Chapter 1

I was at the supermarket when I saw my best friend's husband holding a box of ultra-thin condoms.

I paid for them, generous as anything, and asked, mild as could be, "Paige is still away on business. Who are you planning to use these with?"

"Grabbed the wrong thing," he answered flatly.

He swapped them out for a pack of gum, smooth as you please.

A moment later a young thing came bouncing over and hooked herself onto his wrist.

"Baby, are you done? I want the strawberry ones!"

I just stood there and watched him, calm. He opened his mouth to weasel out of it.

The girl asked, annoyed, "Hey, lady, who even are you? Why do you keep—"

I couldn't be bothered to hear her out. I raised my hand and slapped her.

My best friend has a soft heart. I don't.

I don't care what kind of man you used to be.

You married my best friend, so you stay in line.

1

"Patsy Winfield, are you out of your mind! I don't even know her, what are you hitting people for!"

I raised an eyebrow. "Oh. Don't know her, huh."

And I lifted my hand again.

Julius Henson yanked the girl behind him and shielded her.

"Don't know her, huh?"

Julius spoke like a man on the side of righteousness. "Patsy Winfield, you go crazy and beat up a stranger, and I step in for justice, what's wrong with that? You say I'm cheating. You got proof?"

"No."

Behind him, the girl clutched her red, swollen cheek, mouth twisting in pain.

"Wh-who is she?"

Her voice was tiny, thin as a mosquito's whine.

The second she met my eyes, she flinched away.

Nothing left of the swagger from a minute ago.

Julius said nothing, so I answered for him.

"My name is Patsy Winfield. I'm Paige Dudley's best friend. He's Paige's husband. A married man."

I watched her roll her eyes, just a little.

Seemed she knew exactly what she was and did it anyway.

Which made hitting her a lot easier on my conscience.

"You're young. Memory should be good, right? Remember this face. From now on, anywhere in New York, every time I see you, I hit you."

Julius stewed behind me, running his mouth without a break.

I turned and pushed the cigarettes and liquor across the counter. "Ring it up."

Something occurred to me, and I took a box off the shelf. "This too."

Once it was paid for, I left the bag right there. "It's a gift for you two." I looked back at the cheating pair and, kindly, reminded them, "Strawberry flavor."

"Patsy Winfield, you're sick!"

"Holy hell, she really is a psycho!"

I carried my things out of the store and found somewhere to eat.

The place wasn't far from my best friend's home. Fourth floor. I glanced up from the street and saw the AC unit outside turning. Someone was in.

I lit two cigarettes and called her.

By the time I reached the second floor, she picked up.

"Patsy! Why are you calling me at this hour? It's boiling out here!"

"Work going okay?"

She was buzzing on the other end. "Really well! Once I wrap up the next few days, I'll fly back and come see you!"

"Good." As we talked, I reached her door. "What's your door code?"

"152079, why?"

"Nothing. Missed Domi. I'll go check on him."

I keyed in the code, and with a little click the lock opened.

"Is Julius not home? I just called him and he didn't pick up either... I have to go, Patsy, we're about to start a meeting."

"Okay."

I hung up and pulled the door open.

A childish pair of shoes sat in the entryway. On the sofa was that familiar sundress.

Two voices murmured to each other from the bedroom. "Baby, do I smell better, or does your wife?"

I was in no rush to go in. I took a loop around the living room, hefting the baseball bat in my hand a few times.

"Sweet baby, don't I look pretty in this?"

I looked it over, then dropped the bat and picked up the fruit knife off the coffee table.