Return to Sender by Fern Michaels

around the world.”
    “I don’t want his identity. I just want him to suffer. Wonder where his next meal is coming from. I want him to know what it’s like to have to put cardboard in his shoes to keep his feet warm, those kinds of things.”
    “Hmm. This is serious stuff you’re talking about.”
    “If you don’t want to take the job, I understand,” Lin said, even though she didn’t.
    “Slow down. I didn’t say I didn’t want the job. I just want you to know if we’re caught, we’ll both be in a heap of trouble. Stealing one’s identity is too easy to trace. If I were looking to ruin a man of Nicholas Pemberton’s stature, I’d go for something else besides his pockets or the state of his shoes. I would suggest this….”
    For the next thirty minutes, Jason Vinery mapped out his plan for Nick’s fall from grace. Lin loved the detective’s plan and couldn’t wait to get started, but it was going to take some maneuvering on her part. She prayed she’d be able to convince Sally to take part in what was to come.
    She’d start immediately. Hurrying before Sally could question her, she whipped up a batter for the blueberry pancakes Sally loved. Thank goodness she had all the ingredients. She found a pound of bacon in the freezer. She pried the slices apart with a fork and tossed them into her favorite iron skillet. She made a fresh pot of coffee since she’d drained the last one while she was on the phone with Jason.
    Sally still wore her Tinker Bell nightshirt when she meandered into the kitchen. The look on her face almost made Lin burst out laughing.
    Lin turned around to the stove so she could flip the bacon. “Why don’t you go take a hot shower? By the time you’re finished, break fast will be ready. I’m making your favorite blueberry pancakes.” Lin stalled by stirring the batter. When Sally didn’t say anything, she turned around. “What?” Lin asked in an innocent voice.
    “You never make breakfast, Lin. What gives?”
    “Can’t a girl do something nice for her best friend?” Lin stated.
    “Go on, get in the shower.”
    Sally eyed her suspiciously but did as she was told. Ten minutes later she was back in the kitchen in the same nightshirt, but her hair was dripping wet.
    “You can use my hair dryer,” said Lin.
    “I don’t want to dry my hair. I want coffee. And those pancakes.”
    Sally sat down on one of the oak bar stools placed around the is land in the center of the kitchen.
    “Coming right up.” Lin placed a bright red mug filled with steaming coffee in front of Sally and a plate piled high with pan cakes. The microwave beeped. “I heated the syrup, too. That Vermont stuff you like so much.” She took the mini-pitcher of syrup from the microwave and poured it over Sally’s pancakes.
    “I’m going to drink this coffee, eat these pancakes. Then I am going to get up, go to my car, where I will proceed to drive the three blocks to my house.” Sally took a bite of her pancakes. A sip of coffee.
    “What are you trying to say? You don’t like my gesture of friend ship?” It was all Lin could do to keep a straight face.
    “I’ve known you too long. I know when you’ve got something up your sleeve.” Sally forked another bite of her pancakes.
    Taking a deep breath, Lin burst out laughing as she held her hands up in defeat. “You’re right. You know me too well. Actually, I’ve come up with a plan. Well, I didn’t personally come up with the plan. It was Jason Vinery’s idea. He’s the JV of JV Investigations. I spoke to him while you were sleeping.”
    With a slight smile on her face, Sally asked, “So what is this big plan that has you hopping around the kitchen like Martha Stewart on crack?”
    “Promise to hear me out rather than rushing to judgment?” Lin requested.
    “Just spit it out. You know I don’t make rash decisions.”
    While Sally took the last bite of her pancakes, Lin retrieved the coffeepot from its burner and refilled their cups. Lin