weâve said everything we have to sayââ
âThese two little crystal and silver shakers? Ah, yes. Okay. Iâd like to see them.â
âOne moment.â She gave the customer a pseudo smile, then whipped her head back to Wyatt. âIt took me a while, but Iâve come to terms with what happenedââ
âBut,â Wyatt interrupted, pleading his case, âI was wrong. I know that now. I wantâ No, I need to tell you. To wipe the slate clean.â
The collector was becoming impatient. âIâm supposed to meet some friends for drinks soonââ
âOne damn moment!â Wyatt snapped.
The customerâs jaw dropped.
Annie let her eyes slide shut. This much she knew about Wyatt: heâd never leave her alone until she heard him out. And by then, sheâd have no more customers left. âOkay,â she whispered. âWhen?â
âTonight? Over dinner?â
âFine. What time?â
âSeven. Iâll pick you upâ¦here?â
âIâll be at home at seven.â She strode to the counter where the collector was fidgeting and fuming. Snagging one of her business cards from a silver tray, she scribbled her home address on the back. âIâm just down the block from Momâs place. Youâll find it.â
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That afternoon Patsy put on her most âMeredithâ dress and fashioned her hair in her most âMeredithâ style, and upon adding some jewelry and a dash of pale lipstick, couldnât have looked more like Meredith than Meredith herself. If Meredith were around, sheâd be proud, Patsy thought with a harsh little laugh.
After one last glance at herself and then, into her satchel full of props, she snapped it shut and deemed herself ready to hit the road.
Patsyâs sporty black BMW purred down the freeway, making the trip between Prosperino and L.A. a pleasure. In an effort to keep her courage up, she put on some of her favorite hard rock tapes and screamed along with the lead singers. When lunchtime rolled around, she poured herself a glass of fine champagne and lit an expensive gold-tipped cigarette. After all, she was watching her weight and a little liquid lunch was all she really craved.
When Patsy got to L.A., she knew exactly where she was going. Sheâd been in this neighborhood before to hire that idiot Snake Eyes Pike. The one who was supposed to have put Emily away for good. Patsy tucked the cork back into her bottle and exhaled. âAh, well, canât win âem all,â she muttered. Besides, Snake Eyes was still on the job, so there was hope.
Consulting her map, she slowed, navigated several tricky lane changes and turns, not easy considering the champagne bottle and crystal stemware in the passenger seat. Ah, yes. There it was. Patsy tapped on the brakes and read the huge sign that loomed over the top of the broken-down warehouse.
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The Look-Alike Agency
Celebrity look-alikes for movie doubles
Private parties, birthday messages and so much more!
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Yes, this was exactly what she needed. She parked in the secluded lot in this seedy, industrial section of town and entered the warehouse through the front door. The musty smell of old clothing and mothballs instantly assailed her. Behind the counter, an older woman worked sewing buttons onto a jacket.
âHello,â Patsy said in that smooth, well-monitored tone that made people know they were dealing with someone special.
âWhat can I do for ya?â The woman did not pause in her stitching to spare her a glance.
âI need a double to pose as a friend of mine, for a practical joke weâre doing for hisâ¦his birthday.â
âOkay. What type you need?â
Patsy dug a picture of Jackson out of her satchel. âI needsomeone who can look like him with the right hair and makeup.â
The woman stopped sewing and took the photo. âStu. You need Stu. He can look like anybody
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