And with that, Ridayah turned around, his skirt twirling. The hem raised up a few inches as he spun on his heels, revealing just a tantalizing peek of his slim and toned legs. He had shaved, just for tonight. He was sure they noticed.

He grinned, though he hoped none of them could see his smirk.

The cool evening air felt good on his blushing face as he stepped confidently into the orange halo of the streetlamp. Rid was thankful there was no snow. His last time in high heels had been less than pleasant, but this time he was closer to home and out of the chillier mountain altitudes.

Now, his only question was whether he could make it to the bus station before the hostess noticed that her diamond necklace was no longer clasped around her neck. With a quick glance around, he leaned over and pulled off the unwieldy shoes.

The sidewalk was cold and rough under his nearly-bare feet. Hose was cheap, but it didn’t take long before his red-painted toenails began to poke through the sheer nylon. Ridayah quickened his pace as he heard the quiet shuffle of shoes in the distance.

Only two more blocks to the bus station, but the footsteps were getting closer. Without looking behind him, Rid stepped into a dark alley and lifted his dress nearly to his navel. With his other hand, he reached down and pulled the tiny Walther out of his garter.

Didn’t Q say something about the .32 automatic “hits like a brick through a plate glass window?” Rid rolled his eyes. Never hire a movie buff as an armorer. The safety clicked under his thumb with a noise that was more felt than heard.

The footsteps slowed as they approached the corner where he had disappeared. He had to work hard to slow down his breathing, though his heart rate did not cooperate. The nearby streetlight cast a growing shadow as his pursuer stepped closer to the edge of the brick wall.

Ridayah felt each grain of sand in the mortar under his fingertips. Every sound was amplified, from the distant traffic to the blood rushing in his ears. One. More. Step.