attribute it to me.”
“You have my word.”
“I have reason to believe that Connelly is up to her old tricks.”
“Like what?” Emily sounded excited. “Sleeping with crooked cops, or otherwise whoring it up?”
“How can I corroborate? You know I need a second source.”
“We filed a police complaint and just got a restraining order.”
“Perfect. That’s public record.” Emily started taking notes, the keyboard clacking away. “But why are you telling me this? You never leak. I used to have to pull teeth to get you to talk.”
“Honestly, I’m afraid of her.” Alice went to victim mode. “I’m doing everything I can to protect myself from her, just in case she comes to the office and tries something. But I need more help. If you run the story, everybody in the tri-state area will be looking for Alice, and I’ll be a lot safer. After all, she’s not hard to spot. She looks exactly like me.”
“I get it.
“Thanks. Gotta go,” Alice said hastily, because her doorknob was twisting. Someone was coming into her office, and she hung up and put the checkbooks away just as the door opened.
A woman was standing in the threshold, and Alice had no idea if she was another lawyer, a client, or an old friend, so she plastered on a fake Bennie-smile.
“Hello!” Alice said, rising. “Great to see you!”
“Really?” asked the woman, arching an eyebrow.
Chapter Sixty-one
Mary hurried from the reception area toward Bennie’s office, her heart in her throat. Her parents had surprised her at work with Fiorella, who had wandered off. It never ended well when The Flying DiNunzios came to Rosato & Associates. Her worlds weren’t meant to collide, but to remain separate, maintaining order in her own personal galaxy.
“Stop, no!” Mary reached Bennie’s office just as Fiorella was opening her door.
“DiNunzio?” Bennie said, uncertain, from behind her desk, and Grady emerged from Anne’s office.
“What’s going on?”
“Oh, nothing really.” Mary grabbed Fiorella by the arm. “Fiorella, this is my partner, Bennie Rosato, and her friend, Grady Wells.”
“Nice to meet you, Fiorella.” Grady extended a hand, but Fiorella barely looked at him, keeping a cold eye on Bennie.
“Bennie is a name?”
Bennie shrugged. “It’s Benedetta, but I go by Bennie.”
“Why? Why would you do such a thing?”
“I’m pleased to meet you, too.” Bennie held out a hand, but Fiorella didn’t take it, so she let it drop and turned to Mary. “I didn’t know you had guests, DiNunzio.”
“My parents dropped in to celebrate my making partner and putting an offer on a house. Did I mention that?”
“No. Congratulations.”
“Thanks.” Mary edged backwards with Fiorella, who wouldn’t stop glaring at Bennie. Her forehead knitted, and her mouth set like granite, if granite wore lipstick.
“Hey Mare.” Judy came to the rescue, out of breath. “Bennie, I see you’ve met Fiorella.”
“
“I’m happy to do it,” Bennie said, smiling, and Mary released Fiorella only long enough to pry her mother off, juggling DiNunzios like sharp knives.
“BENNIE! CONGRADULATIONS ON MAKING MY DAUGHTER A PARDNER!”
“My pleasure,” Bennie said, a moment before Mary’s father bear-hugged the breath out of her, and Judy had to step in to peel him off, too.
Grady laughed. “It’s great to see you both. You should be very proud of your daughter.”
“WE ARE, FROM THE DAY SHE CAME OUTTA THE EGG! COME TO LUNCH, ALL A YOUSE!!”
“No, thanks,” Bennie answered. “I have to prepare for a meeting this afternoon.”
“You.” Fiorella fixed a dark gaze on Bennie. “I was drawn to your room, to
“Pardon me?” Bennie asked, confused, and Fiorella pointed at her with a red-lacquered index finger.
“You are evil, Benedetta.”
Judy gasped, and Mary’s career flashed before her eyes. She grabbed Fiorella’s arm, but the older woman swatted her away.
“You are a woman of great power,” Fiorella said, her words heavy with theatrical portent. “But my power is greater than yours. My power comes from God. Yours comes from the Devil!”
“No, please!” Mary yanked Fiorella backwards, and so did her horrified mother and father.
“
“FIORELLA, ARE YOU NUTS?”
“I curse you, Benedetta Rosato!” Fiorella shook her fist in the air, even with three of them dragging her backwards.
“Sorry, she thinks she’s a witch queen,” Judy explained, then she piled on Fiorella, who struggled against all of them.
“I
“
Mary clapped her hand over Fiorella’s mouth, and they all carried her into the reception area past Marshall, who pushed the elevator button.
“Mary, where do you get these people?” she asked, incredulous.
“Where else? They’re family.”
Chapter Sixty-two
Bennie shifted in the backseat as the cab turned onto her street. They pulled up in front of her house, and the cabbie finally closed his cell phone. He’d yammered away the entire ride to the city, but she’d been too preoccupied to care. She couldn’t wait to take a quick shower, change out of her absurd get-up, and go find Alice.
“I’ll run inside and get my money,” she said. They’d agreed on a fare of $300, and she had the cash in her jewelry box.
“Don’t know how you people live here, on top of each other.” The cabbie braked, and the engine shuddered into silence.
She got out of the cab and went to her neighbors, the Mackeys, to get her extra keys. She didn’t know how she’d explain to them her cuts, bruises, or tarty outfit, but no matter. She walked up their stoop, rang the bell with her splinted finger, and waited, but no answer. She rang again, but still no answer. Maybe Mary had already picked up the keys, anyway.
