Hazards on the Hardwood (Hazards and Hijinks) by Patty A. Gammons

a little more detail of her day, knowing of course, that she had definitely been shopping. The girl lived to shop.
    “I dropped by Gucci and got that new bag I told you about last week. It was on sale and I just couldn’t resist.” Edward figured Sparky-poo couldn’t resist an ice house if it was offered to her with along with a faux bear rug! The woman was irrepressible. Her closet was big enough to replace a wing of the Metropolitan Art Museum.
    Edward didn’t want to appear agitated as he responded to his lovely wife. “Sparky I need you to be cautious when you are out shopping from now on. I’ve heard from a reliable source that someone is possibly tailing me and the same may be true for you. Just be on your guard. You never know, there are some pretty unsavory characters out there.” He felt better after warning Sparky. After all, he had her best interests at heart. At least for now!
     
    * * * *
     
    Taffy wanted to make sure Francois had lined up their practice session at the studio.
    “Yes, my love, calm down.  We have a reservation for a practice room at the dance studio. Just be cautious and I’ll see you at six-thirty sharp!”
    He sounded so debonair and gentlemanly but she knew better. He would be great as a Hollywood actor; he was such a poser!
    “See you there Francois.”
    She grabbed her bag of dancing clothes and hailed a cab. One pulled up and as Taffy jumped in the backseat, she happened to glance over her shoulder and she saw ‘him’ in the shadows. He tried to back into a dark corner but it was too late. She’d seen his outline and a bit of his face. As her mind went into gear she thought about the image and realized there was something vaguely familiar about him. She’d seen him before…like maybe at work. That was it! He was the guy that was in Starbucks raising a ruckus.
    * * * *
     
    Edward thought to himself, “How could I be so stupid and let that woman see me? There has to be a discreet way to handle this fly in the ointment.” He thought long and hard and finally came up with what he figured was a great solution. He now knew her mundane daily schedule, thanks to her obvious disregard for changing up her boring routine to throw off some evil stalker of potential victims.
    He realized he would need help if he was going to eliminate this nuisance and thwart her plan to expose him as the sinister person he knew himself to be.
    Edward would have to think about it for a while.
     
    * * * *
     
    If Taffy was going to catch this guy before he did major damage, and rein in this creep she would need some assistance. Who did she know that was slightly sneaky, delightfully devious and otherwise quite the fabulous friend? “Sasha.” She muttered under her breath.
    She hadn’t heard from Sasha for a long time. How long had it been, actually? These two loved to get together and talk gowns, shoes and who was dancing with whom? Delicious gossip was always on the menu where they were concerned.
    They had been best friends ever since high school. Their career paths took opposite directions but they renewed their old friendship running into each other at a regional dance competition a few years ago. They were delighted and shocked to see each other and quickly made a promise that they would stay in touch. Of course, life has a way of playing out different than some promises do.
    Taffy had gone to a school at NYC following a major in Political Science but when it didn’t work out she enrolled in a school for the arts and studied modeling and graduated top of her class. Her love of fashion and design wooed her into freelance fashion modeling work around New York and nation-wide. She also loved people and her part-time job at Starbucks which helped nurture that aspect of her life. All-in-all, she was exceptionally happy with the way things had turned out.
    Sasha hadn’t changed that much in all those years except in the area of finances. She became an important businesswoman owning one of the