There was also the little matter of the cops looking for me. If the Feed the Need receptionist was on the alert to watch for me, I knew the jig would be up the minute we walked into the door. Then this day would be lost for sure, and poor Harriet would end up trapped in Philadelphia just like me.

“Harriet,” I said, standing up. “I need you to take off every single item you’re wearing that isn’t absolutely necessary.”

“What?”

“Come on,” I said. “Scarf, jewelry, blazer. Let’s go.”

She did as I asked, stripping down to nothing more than a pair of slacks and a sleeveless shirt. I gave her my navy jacket. Because it was a bit small for her, she hung it down her back and tied the sleeves around the front of her neck.

I, in turn, tied her colorful silk scarf over my hair, loaded on her clunky bracelets and necklace, and slipped my arms into the sleeves of her big purple jacket, buttoning it down the front. Then I grabbed the pile of napkins from the catering tray and began balling them up one by one and stuffing them into my clothes. When I was finished, I stepped back and modeled my new look for Harriet’s approval. After a moment’s hesitation, she pulled off her rhinestone glasses and slipped them on my nose.

“Oh, goodness,” she said, grinning. “From a distance, no one would ever recognize you.”

“I hope not,” I replied. Though I knew I couldn’t carry off this look for long, at least it should get us in and out of the Smythe building without incident.

We quickly loaded up all of our stuff and signed out at the desk. Then we ran to the rental car in the parking garage across the street, climbed in, and headed for Smythe Incorporated.

Stepping from the elevator, I led Harriet to the left and into the Smythe offices instead of to the right and into Feed the Need. The first goal was to get to Gwen’s office, which spanned the two companies near the back.

“I’m here to see Gwen Harding,” Harriet said, just as I had instructed her in the car. “But don’t tell her. I’d like to surprise her if I could.”

The receptionist, a young man, seemed disinterested at best. He gave us directions to Gwen’s office, then returned to the magazine he had been reading when we first came in the door.

So far, so good.

“Swanky place,” Harriet whispered as we strolled quickly through the building, my hand at her elbow since she couldn’t see that well without her glasses. I was afraid we might run into Alan or Judith, but we made it to the door of Gwen’s office without incident.

I turned the knob and swung open the door, stepping inside to find Gwen at her desk, typing away.