Erica Spindler - Shocking Pink

Julie nodded, then looked at Raven. The girl paused a moment, then acquiesced. “Deal.”

The three friends had made their plan for watching the house. They would spend the afternoons and after-dinner hours, barring any unexpected monkey wrenches, together. They split the rest of the days and nights into shifts, their times determined by their home situations.

Julie took the early-morning watch not only because her house was on the same street as the one they were watching, but also because her dad operated under the belief that most sin took place later in the day. Combined with the fact that the morning hours were busy ones in the Cooper household, Julie had a good bit of freedom before 10:00 a.m.

Raven’s dad, on the other hand, gave her an incredible amount of latitude—as long as she was waiting for him when he arrived home from work, dinner on the table and a smile on her face.

Andie filled in the weekday time gaps. Between her mom’s job hunting and her constant depression, she hardly even noticed if Andie was around.

Weekends were up for grabs, though; because of increased activity on the street the girls didn’t think they would see their mystery man then anyway.

They had found the perfect lookout in a huge oak tree in the empty lot next to the house. A couple of years back, some kids had begun to build a tree house in its big branches, but had been forced to abandon it when the lot’s owner had discovered their handiwork. Though nothing more than a wide platform, it fit the three of them comfortably, shielded them from sight and afforded them a clear view of the house’s driveway.

So far, however, there had been no sign of their mystery man.

Frustrated, they had decided to try something new. Both times they’d heard the music, it had been late—past eleven. So tonight they had decided to sneak out of their houses and meet at the platform at ten-thirty sharp. It was now ten to eleven.

“Where do you think Rave is?” Julie asked, glancing at her watch.

Andie shrugged. “Maybe she couldn’t get out. You know, sometimes her dad stays up late.”

Julie caught her bottom lip between her teeth, obviously worried. “You don’t think he found out what we’re up to? If he did, he’ll go straight to our parents. You know he will.”

Andie peered toward the street. “Naw. Raven’s dad would be the last to find out something. Raven’s too smooth to get caught.”

“I suppose you’re right.” Julie shivered and rubbed her arms. “I guess I’m just nervous, that’s all.”

Andie brought the binoculars to her eyes. The mystery house was as dark and deserted-looking as always. Weird, she thought. The whole thing was weird.

“There she is!”

Andie swung the binoculars to the street. Sure enough, Raven was making her way toward the empty lot at a jog. Moments later, she crashed through the underbrush, heading in their direction.

“We were getting worried,” Julie called in an exaggerated whisper.

“Sorry,” Raven answered, skidding to a stop under the tree and looking up at them, struggling to catch her breath. “Wait till you hear this, you’re not going to believe it. My dad’s dating! That’s why I’m late. We had to have dinner together. They’re going out dancing now.” She took another deep breath. “I had to wait for them to leave.”

“Dating?” Andie scooted to the right to make room for Raven. “That’s hard to believe.”

“No kidding.” Raven climbed onto the platform. “I was blown away.”

“I always thought it was sweet,” Julie murmured. “The way he pined for your mom. Sitting on your patio for hours, just kind of staring off into space.”

“Real sweet.” Raven made a face. “Anyway, I played super nice for this lady, making like my dad was some sort of superhero or something. I felt like warning her instead.” She brought her hands to her mouth, megaphone-style. “Caution, asshole ahead!”

Julie burst out laughing. “Raven, you kill me. Your dad’s not that bad.”

“No,” she said softly, looking her friend dead in the eye. “He’s worse.”

For a moment, all three girls were silent. Andie cleared her throat, uncomfortable. Julie flushed, obviously embarrassed and at a loss for words. They both looked away. It wasn’t what Raven had said about her dad, but the way she had said it. The way she always sounded when she talked about him.

Like he was some sort of monster.

Andie had the feeling there was something Raven hadn’t told her about her dad, something important. Something really bad.

Andie shook her head slightly, as if to rid herself of the traitorous thought. What wouldn’t Raven have told her? They were closer than sisters; they shared everything with each other, they had from the moment they met.

“Look!” Julie elbowed her hard. “It’s him!”

Andie turned. Sure enough, a car was coming down the hill and turning into number twelve Mockingbird Lane’s driveway. Raven had the binoculars, although Andie doubted she could see much in the dark. As they watched, the automatic garage door went up; the car disappeared inside, then the door lowered.

“Did you see his face?” Andie asked. Raven shook her head and Andie let out a frustrated breath. “Darn it.”

“You guys,” Julie hissed. “Another car.”

Andie and Raven turned. It was. Another car. Pulling into number twelve’s driveway, into the garage.

Raven lowered the binoculars. The girls looked at each other. “Two cars?” they said in unison.

“It’s a woman,” Raven said. “I saw her. She checked her reflection in the lighted visor mirror while she waited for the garage door to open.”

Andie sat back hard. “Holy shit.”

“It’s a romance,” Julie whispered. “A love affair.” She sighed. “That’s so cool.”

Raven frowned at her. “Then why the scarves? Why the music late at night? Why meet in an empty house?”

The three girls looked at each other. “What now?” Andie asked.

“We go down there,” Raven answered. “We get some answers.”

“And just how do you propose we do that?”

“We peek in the windows.” Raven grinned. “How else?”

“No way.” Andie looked at Julie who was already shimmying out of the tree. “You guys are crazy. No way am I going down there to peek in those windows.”

Five minutes later, Andie followed Raven and Julie around the back of the mystery couple’s house. As they approached the first window, they ducked down to avoid being seen. When they reached it, they cautiously eased up to peer over the ledge.

The room appeared to be empty.

They crouched down and went to the next window, then the next, each time with the same results. Andie was beginning to believe the whole thing was going to be a bust, when Raven motioned frantically from the window just ahead.

Andie went, though she couldn’t believe she was doing this. Her heart was pounding so fast and hard she felt faint. She continued anyway.

She peered over the windowsill. The room was dark save for the glow from a single, flickering candle. It took Andie’s eyes a moment to adjust to the darkness; when they did, she saw the man. He sat in the lone chair in the room, his back to the window.

It was him, she knew. The man from the other night.

Then she saw the woman. She stood several feet in front of the man, arms at her side, still as a statue. She wore a conservative suit—knee-length skirt and short jacket. Her white blouse was high-necked and buttoned all the way up. Her shoes were low-heeled, her hair styled in a conservative bob.

She fit the image of banker or accountant or president of the PTA. Except for one thing.