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LISA MARCHED TO DEE’S desk beside hers. “Morning, Dee.” She gave her a pitiful kiss on the cheek.
“Uh, hey.” Dee watched her, wiping Lisa’s lipstick off her face.
“Hey, Dee.” Winston sauntered up with his hands in the pockets of his brown slacks. “How are you doing?”
“Fine,” she sang the word, switching her eyes back and forth between them. “What’s going on?” She gestured toward Lisa’s hand. “Winston, isn’t that your phone?”
“Yeah.” He smiled.
Dee hooked her purse on the back of her chair. “Why does Lisa have your phone?”
“It would be better if she explained that.” He hurried away.
“What the hell is wrong with him?” Dee chuckled, flicking on her computer. “You see how he dashed away like his shorts were on fire?”
Lisa leaned across Dee’s desk. “Sweetie, I need to talk to you in private. Why don’t we go into the restroom?”
“The restroom?” Dee’s nose curled up. “Just tell me right here.”
Lisa watched the detectives swarming around the room. “Trust me this isn’t the place, Dee.”
“I don’t know what’s up with you and Winston, but I’m not in the mood.” Dee straightened her computer. “Just tell me what’s going on.”
“I will.” Lisa rose, straightening her blouse. “As soon as you get your ass into the bathroom.”
****
“OKAY, WHAT IS IT?” Dee entered the women’s bathroom behind Lisa. “Come on, I don’t have all day.”
Lisa checked the stalls to make sure they were alone then joined Dee in front of the mirror. “We’ve known each other for years and you’re my best friend.”
Dee scratched through her weave. “Is this what you called me in here for?”
“You can trust me. You can tell me anything and not have to be ashamed.” Lisa rubbed Dee’s arm. “Isn’t there something you should tell me? I promise I won’t judge you.”
“Girl, what the hell is your problem?” Dee knocked her hand down. “I’m not hiding anything. Tell me what’s going on or I’m leaving.”
Lisa held Winston’s phone out.
Dee took it and glanced at the screen. “Ah!” She covered her mouth, watching Lisa with her eyes wide as soccer balls.
“Why would you do something like this, Dee?”
“Are you crazy? I didn’t do this!” She scrolled through the pictures with her face in the phone. “Oh, no. No, no, no. What is this?” she shouted. “What the fuck is this, Lisa?”
“I don’t know! You saying you didn’t put those pictures there?”
“I didn’t even take these damn pictures!” Sweat beaded on Dee’s brow. “My god there are tons of them.” Her bottom lip hung lower each time she looked at a new picture. “This is disgusting. Lisa, someone doctored these pics. This isn’t me.” She pointed to her face in one. “That’s been photoshopped or something.”
Lisa squinted at the picture. “It looks real.”
“It’s not. I’m telling your ass that someone pasted my face on these photos.” Dee kept searching. “Who would do this? Oh my loving God. And Winston saw these?”
“Someone sent the link to his phone. He doesn’t know who.”
“Oh.” Dee dropped her head. “I’m so embarrassed.” She sunk against the sink. “How could you think I’d do something like this?”
“I didn’t, but you have to admit they look real. It’s worse.” Lisa stood beside her. “Check out your profile.”
“Profile?” Dee went back to the main page and clicked on her name. She stooped over when the page came up. “I’m advertising sex for strangers?”
Lisa sighed. “I’m so sorry, Dee.”
“Sorry?” Her eyes watered. “How is ‘sorry’ gonna help me? How would you feel if this was you?”
“Horrible and sick to my stomach.”
“My fuckin’ cell number and address is on there! Lisa—”
“This explains the prank calls and how the guy at the grocery store acted.”
“Who knows how many perverts come through this site?” Dee threw Winston’s phone in the sink and gripped her head. “Is this the Twilight Zone?”
Lisa got Winston’s phone. “The question is how this happened if you didn’t do it?”
“I can’t think about that right now.” Dee patted her chest. “My heart is pounding. The person sent this to Winston? No telling who else they sent it to. Lisa, I’m a cop. This could ruin my reputation and career. What if Captain Salinger finds out?”
“I’m sorry.” Lisa hugged her. “You’re gonna get through this. I’m gonna help you.” She stroked her hair. “I’m here for you. I love you, girl.”
Dee sobbed into Lisa’s shoulder.
Connie sashayed in with her gun belt rocking on her waist. “Well, well, well.”
“Oh, no,” Lisa muttered. “Get out, Connie.”
“Get out?” Instead of her normal ponytail, she wore her thin, blonde hair down with a part in the middle. “I have to use the bathroom. Since when do you own it?”
“You better get your ass out of here right now.” Dee snatched a paper towel from the dispenser. “With the way I’m feeling you don’t wanna start any shit today.”
“Ooh.” Connie shook her hands in a mocking manner. “Something’s going on with you two. I saw how you ran in here. I tried to get it out of Winston but he won’t talk.” She tapped her fingers on the sink. “What’s up?”
Lisa got in her face. “Get your nosy ass out of here. I’m not playing with you.”
“I have to pee.”
“Pee somewhere else.” Lisa pointed to the entrance.
“Fine be secretive.” Connie backed up, smirking. “I’ll find out what’s going on. I always do.” She left.
“That’s all I need is for Connie spreading gossip.” Dee sniffled, dabbing her nose.
“Connie’s the least of your worries right now. What are you gonna do?”
“First, I gotta find out more about this site.” Dee exhaled, dialing Winston’s phone.
“Who are you calling?” Lisa rushed to her.
“The contact number at the bottom of the page.” Dee put the phone to her ear and tapped her foot. “It’s a busy signal.”
“Keep trying as much as you can. Email too so you can have something in writing.”
“Of all things to happen.” Dee handed Lisa the phone. “I never thought I’d be stuck in something like this.”
“It’s gonna be okay. Once you contact the site owner and explain it’s a fake profile, there should be no issue.”
“Yeah?” Dee leaned on the sink, gripping the edge from behind. “Why am I not convinced?”