Read Online The Devil Makes Three by Julie Mangan - Free Book Online
Authors: Julie Mangan
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He might really not know why I was there.
“May I suggest that if you’re getting a jump start on your research paper, I’m always happy to read drafts to help point struggling students in the right direction.”
“I’ll keep it in mind. Anything else?” For some strange reason, my heart-beat tripled at the thought of specialized help from him.
“Nope. See you Friday.”
“Yeah. Friday.”
#
From school, I took a bus to the Central City Mall and started at the department store on the north end. I had a clear goal of jammies in mind and felt determined not to get waylaid. But walking inside I came across purses and accessories first. I had to stop and browse. What woman wouldn’t with five thousand dollars to burn?
I got away from women's accessories with a steal on a new purse and a new perfume. Deciding it best to keep some sort of focus to my spending, I then headed over to sleepwear. Robes and night gowns in frightfully dry patterns and cuts met my eyes. It felt like shopping for my old auntie. Even my mother wouldn’t be caught dead in clothes this frumpy.
I left the department store and wandered down the mall. A Victoria’s Secret sat somewhere in the middle and I felt fairly certain I would find something more to my liking in their plethora of sleepwear.
On my way I passed a salon that I found I couldn’t resist. Walking up to the counter, I asked the receptionist if she had room for an unscheduled manicure, and she pointed me to a chair.
The place smelled heavily of some sort of tropic fruit, giving me a headache. Next to me, the gossip of two women grated across my nerves as the manicurist started in on my cuticles. The younger of the two women wore way too much makeup, way too little clothing for the month of January, and I suspected extensive hair bleaching had affected her brain capacity. She looked like Paris Hilton on a really bad day. Used up. Luckily, the manicure didn’t take long. Within an hour I had acrylic fingernails in a violent shade of red and toenails to match.
I left the salon after tipping the manicurist generously and walked further down the concourse. On my right PJ’s PCs come into view and I stopped to see if they had a laptop battery that would suit my needs.
“Can I help you?” A short girl of about 18, with a name tag reading Katie walked up to me and cocked her head to one side.
I told her what I wanted and she nodded knowingly after sizing me up in a very obvious way. “We don’t keep a supply of batteries on hand that would work with your model. Your laptop is kind of old. Have you thought of upgrading?”
Actually, I hadn’t but now that she mentioned it, it didn’t sound like a bad idea. After all, it wasn’t like I had anything really pressing to do with my money now that I had a new source of income.
In less than ten minutes I had picked out a new model and loaded up on a new bag, extra battery, and a subscription to wireless internet for my apartment.
“Wow. I’ve reached my quota for the week thanks to you,” Katie said. “Looks like I can take the weekend off.”
“Have a good time. One of us should.” I pulled the envelope of cash out of my bag and began counting out hundreds to her. She stared at the cash with interest.
“You know, most people pay with a card.”
“I don’t believe in plastic.”
She examined each bill with careful consideration and I found myself wondering for the first time if they were real. It figured Corbin would do something like that to me. He was obviously a criminal after all. I wouldn’t put something like counterfeiting past him. The bastard.
“With all this cash you have nothing exciting planned for the weekend?” Katie eyed the remaining cash in the envelope and began gathering the examined bills.
“Money doesn’t translate into a life.”
“That’s a shame. I know a good poker game that’s looking for an extra player.”
I paused in the act of stuffing the envelope back in my bag and
“May I suggest that if you’re getting a jump start on your research paper, I’m always happy to read drafts to help point struggling students in the right direction.”
“I’ll keep it in mind. Anything else?” For some strange reason, my heart-beat tripled at the thought of specialized help from him.
“Nope. See you Friday.”
“Yeah. Friday.”
#
From school, I took a bus to the Central City Mall and started at the department store on the north end. I had a clear goal of jammies in mind and felt determined not to get waylaid. But walking inside I came across purses and accessories first. I had to stop and browse. What woman wouldn’t with five thousand dollars to burn?
I got away from women's accessories with a steal on a new purse and a new perfume. Deciding it best to keep some sort of focus to my spending, I then headed over to sleepwear. Robes and night gowns in frightfully dry patterns and cuts met my eyes. It felt like shopping for my old auntie. Even my mother wouldn’t be caught dead in clothes this frumpy.
I left the department store and wandered down the mall. A Victoria’s Secret sat somewhere in the middle and I felt fairly certain I would find something more to my liking in their plethora of sleepwear.
On my way I passed a salon that I found I couldn’t resist. Walking up to the counter, I asked the receptionist if she had room for an unscheduled manicure, and she pointed me to a chair.
The place smelled heavily of some sort of tropic fruit, giving me a headache. Next to me, the gossip of two women grated across my nerves as the manicurist started in on my cuticles. The younger of the two women wore way too much makeup, way too little clothing for the month of January, and I suspected extensive hair bleaching had affected her brain capacity. She looked like Paris Hilton on a really bad day. Used up. Luckily, the manicure didn’t take long. Within an hour I had acrylic fingernails in a violent shade of red and toenails to match.
I left the salon after tipping the manicurist generously and walked further down the concourse. On my right PJ’s PCs come into view and I stopped to see if they had a laptop battery that would suit my needs.
“Can I help you?” A short girl of about 18, with a name tag reading Katie walked up to me and cocked her head to one side.
I told her what I wanted and she nodded knowingly after sizing me up in a very obvious way. “We don’t keep a supply of batteries on hand that would work with your model. Your laptop is kind of old. Have you thought of upgrading?”
Actually, I hadn’t but now that she mentioned it, it didn’t sound like a bad idea. After all, it wasn’t like I had anything really pressing to do with my money now that I had a new source of income.
In less than ten minutes I had picked out a new model and loaded up on a new bag, extra battery, and a subscription to wireless internet for my apartment.
“Wow. I’ve reached my quota for the week thanks to you,” Katie said. “Looks like I can take the weekend off.”
“Have a good time. One of us should.” I pulled the envelope of cash out of my bag and began counting out hundreds to her. She stared at the cash with interest.
“You know, most people pay with a card.”
“I don’t believe in plastic.”
She examined each bill with careful consideration and I found myself wondering for the first time if they were real. It figured Corbin would do something like that to me. He was obviously a criminal after all. I wouldn’t put something like counterfeiting past him. The bastard.
“With all this cash you have nothing exciting planned for the weekend?” Katie eyed the remaining cash in the envelope and began gathering the examined bills.
“Money doesn’t translate into a life.”
“That’s a shame. I know a good poker game that’s looking for an extra player.”
I paused in the act of stuffing the envelope back in my bag and
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