Page 55 of Tiger on the Prowl

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Just before Olivia entered her cottage, she switched her cell phone back on. It was a precautionary measure in case Smith was tracking her phone. She hadn’t switched it on since Jay had stolen the car after the lunch with her parents.

The leather travel bag she’d used during her short stay at the wedding hotel in her hand, she entered her home and did what she normally did when she got home. Jay had told her to act as normal as possible. Olivia tossed her bag on the floor, then picked up the mail that had collected on the floor of the foyer. She tossed most of it straight in the trash—solicitations, and flyers from a local supermarket.

She went to the fridge, pulled out a bottle of water and took a large gulp, not bothering with a glass.

When her cell phone rang, she knew who it was before she even looked at the display. She pulled it from her handbag, then clicked on answer.

“Oh, hey, Jay!” she said cheerfully, then put him on speaker, while she put the bottle of water back in the fridge and opened a cupboard. She snatched a package of cookies and looked for a pair of scissors to open it.

“Where were you? I was trying to call you all day yesterday,” Jay asked.

“I told you my parents were still here. So I stayed with them in D.C. for an extra day.”

“You could at least have answered my calls.”

“Sorry, but my battery died. I mean, totally died. I had to find a store to get the right replacement battery.” This statement would give Smith an explanation why her cell phone was off for nearly two days.

“I’m relieved. When I couldn’t get a hold of you… well, anyway. Just wanted to say hi.”

“It’s good to hear your voice. I was thinking, you know I have nothing in the fridge, and I have to go back into D.C., because I forgot to pick up the book I’d ordered from the specialty bookstore near Dupont Circle, so how about lunch in the city?”

“Uhm, yeah, I’m not sure… I’m kind of busy,” Jay said.

“Oh come on, just an hour. You can’t be all that busy. There’s this French place on 14th Street. It’s called Le Diplomate, and they have an outdoor terrace. Why don’t you meet me there, let’s say at noon?”

“Well, okay, I guess I have to eat anyway.”

“Great! Can’t wait to see you. And please, don’t be late like last time. I hate waiting. Especially in a restaurant. It’s so embarrassing.” She pouted.

“I’ll be there.”

“Bye.” Olivia disconnected the call, and went into her bedroom to get changed.