"Ferrara?"

"Eyes on the east alley," said a voice I didn't know. Ferrara, I deduced.

"Where do you want me?" I asked.

"Where do you want to be?" Solomon countered.

"At the house. Juliet is still my client."

"Keep in contact," he said, handing me an earbud. He leaned in and attached a pretty pin to my lapel. "You'll be able to communicate with me at all times using this. You can listen to me via the earbud and speak to me using the pin."

"Do I get one?" asked Lily.

"Again, are you on my payroll?"

"No, but neither is Lexi," said Lily smartly.

"But we are working as a team," said Solomon.

"I really don't know why I help out when I don't get to play with the gadgets too. And to think I was going to name my firstborn after you!"

I rarely see Solomon surprised, but this time, his eyebrows rose and he blinked. "You were?"

"Not anymore!" quipped Lily, folding her arms.

He smiled and winked as he caught my eye.

"Lily is with me," I said. "We'll blend in as guests."

"It's likely the perp knows who you are already," pointed out Solomon. "All eyes are looking for Penelope Cera. Remember: she is armed and considered dangerous."

I nodded. I thought that already. "That's all the more reason why I should be there. If she's going to try something today, Penelope will expect to see me; and of course, expect to outsmart me again."

"I pity the fool," said Lily, doing her best Mr. T impersonation.

The main wave of Rob and Juliet's guests had already arrived by the time Lily and I returned to the house. We both got an orange juice from the bar, and I agreed with Lily what a shame that it wasn't a real wedding, and our drinks weren't real mimosas. We moved easily through the guests, trying to take in every face. Rob's family was there, but I couldn't see his son. Juliet's friends were standing together, talking softly and laughing. I smiled, pleased to know they made up with Juliet. At least, she could get something more out of this than just dropped charges, I decided as I turned around looking for her.

"I'm going to go upstairs and check on Juliet," I told Lily.

"Where you go, I go."

"You don't have to. You can sit on the couch and wait, or look out for Rob's son."

"I don't know what he looks like, and I'm not so pregnant that I can't make it up the stairs yet."

"Yet."

"So mean. Oh, is that the cake? Be right back!" Lily shot off before I had the chance to suggest that she mingle instead. With her occupied for the moment, however, I ascended the stairs, knocking at Juliet's bedroom door when I reached the top.

"Who is it?" she called.

"Lexi."

"Just a moment." Footsteps sounded across the floor before I heard a lock click and a bolt being drawn.

"You had the locks refitted," I observed, as I stepped inside, stopping still when I took in Juliet's dress: full lace with a sweetheart bodice, a nipped-in waist, and a mermaid skirt that pooled at her feet, and left only her satin-enclosed toes peeking out. Her hair was wild and loose, with only a sparkling crystal pin above one ear. "Juliet... You look sensational!"

"Do you think?" she asked, picking up her skirt to twirl, then dropping it self-consciously. "This is all crazy, isn't it?"

I shut the door behind me and flipped the lock, securing us both inside the room. "No, it's going to work," I said as I took in the brand new bathroom door.

"I keep thinking how annoyed everyone will be when they realize it's all a farce. People even brought gifts."

"They know you've been through a hard time. They'll understand."

"That I'm just using them? That I've made them get all dressed up for nothing? And bringing gifts, and taking time out from their lives to catch... to catch..." Juliet shrugged as she turned and dropped onto the stool in front of her dresser. She watched her reflection and smoothed her hair before applying a slick of lip gloss. I could imagine how fast her heart must have been thumping in her chest. I unexpectedly felt a wave of sadness for her. I didn't know how she managed to hold it together.

"It isn't for nothing."

She met my eyes in the mirror. "You got hurt!"

"I'm fine."

"If this doesn't work, they'll know soon that the charges against me are being dropped."

"You know that for certain?"

"Detective Donahue came by this morning, and said it was clear to all that I was being set up."

"That's good news."

Juliet recapped her lip gloss and placed it on a small, silver tray before she turned towards me. "Please don't think I'm not grateful, I am. I'm thrilled that I'm not going to prison, and that the police and my employers know this is a big setup."

"You've spoken to your employers?"

"Not yet, but they suggested a meeting."

"You might get your job back."

"I'm not sure I want it. My job used to be such a huge part of my life until... until all of this happened and I realized how little it matters. All those things that used to stress me out? They seem so irrelevant now. Do you ever feel like that?"

"I have… at moments."

"These past few days while I've been stuck at home, I've been thinking a lot. Now, I realize none of it matters. My job is just a job; I make money for people I don’t know. It's not like I'm saving lives, or doing a job with any purpose. I’m just climbing the ladder, achieving the next title, earning more money... and ultimately, it's so irrelevant. I have Rob, a wonderful stepson, and we'll have the baby soon... I have my freedom too. I want to enjoy it."

"Maybe you need to take some time out to clear your head."

"It's a shame we didn't book a fake honeymoon too."

"No. You could book a real vacation. Dedicate some time to just the two of you; and do it now, before your baby comes."

"Rob and I hoped to take Robbie on vacation with us, but there's no way Penelope would let him come with us. Not now, not after everything that happened. She told Rob at the hospital she thinks I'm a danger to Robbie. Now that she got shot, she says it's better if Robbie doesn't come here anymore. She said Rob will have to visit Robbie at her home instead."

"You know you're not a danger," I said, biting my tongue. There was so much I could tell her, and I had to resist, despite the sadness in her voice.

"It doesn't matter if the charges have been dropped! Not if everyone around me is still in danger."

"Okay, enough with the pity party," I said, grabbing her hand and tugging her upwards. "We’ve got this whole day to flush out the crazy; and from then on, your life is whatever you make it. So, stop! Stop with the downer attitude! Get ready for your big, fat, fake wedding while we catch the perp at last."

"Did anyone ever tell you you're kind of scary?" said Juliet, her expression caught somewhere between laughter and fear.

"No, most people think I'm cute. I know things seem bad, but..."

"Lexi, we have eyes on Penelope," came Solomon's voice through my earbud.

"Where?" I asked.

"Where what?" asked Juliet.

I pointed to my ear, mouthing, "Earbud" and she nodded.

"She just arrived with her kid," said Solomon.

"Penelope and Robbie are here," I told Juliet.