"No, I'm sorry. We get so many customers."

"She bought a ticket to Russia."

"I barely register where people are flying."

"Perhaps you could explain the process of purchasing a ticket. What does a person do when they get to the desk?"

"Oh, that's easy. They just tell me where they want to go and when; and I enter the information into the computer. It returns a list of the next flights and seating availability; then I ask the customer which they would prefer. Some people will pay anything to get on a flight. Other times, they want the cheapest deal, and we work out which is best."

"We think this woman bought a ticket ahead of time. Is that possible?"

"Yes, we can do that too."

"So she just hands over her credit card and that's it?"

"No, I need to see a passport too and the credit card needs to go through the usual security checks. Or the customer could pay by cash if they prefer."

"Ours paid by credit card. Do you keep a record of the receipts?"

"Yes, but they are sent to head office at the end of the day."

"Do you check the passport of the person purchasing the ticket?"

"Sure. I need to make sure the name on the passport matches the name I'm adding to the flight manifest; and also that the passport is valid for travel."

"And the photo?"

"I check that too."

"So it's highly likely that you checked hers?"

"Yes, I absolutely would. I always make sure the passport photo matches the person using it. We get people trying to pass themselves off as other people from time-to-time."

"Thanks. You've been very useful."

"Did you hear her 'fess up the moment she knew she was caught?" whispered Lily as we walked away.

"She didn't 'fess up to anything."

"It was my bad cop glare," continued Lily.

"Kimberley pretty much nailed Juliet. I bet she'll be pulled into the court case to testify too."

"We could cross examine her."

"We can't. We're not lawyers."

"We could slip Juliet's lawyer a note at a crucial moment. They do that all the time on TV."

"Saying what? That she made all the checks she was supposed to, and was sure it was Juliet? Juliet with her own passport, her own credit card, and her own information." I stopped. It seemed useless. All I was doing was proving Solomon's case, and Detective Donahue's, but not mine.

Lily grabbed my arm, stopping us in our tracks. "It's like you've been saying all along. It's too neat. Too easy. I think Kimberley could have been fooled."

"How?"

"Did you see her squinting and pinching her nose? There were little red marks on either side. I think she took her glasses off. I don't think she can see!"

I turned back to Kimberley, my mouth falling open. "Someone who looked similar enough to Juliet could have duped her?"

"The right hair, the right makeup, the right information..." Lily trailed off as we looked at each other in excitement. "I bet I could fool Kimberley. I bet I could fool you, too. I'll show you!"

"What are you planning?"

"In ten minutes, someone is going to walk through this hall and go to that ticket desk." Lily pointed from the door across to the desk where Kimberley was currently occupied and serving a new customer. "You can watch from... over there. I don't want to spoil the surprise, but it'll be Juliet, so watch carefully." She nodded towards the smoothie bar where we were sitting only a few minutes ago.

"She isn't here."

"Is too!"

"What are you up to?" I had to ask, puzzled at Lily's sudden enthusiasm. Given her desire to play bad cop not so long ago, I couldn't help feeling a little worried at what might be going through her head. Plus, Juliet was under house arrest so I had to assume she wasn't dumb enough to attempt to drive out to the airport.

"Just keep watching and use your cell phone to videotape everything!" Lily called, hurrying away with a wave. I watched as she disappeared from the terminal exit, heading towards the parking lot. Still puzzled, I ordered another smoothie and sat at a tall table, my feet dangling from the nearly-as-tall stool while I waited, tapping my screen every few seconds to keep the video function primed. I was halfway through my smoothie and wondering if Lily ditched me when Juliet walked past. At least... it looked like her.

I raised my cell phone and hit the record button as I recognized her thigh-length trenchcoat and glossy hair as she turned her face away. Even the purse she carried seemed familiar. I watched, frowning as she approached the desk where Lily and I stood only minutes before when we spoke to Kimberley. In between staring at the screen, ensuring Juliet's back was center, I glanced at Kimberley's face. Impassive and not at all worried, she said something, and Juliet nodded, then turned away, stepping a little to the right of the desk. Her back was still turned away so I couldn’t get a good look at her face. Looking around, Lily was nowhere to be seen.

Glancing down as my phone sounded a text, I read the screen. "Approach Juliet," texted Lily. "And keep the video running."

I frowned again, feeling more confused than ever as I slid down from the tall stool and grabbed my smoothie, making my way over to Juliet, with my cell phone pointed at her. She didn't turn around as I approached, so I called her name, but got no response. Stepping closer, I called her name again. When I was just steps away, I reached a hand to her shoulder and she spun around.

"How..." I started.

"Surprise!"

Chapter Twelve

It was Juliet and it wasn't Juliet. "Lily?" I asked, taking in her new look. The wig was good; I could barely see where it joined her own scalp. The trenchcoat was just like Juliet's, but up close, I could see the piping was a different color. The purse was almost the same, and from a distance, I confused the two. The bump, however, was definitely bigger.

"Totally fooled ya, didn't I?" Lily smiled widely as she twirled the belt of her coat.

"But how..." I faltered. Where did she get all this stuff? A few minutes ago, she was blonde and wearing a totally different outfit. Now she was smart and sleekly dressed, albeit with a bump considerably bigger than Juliet's.

"Honey, you know I love a good disguise. Have you seen my trunk? I have at least four different wigs to cover all occasions, along with several jackets and hats, and a whole box of useful props."

"Where did you get the purse?"

"I bought it yesterday."

I peered at it. It was no cheap knockoff. "It's just the same as Juliet's. It's exactly the same!"

"I didn't steal it. I have the receipt." Lily gasped as if I said something offensive. "I am not the stalker! I was there when you first met her, and I never saw her before then!"

"I know you're not the stalker, but you had me convinced you were Juliet."

"Just like the stalker convinced everyone that it was Juliet buying a ticket. And now you have a video to prove it!"

"I'm not sure it proves it."

"It proves reasonable doubt. If I can fool you into thinking I'm Juliet, someone else could fool Kimberley and the cameras."

"I like the way you're thinking," I said, knowing I could present it to Solomon and Donahue in exactly the same way until Lily turned around, and they got the punchline to the ruse. I just hoped the two men were in a listening mood.