Carefully listening in on the conversation, Elena knew she had to act fast. Jake...why was he such an idiot? Just letting his neighbor come inside his own home and question him?

But she didn't have time to mentally chastise Jake, not when she was on the verge of being discovered. She tucked in her costume behind some bread and cereal boxes before quietly opening the door, seeing Phil's back was to her and she was in the clear, Elena tiptoed to the other hall away from the two men before she leaned against the wall.

"Jake, darling, can you come over here, please? I can't seem to find my shoes and you don't want your favorite cousin to be late, do you? My mother would kill you."

[I]That ought to work,[/I] she thought to herself, waiting for a response. To Phil, she was now just a relative who had stayed the night, which would explain the blanket and pillow on the couch. And if he had any matters, he would leave Jake and his "cousin" alone to figure out just where the hell her damn shoes were.