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“I’m just asking! These are important details.”

“No tongue,” I say. “It was quick. Like a good luck charm. A really weird, invasive good luck charm.”

“Huh.” She sounds disappointed. “And then she just peaced out?”

“She told me I ‘shouldn’t be playing this game.’ Whatever that means.”

“What game?”

“I don’t know! That’s what I’m saying. I don’t know what’s happening. I don’t know why any of this is happening to me.”

Jillian is quiet for a second. “Okay. So, to recap: There’s a naked woman. There’s a mysterious warning. There’s a smokin’ hot girl-on-girl kiss. And now, there’s a gala invitation and a black credit card and a dress that’s allegedly already been picked out for you.”

“Yes. That more or less sums it up.”

“Copy that. Then my big question, I suppose, is…” I can hear her grinning through the phone. “… what’s the actual problem?”

“What’s the— Jillian,everythingis the problem!” I nearly tear my hair out. “All of it! The whole situation!”

“Break it down for me. What specifically is freaking you out?”

I press my free hand against my forehead. “I don’t know what he wants from me. I don’t know why he’s doing any of this. The raise, the gala, the dress. None of it makes sense.”

“Maybe he just wants you to go to his fancy-pants party,” she offers. “Maybe he just needs a date.”

“He has Natasha for that,” I whine.

“Natasha sounds like a hooker, Rae. You don’t bring hookers to black-tie events.”

“How doyouknow? Is there a handbook on Prostitute Protocol I need to borrow your copy of?”

“Don’t be a smart-ass.” More rustling. “Look, here’s what I think. It’s a work event. Your boss invited you. That’s normal. Well, okay, maybe notnormal, considering the rest of it, but notunheard of.”

“You think I should go?”

“I think you don’t have much choice, babe. He’s your boss. He gave you a direct order. If you don’t show up, you’re basically quitting.” Then she sighs in a way that means we’re downshifting into the series part of the Bestie Gives Life Advice lecture. “Ialsothink that this is a really important opportunity.”

“Opportunity?” I ask in confusion.

“Do you not remember the whole ‘wife’s body was never actually found’ thing we discussed?” she snaps.

“Of course I remember,” I mutter.

Truthfully, the thought comes and goes, but in my defense, I’m juggling a lot of moving pieces here.

“Good. It’s important that you remember, because I love you and I’d really like for you to not die under mysterious circumstances like she did. But, speaking of mysterious, this is a good chance to clear up some of that.”

I frown. “In what sense?”

“In the sense that this is a chance to do some digging.”

At that, I suck in a breath. “A chance to do somewhat did you just say?”

“Hear me out. This gala is the perfect chance to learn more. He’ll be in public, surrounded by important people. It’s probably the safest place you could be with him, honestly. And it’s a chance to see him in a different context. See how he operates outside the office. Poke him and gauge how he reacts. If someone at the party looks interesting, try to mine them for info.”

I chew on my lip. “You really think I can learn something?”

“I think it’s worth a shot,” Jill insists. “Plus, I’ve been hitting walls trying to dig up more. It’s one cold, dead lead after another, and every source clams up as soon as they hear the name ‘Lazarev.’ Someone wants this all to stayburied.” She exhales. “But if you’re there with him, in his world, you might see something, hear something. Heck, you might even meet someone who knew her.”