CHAPTER 9
The Ringo Effect
Breaking into the safe
CHAPTER 9
Flipping on the wall switch, a sparkling chandelier illuminates Dahlia’s dressing room. It’s the closet of her dreams with soft eggshell white walls and generous clothing racks, floor-to-ceiling mirrors, rows of shelving and shoe cubbies, and glass-enclosed cabinets for her evening gowns. Once another bedroom just off the primary bath, there are built-in nooks for her shoes, handbags, and hatboxes, and a square, two-sided dresser in the center of the space with drawers to store lingerie, tee shirts, socks and other foldables. A headless mannequin named Diana is currently wearing a notched-collared mink vest while a large framed fashion illustration by Lamont O’Neal hangs between the racks. Behind the framed art is the wall safe.
Dahlia designed the closet herself, customizing it to her specific needs. It’s her masterpiece.
She hangs up her coat and sits down to unzip and untie her boots. It’s been a long day and an interesting one, but she’s glad it’s over.
Pulling up to Penelope’s condo building that morning at 10 am sharp, Dahlia spots her through the glass-enclosed lobby and toots the horn, interrupting her chat with the security guard. Penelope bundles her red fox scarf around her shoulders and under her chin before…
