Free Dirty Little Liars by Missy Lynn Ryan

it.
    Juliette stepped into a pair of simple black stiletto heels and grabbed a small clutch from the closet. She debated for a moment about taking a coat and after checking the weather decided to not take one would be foolish. It would be well after one when she made her way home and the temperatures would likely be in the forties. She was certain there would be a coat check anyway.
    She grabbed her roommate’s black wool coat with the gray faux fur collar and headed out the door. To her surprise a single yellow cab was pulling up in front of her building and a middle-aged couple climbed out. The man, spotting her elegant dress, held the door open for her as she climbed in. She thanked him and then gave the driver her directions.
    To the Kennedy Center be damned.

Chapter 18: Pop Quiz
    By the time her cab got through the bevy of cars waiting to drop off their passengers, the Kennedy Center was swarming with D.C.’s elite. Juliette had to pinch herself before climbing out of the taxi. This was the real deal. U.S. senators, congressional lobbyists, the defense secretary; just thinking about the guest list made her dizzy.
    She had to remind herself that she wasn’t here to network. Her target was still Courtney. The senator’s daughter was the only person she needed to impress tonight.
    At the steps of the entrance she hesitated. What if someone recognizes you from the picture on the news? What if your presence raises even more suspicions?
    But that was silly. The photo only showed her from behind; no one had seen her face. Melissa, thank God, hadn’t bothered to release a name with the papers, at least not yet. So there was no way anyone except for Courtney could even know it was her. And if Courtney was okay with her being here, that’s all that mattered.
    “Can I help you?” a voice asked her.
    Juliette turned and saw Dean Covington smiling back her. He raised a hand before she could ask him any questions. “I’m here on official Covington and Crawford business. The governor is a very important client.”
    He took Juliette’s left arm and escorted her inside. “I trust your new job is going well?”
    Juliette nodded.
    “Good. I was starting to worry you might not show tonight.”
    Her face flushed red. Did Covington suspect she was the mystery girl in the photo?
    “Don’t be embarrassed, darling. I hear Senator Chase can be quite charming when he wants to be. Just stick to the assignment and you’ll be fine.” He spun Juliette around to face the coat check before whisking her out of the heavy wool coat and handing over his own jacket along with a twenty-dollar bill. He informed the attendant to keep the change then placed the small white ticket in his tux pocket.
    “Now go,” he said. “Go grace the room with you stunningly beautiful presence.”
    Juliette gave a cautious smile and stepped toward the entrance of the hall. She hesitated, turned back to Covington, then realized he had vanished. The man had impeccable timing, she would give him that.
    Juliette trudged up the glittering stairs and entered the ballroom. She was breathless. The space had been transformed into a magical silver and white wonderland. There wasn’t a corner of the room that had been left untouched—from the large trees with twinkling white lights and silver globes hanging from the willowy branches to the mirrored tabletops and black-and-white skirted chairs gathered at each table. The dance floor was in the dead center of the room and had a series of sequined balls that sent lights twinkling and twirling over the crowd. A small orchestra was playing on a makeshift stage at the end of the room. Everywhere she turned there were servers with trays of champagne and hors d’oeuvres. She resisted the urge to take a glass.
    She spotted Governor Anderson in a crowd of businessmen and politicians, but not his daughter. Then, as she was making her way to the cash bar, she spotted him. Senator Tyler Chase was standing on the other side of