Mrs.D

Mrs.D of the third floor, she's been acting strange nowadays. Goes on shopping sprees too often.

"What's it with you? She will go where she fancies."

But I find it strange. She definitely has something to hide. Don't shake your head that way. Do you think I am making up stories? I'm not. I followed her yesterday.

"You did?"

Yes. I followed her in a cab.  

"How come you get a cab at the snap of your fingers? I seem to be invisible to these cab drivers!"

He's a friend.

"You never mentioned this friend of yours..."

Focus, will you? The discussion here is about Mrs.D.

"Right. Then what happened?"

She stopped at the Coffee Cup. I went in too. A lady was waiting for her. I don't know her, but I have seen this lady at Mrs.D's place.

"Is it the lady with curly hair?"

No, she had straight short hair.

"Then it might be her who always wears bright red lipstick."

No

"Then who is she?"

I don't know. I couldn't go and ask her. It would have been awkward.

"You could ask Mrs.D."

Oh my....! Don't you ever read detective stories? I'm following Mrs.D, remember?

"Oh yes! I forgot..."

I had to look occupied, so I ordered a coffee. No sooner did I take a sip than Mrs.D stood up. She was leaving. I had to leave my coffee and rush.

"A cup of coffee wasted."

Forget the coffee, listen to the exciting part. A shopping bag was exchanged between the two ladies. 

"Mrs.D gave the other lady a bag?"

No, the other lady gave Mrs.D a bag. 

"Ah! Wonder what's in the bag?"

I wonder too. Anyway, I followed her closely. She drove through Fourth Street and onto the Seventh Main. There I lost her.

"You lost her?"

Yes. The Seventh Main was chock-a-block with traffic. Two cars squeezed in between us. As the traffic started moving forward, more cars got in between us. In this confusion, she was lost.

"What were the traffic cops doing? You know, the other day, there was a big traffic jam on...."

We can discuss the traffic later, first, listen to what happened next.

"Ok. So was she lost forever?"

Not so soon. Lady Luck smiled. The driver had a brain wave. He took a U-turn and we went on the Seventh Main again. There I spotted her car parked in front of yet another coffee shop.

"How many coffees does this lady drink?"

It was not for coffee that she went in. 

"For snacks?"

No silly! I got down the cab. My intention was to go into the coffee shop. But imagine my surprise when she came out at that same moment. I had to take swift action and hide behind the car or else she would have spotted me. 

"Close shave."

Indeed. And guess what was in her hand?

"Give me a second. It might have been... a shopping bag."

You are clever.

"Don't mention it! But wasn't it the same bag she had earlier? The one she got at the Coffee Cup?"

No, this one was a different color. Then I followed her again. This time she drove to May Avenue. She entered a regal-looking place. She stayed there for an hour.

"She didn't bring back any bags with her?"

No. Moreover it's a lawyer's residence. I read the nameplate at the gate.

"Oh, dear! Is she taking a divorce?"

I hope not. Her husband adores her.

"I would be heartbroken if she does."

From there she drove to Red Hills Hospital. 

"Is she ill? What if she's dying and this was to say goodbye to all her friends?"

You have a wild imagination.

"Didn't you follow her in?"

I thought it's wise to wait in the cab. Where would I search her in such a huge establishment? I didn't know whom she was meeting.

"That was wise."

After half an hour she came out.

"Shopping bag?"

No. 

"Where did she go from there?"

She returned home.

"She returned home? That's it?"

It proves my theory that she's up to something. I am going to follow her again. Today she hasn't ventured out. Maybe tomorrow. 

"Good luck! By the way, Mrs.D had called."

She did? When?

"An hour ago."

Did she find out I was following her? What did she say?

"She has invited us to her place tonight."

Why? 

"Party."

Party?

"She said it's her husband's birthday today and she's throwing a surprise birthday party for him. She also mentioned that she has arranged everything on her own and it has taken her numerous trips to bring it all together. And she hopes this will be the best surprise for her husband."