The Mysterious Stranger (The Confidence Game 3)

And that’s exactly what she had done, going missing in the middle of a job, peeling out without warning and leaving Cal holding the rope by himself, forced to deal with the aftermath of her stunning accusations.

But as at ten minutes ago, she was back from wherever she’d gone to hideout, and she was done with him.

“You don’t have to work with Cal, Rory. I’ve got your back,” Zeke said.

And that stung too. Cal had been hopeful losing Rory from his bed wouldn’t mean he’d lose his matched partner in crime. But in hoping for that he’d become the thing he despised most, a chump, an egg, a rube, a sucker. That shouldn’t make him feel like getting drunk. It was an immensely practical turn of events, the best outcome for them all.

“Is everyone okay here?” Camilla touched his arm, then stepped behind the reception desk. Her eyes flickered over his face. “Can I get you anything, Cal?”

He’d have to inspect Rory’s handiwork. Good thing he wasn’t attending any events tonight and in need of a cover story for the damage to his face. “Rory might need ice for her hand.” She’d never show she was in pain, but she’d walloped him hard so it had to have hurt her as well.

“Of course,” Camilla said. She approached Rory, and the two Archer cousins moved towards the inner office, which left Cal with Zeke.

“Thank Christ,” Zeke said, shifting to watch Rory and Camilla depart.

“That’s she’s back?” They’d put up a search, but Rory had covered her tracks well and when the woman didn’t want to be found, there was no finding her. Cal had been overjoyed to see her swing through the Sherwood office doors, never mind knowing this was the whip tail of a storm they’d all been waiting for.

“That she finally declared she hates you. Much better it’s in the open. We can all follow her lead.”

“Well, thanks.”

“Don’t mention it.”

“You and I.” Zeke had sided with Rory, everyone had, and for the first time there’d been strain between them all and questions about Cal’s leadership as a result, and Cal was desperately sorry for that. It’d created a sense of unease that’d hung over Sherwood like a shroud all winter. This was home base, their safe space. The only place they could be themselves and speak honestly with people they could trust implicitly, but that’s not how things had been lately. And that was his fault too.

“I feel a whole lot better about you now,” Zeke said.

“Because?”

Zeke gave him a raised brow. “Because she left a hand print on your ugly mug.”

It was a small price to pay if Rory was home, if Zeke was prepared to joke with him again. Zeke had in turn been aghast, angry, appalled and then withdrawn over the ordeal and Cal had missed him. It had been a miserable couple of months.

“Cal, you know she’ll be fine. But she’s going to hate you for a long time.”

For the rest of his life, so long as she never jeopardized another job, Cal’s own safety, or the needs of the company again. “I know she pushed you away before but keep an eye on her.”

Zeke nodded, then hitched a thumb toward the door. “You should get out of here so we can welcome her home and get the need to bitch about you out of our systems.”

That was good thinking. The sooner the crew reintegrated Rory, accepted the new status quo, that there would never be a Cal and Rory again, they could all return to focusing on the business of Robin Hooding the ugly rich instead of ripping into each other.

With that thought he took his ugly mug to the pub for a craft brew and a good brood.

-00-

Fin flinched. It was a defense mechanism because Rory was the reason Fin failed at auditions. Rory was the reason the standard for female beauty was impossibly high. She wanted to scratch Rory’s flawless, symmetrical face, make her forest green eyes bleed, pull her wig perfect hair and spike her had to be implants, breasts.

And then Rory opened her mouth. “Fin, I’ll be helping you prepare for the events you’ll attend. I have a schedule for you. I’ll walk you through wardrobe, makeup, hair and jewelry. Sherin will give you deep background on the targets, but I’ll let you know which ones are free with their hands and how best to avoid that and fill you in on the dynamic of the wives. I’ve made a list of approved designers for you to shop with. What would you like to do first?”

First Fin wanted to stab Rory to death, because of course the woman was professional, competent, organized, overwhelming. Second, she needed a moment to collect herself. Rory was Cal’s ex, the woman he didn’t love enough. Rory was the reason the spark she and Cal had between them was never going to become a fire. If he couldn’t love Rory, he’d never want Fin, because even with award winning acting, Fin would never be as beautiful, as poised, as awesome as Rory.

“Hi, I’m Fin.” She gave a little wave and they all laughed. Oh shit, such a flaky flake. And in this outfit which wasn’t meant for doing this kind of work. “I don’t normally dress like this.” They must think she was some rockabilly hipster in need of a respectability makeover.

“Don’t let them intimidate you, Fin. I can have them all fired,” Cal said.

“Mom would never let you,” said Sherin. She pushed a page across the table to Fin. “Sign here and I’ll get your expense account organized.”

Fin turned to look at Cal. “Your Mom works here?” She looked at the credit card application form in front of her. It was made out in Cal’s name and only needed her signature. What was this, Christmas?