big hurry.” Vivienne handed the clerk her money and raced toward the escalator.
“Excuse me!” the clerk called from behind.
Vivienne groaned when she saw Deacon step onto the escalator. Back at the perfume counter, the clerk was holding the box over her head. Vivienne hurried back to collect it, muttered, “Thank you,” then made it to Deacon before he stepped off the escalator.
“Sorry for the delay,” he said, handing her a small paper bag. “There was a queue in the menswear department.”
“I know what you mean.”
“Why are you out of breath? Did you see someone?”
“Not yet.” She tucked the shimmery perfume box into the bag and followed him to the mall doors.
Cole guarded the exit, scanning passersby.
“Let’s go back.” Deacon settled his hand on her lower back.
“Isn’t that Nicola?” Vivienne pointed across the crowded food court toward their friend. Sure enough, Nicola waved at them from between patrons carrying bags and trays of food. Vivienne lifted her hand to return the gesture.
“Get back here,” Deacon snapped, grabbing the back of her sweater and pulling her into a store. They barely escaped a collision with a young mother pushing her infant in a stroller.
“Let go.” She straightened her top. “Nicola’s not a recruiter.”
“That doesn’t mean Ethan wouldn’t stoop to using her as a scout. I’m telling you, it’s not a coincidence she’s here.”
Vivienne peered around the shelf of handbags and saw Nicola approaching with her phone to her ear. “Fine.” She turned back to Deacon. “What do you want to do now?”
“Find a place to hide and hope our patience is greater than theirs.”
Cole continued to supervise the main doors, and Ethan appeared from the opposite direction to meet Nicola where she stood by the only other straightforward exit. Short of opening a fire door, their options for escaping without notice were slim.
“If you stay here, then I could—”
Stay here. Take this. Let me help you . . . He needed to stop.
Vivienne put her hand over his mouth. “You’ve gotta stop sacrificing yourself so I can win. If I’m ever going to be allowed in the field, I’ll have to prove I can take care of myself. Let’s make it out together this time, okay?”
Deacon pried her hand away. “Hiding it is.”
Vivienne was able to walk among the racks of women’s clothes without being seen. Deacon wasn’t as lucky, and there were only so many times he could stoop and pretend to tie his shoe without drawing more attention to himself.
“Any ideas?” he asked, keeping watch through the tall display of maxi dresses.
Vivienne’s eyes darted this way and that as she willed a solution into existence. Then, in the near corner, she saw their saving grace. “Come on.” She grabbed his hand and tugged him forward while she collected a random selection of clothes.
“That’s grand for you,” he said when he saw their destination. “But what am I going to do?”
“Come with me.”
His eyes widened. “It’s the women’s dressing room.”