[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.We decided we d have to say pinkmore than once in the message to mark it as code, remem-ber, and not just about something that s really just, um,pink. Brooke sounded excited. Stella has definitely in-voked the Code. She s talking about perms and rods and rinsing andValentine s Day, not Wednesday, and I don t know whatshe s talking about.Help me out here, I don t have the Codewith me. Lacey, you didn t memorize the Code? Jeez.I am so dis-appointed in you. Sue me.I ll take a makeup exam later. Lacey checkedher watch.It was a quarter to ten. I think there s somethingreally wrong, Brooke.She s talking about a perm.I don thave an appointment today, and I don t want a perm, I dnever get a perm.You know the Code, don t you? I created the Code.Mostly. Brooke sounded huffy, as ifLacey had accused her of not doing her homework. I needto hear the message. I typed it up.But here, just call my voice mail and listento Stella.I ll hold. She gave Brooke the numbers.Therewas a long pause.Finally Lacey had to say something. Brooke, are you there? What do you think? I m not sure.She s mixing things up. Brooke wasalarmed. She s gone way off script. Lacey reached for her coat and purse. I m grabbinga taxi to Stylettos.I m supposed to meet her for lunchanyway. I ll get my car and meet you there. Your car? You never know when you ll need two tons of horse-power and steel. No one knew where Stella was.Stylettos assistant man-ager Michelle was at the front counter fielding calls and re-setting appointments.She told Lacey Stella hadn t openedthe salon as planned, which was unusual, though not un-heard of.There had been the occasional hangover.Michellehad simply opened it up when she got there and assumed ARMED AND GLAMOROUS 289Stella was running late.Michelle gave Lacey a big wink, asif they both knew why Stella might have a hard time gettingout of bed in the morning these days, with her new boyfriendand all.But still, Michelle thought it was a little odd, be-cause Stella s two youngest fans were already there.Shewaved at Jasmine and Lily Rose, who were heading to theshampoo bowls.The girls spotted Lacey.They squealed and waved at herin their mirrors, and she waved back.Kim, Mac s petitewife, came rushing up.She looked confused. What s up, Lacey, you re early.Where s Stella? I don t know, she may be in some kind of jam. The front door chimes sounded as Brooke sailed throughthe door of the salon. I m in a no-parking zone.What didyou find out? Stella never showed up, Lacey said. No one s heardfrom her. Give me the message.You said you typed it. Brooke sat in a salon chair to read it and compare it withher master copy of the Pink Collar Code.Ten-year-old LilyRose bolted out of her chair and hurled herself at Lacey.Bigsister Jasmine was close on her heels, but she stopped shortof a big hug.Twelve-year-olds who are totally almost thir-teen do not hug.She gave Lacey her biggest smile.Then shehugged her. Guess what, Lacey! Lily Rose shouted.Jasmineshushed her and she shifted her voice to a loud stage whis-per. Me and Jasmine are gonna be dopted by Mac andKim! And after we re dopted we ll all be a family and noone can take us away ever! Adopted! Lacey had hoped that might be in the works,but Mac hadn t tipped his hand. That s wonderful, LilyRose. Lacey leaned down and whispered, But you have tokeep Mac in line, okay? The girls giggles were infectious. We already do that, Lily Rose said.Kim smiled at Lacey.She turned to her youngest fosterdaughter. What did I tell you, Lily Rose? The little girl s eyes opened wide.She clasped her hands 290 Ellen Byerrumover her mouth.In an even louder whisper she added, It s asecret! Jasmine burst out laughing. Lily Rose can t keep se-crets. Can too! the smaller girl insisted. Lacey s a reporter and now it s going to be in all the pa-pers, Jasmine teased. No, it isn t! the younger girl insisted. It s spectacular, and I promise not to tell. Lacey said. Not until you tell me I can. Brooke jumped out of her chair, Code in hand, and brokeup the family circle. Lacey, we have to get going.Rightnow. You can t go, Lacey, Jasmine said accusingly, we resupposed to go have lunch after our hair appointment! Youpromised! No time for lunch, Brooke said. Lacey and I are on arescue mission. The only way to deal with the kids was complete honesty,Lacey knew, no matter what other people said, and shedidn t take breaking a promise lightly [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl milosnikstop.keep.pl
.We decided we d have to say pinkmore than once in the message to mark it as code, remem-ber, and not just about something that s really just, um,pink. Brooke sounded excited. Stella has definitely in-voked the Code. She s talking about perms and rods and rinsing andValentine s Day, not Wednesday, and I don t know whatshe s talking about.Help me out here, I don t have the Codewith me. Lacey, you didn t memorize the Code? Jeez.I am so dis-appointed in you. Sue me.I ll take a makeup exam later. Lacey checkedher watch.It was a quarter to ten. I think there s somethingreally wrong, Brooke.She s talking about a perm.I don thave an appointment today, and I don t want a perm, I dnever get a perm.You know the Code, don t you? I created the Code.Mostly. Brooke sounded huffy, as ifLacey had accused her of not doing her homework. I needto hear the message. I typed it up.But here, just call my voice mail and listento Stella.I ll hold. She gave Brooke the numbers.Therewas a long pause.Finally Lacey had to say something. Brooke, are you there? What do you think? I m not sure.She s mixing things up. Brooke wasalarmed. She s gone way off script. Lacey reached for her coat and purse. I m grabbinga taxi to Stylettos.I m supposed to meet her for lunchanyway. I ll get my car and meet you there. Your car? You never know when you ll need two tons of horse-power and steel. No one knew where Stella was.Stylettos assistant man-ager Michelle was at the front counter fielding calls and re-setting appointments.She told Lacey Stella hadn t openedthe salon as planned, which was unusual, though not un-heard of.There had been the occasional hangover.Michellehad simply opened it up when she got there and assumed ARMED AND GLAMOROUS 289Stella was running late.Michelle gave Lacey a big wink, asif they both knew why Stella might have a hard time gettingout of bed in the morning these days, with her new boyfriendand all.But still, Michelle thought it was a little odd, be-cause Stella s two youngest fans were already there.Shewaved at Jasmine and Lily Rose, who were heading to theshampoo bowls.The girls spotted Lacey.They squealed and waved at herin their mirrors, and she waved back.Kim, Mac s petitewife, came rushing up.She looked confused. What s up, Lacey, you re early.Where s Stella? I don t know, she may be in some kind of jam. The front door chimes sounded as Brooke sailed throughthe door of the salon. I m in a no-parking zone.What didyou find out? Stella never showed up, Lacey said. No one s heardfrom her. Give me the message.You said you typed it. Brooke sat in a salon chair to read it and compare it withher master copy of the Pink Collar Code.Ten-year-old LilyRose bolted out of her chair and hurled herself at Lacey.Bigsister Jasmine was close on her heels, but she stopped shortof a big hug.Twelve-year-olds who are totally almost thir-teen do not hug.She gave Lacey her biggest smile.Then shehugged her. Guess what, Lacey! Lily Rose shouted.Jasmineshushed her and she shifted her voice to a loud stage whis-per. Me and Jasmine are gonna be dopted by Mac andKim! And after we re dopted we ll all be a family and noone can take us away ever! Adopted! Lacey had hoped that might be in the works,but Mac hadn t tipped his hand. That s wonderful, LilyRose. Lacey leaned down and whispered, But you have tokeep Mac in line, okay? The girls giggles were infectious. We already do that, Lily Rose said.Kim smiled at Lacey.She turned to her youngest fosterdaughter. What did I tell you, Lily Rose? The little girl s eyes opened wide.She clasped her hands 290 Ellen Byerrumover her mouth.In an even louder whisper she added, It s asecret! Jasmine burst out laughing. Lily Rose can t keep se-crets. Can too! the smaller girl insisted. Lacey s a reporter and now it s going to be in all the pa-pers, Jasmine teased. No, it isn t! the younger girl insisted. It s spectacular, and I promise not to tell. Lacey said. Not until you tell me I can. Brooke jumped out of her chair, Code in hand, and brokeup the family circle. Lacey, we have to get going.Rightnow. You can t go, Lacey, Jasmine said accusingly, we resupposed to go have lunch after our hair appointment! Youpromised! No time for lunch, Brooke said. Lacey and I are on arescue mission. The only way to deal with the kids was complete honesty,Lacey knew, no matter what other people said, and shedidn t take breaking a promise lightly [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]