Page 93 of Lemon Pound Cake Club

"We're transporting her now. If anyone reaches him, have him meet us at the hospital."

Camille glanced around the room in fear one last time before the stretcher took her out the front door. As the ambulance pulled away, blue and red lights flickered across the walls.

◆◆◆

When I got home, the laughter from Camille's place had faded. The whole neighborhood felt tense and worried now.

I went upstairs without saying much to Zaire. I only paused to tell him I needed to go out.

"It’s a bit late, don’t you think?" he called out from the couch.

"I won't be long."

I could feel him watching me as I left.

"Be careful."

"I always am."

Upstairs, I stood in front of my vanity. Tonight, I didn’t want to look like myself. I used foundation to soften the lines of my face, changed my braids for a dark wig, and put on thin-framed glasses.

I picked a floral perfume I’d never worn before, then slipped into a plain black dress that no one would remember.

When I looked at my reflection one last time, she looked familiar, but not to me.

"Perfect," I whispered.

The bar was full of conversation. A quiet blues song played from speakers I couldn’t see. I picked a stool at the end of the counter and ordered a drink I knew I wouldn’t finish.

Soon, a man took the empty seat next to me. We talked easily, like strangers who knew they wouldn’t see each other again. That made him easy to like.

I smiled when the bartender came back.

"This one's on me."

"You don't have to do that."

"I know."

He thanked me anyway. We clinked our glasses and kept talking. In the middle of a story, I looked away when the bartender called out someone else’s name.

When I turned back, I pushed his new drink toward him and gave him an apologetic smile.

"I think they almost gave this to someone else."

He chuckled.

"Wouldn't want that."

After a few minutes, he began to talk more slowly and rubbed the back of his neck, as if he was getting warm.

"You okay?" I asked.

"Just... tired all of a sudden."

"You should probably head home then."

He frowned, as if something important had just come back to him.