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Marsha swapped a look with Autumn.
“Give Silvie a call. She’ll go with you,” Marsha responded. “Amberlea, get ready to decorate. Can you cook?”
“I don’t know. I used to be able to,” I replied.
“Time to find out,” Marsha said as she cocked an eyebrow at me.
It was obvious Marsha knew I had a story, but she would not question me.
???
A few hours later, I was encased in Rage’s kitchen with Faelea ‘helping’ aka eating the cupcakes I’d made. Three women, Vivie, Casey, and Sin made sandwiches, and Autumn carted in items she’d brought from a deli. A fourth lady, Ali, was making pulled pork, which she and Marsha were griping about as they didn’t have as long as usual. A woman called Penny had arrived and was briskly rolling fresh pastries as Phoe, Drake’s old lady, sat there and calmly ordered pizzas to be delivered at a certain time.
Beside Phoe was another woman, Mina, who I recognised as an actress, and she was mixing cookies and putting them onto sheets. It seemed surreal to me to be surrounded by some very rich and famous women. And there was me, a jailbird.
“Where are the kids heading?” Marsha asked Phoe as she got off the phone.
“Here, and Drake and the guys have strict instructions to keep them out of the kitchen. The after-school club at HQ will give them snacks and drinks until they’re picked up. Penny, do you want a nap yet?” Phoe questioned, looking at Penny with concern.
“Honestly, once I’ve done all these, I’ll go. But tomorrow is Saturday. Texas would let me sleep in. As soon as Marsha called, I prepared enough food for tomorrow. The girls only need to pop them in the ovens or warm stuff up,” Penny replied.
So Penny must be some sort of chef, I surmised. My puzzlement must have been seen by Mina, who smiled and leaned over.
“Phoe, you know by reputation. Let me introduce you to the others.” Mina grinned as she did just that. By the time Mina finished and they’d all told me their stories, mine and Faelea’s mouths were wide open.
In return, I felt encouraged to share my tale. As soon as I mentioned the prison, Phoe frowned and did not stop. This worried me. Was Phoe going to judge me because of my time inside? Even if it was for a crime I didn’t commit. Phoe had her phone out by the end of my explanation and was typing furiously into it.
“Well, Artemis says Simone and Butch will be here in twenty minutes. Apparently, they’ve uncovered more evidence and now have enough to take it to Ramirez and get it in front of a judge. As soon as they do, I’ll have your record cleared. What a bitch. She’s not got the money to take me on,” Phoe snarled.
Oh. Okay. Phoe was throwing down for me. Not at me!
“They’re pretty rich,” I replied with a shrug.
“Billionaire,” Phoe said, pointing at herself and then Vivie. “Loaded millionaires.” Phoe pointed at Lindsey, Mina, and Marsha. “Baby millionaires,” Phoe pointed at the rest of them.
“We’re baby millionaires because we came to the game late or only recently started investing with Phoe’s investment broker. Ain’t a single old lady who isn’t making a killing on him,” Sin explained.
“What do you call a baby millionaire?” I croaked, aghast at the wealth around me.
“Anyone with under five million,” Marsha answered with a wicked cackle.
“I see,” I replied. I thought I did. Phoe obviously had a kick-ass guy working for her, and these women had made their money on him.
“I’m a baby millionaire too, I guess,” I said to Phoe. She nodded in approval.
“It’s something I offer the old ladies. A chance to increase their cash. Puts us all on an even footing when we hit the shops. We’ve all got pride, every single old lady and none of us like to take handouts or we’re too proud to. Not so much fun shopping when one of us is watching pennies. Plus, if we want to do something, it is nice to have the money,” Phoe explained.
“It’s a good idea and generous. My experience is people hold on to their wealth. Cordelia’s parents looked down at us constantly,” I explained.
“I’d bankrupt them within an hour,” Phoe said casually, giving me a look under her eyelashes.
“No, the revenge I want is pretty damn fine. Them to be standing there as their precious, murderous, irresponsible daughter is carted away in cuffs. I wish to see their reactions and watch as they realise that what they pulled ten years ago isn’t over and done with. That I didn’t go silently into the night, that I fought and proved my innocence, and Abbi can be at rest.”
“Nice revenge. Of course, a good beating wouldn’t go amiss either,” Autumn replied, swapping glances with Marsha, Alison, Casey, and Lindsey, who all grinned.
“Could be arranged,” Phoe mused.
Were these crazy women seriously discussing beating up Cordelia?
