Dead Ringer

32

But there was a commotion outside her office, and Be

“You! You! Benedetta Rosato!” Mrs. DiNunzio was shouting, pointing her arthritic finger at Be

“Mrs. DiNunzio, hello, and what are you talking about?” Despite her confusion, Be

“Washington! Washington! Maria is o

“What?” Be

“Turn on the TV, Be

“Maria! Maria!” Mrs. DiNunzio kept shouting, waving her little fists and struggling to get out of the associates’ grasp. “Devil! Witch!”

Mary. Be

“It’s not Mary, it can’t be!” Murphy said, restraining Mrs. DiNunzio as she pointed to the bottom of the screen. The ba

“Maria! Maria!” Mrs. DiNunzio kept yelling at Be

Be

“Mrs. D., Mrs. D.!” Carrier was shouting, holding her other arm. “Mary is fine! That’s not where she is! Mary wasn’t on that train! You can call her cell phone right now! She’ll answer!”

“She no answer! I call, I call! She no answer! She’sa i

“Could you page her please?” Be

“Devil! Witch! You no care about Mary! You no care about nobody but yourself!”

In a minute, Mary’s cute little voice came on the line, and Be

“Maria! Maria!” Mrs. DiNunzio shouted, with a hiccupy sob that would break even a lawyer’s heart. “Grazie, Dio! Grazie mille! Maria! Maria!” Tears sprang to her eyes and she lapsed into rapid and deliriously happy Italian, while Carrier and Murphy relaxed their grip. “Maria! Maria! Hokay, hokay, Maria! Bye-bye, Maria! Ti amo, Maria! Ti amo!” Mrs. DiNunzio closed the phone and returned it to Be

“All better, Mrs. D.?” Be

“Benedetta, you save my Maria! You save her life!” The older woman felt soft and warm as a plump hen, and Be

Be

Suddenly a terrifying scream came from outside the office, shattering the moment. “Help, Be

Waiting for them in the hallway was a horrifying sight.

33

Be

“Marshall!” Be

“My God it hurts! It hurts so much!” Marshall was gritting her teeth not to scream anymore. “The baby! I was in the bathroom! Something’s wrong!”

“Carrier, call 911!” Be

“I’m on it,” Judy called back as Murphy sprinted for the telephone on the reception desk.

“I’ll call security!”

“Then call Marshall’s husband. The number’s on the reception desk, with the emergency numbers.” Be

“Okay, okay, Marsh,” Mrs. DiNunzio whispered, easing down onto Marshall’s other side and patting her hand with an Old World authority. If the older woman noticed the blood, she didn’t show it, and her features stayed calm and steady. A gold crucifix and tiny gold horn hung on a gold chain that dipped as she bent over. “It’s go

Carrier was repeating their office address into her cell phone. “Please come quick! She was due in two weeks! No, it’s not a normal birth! She’s in pain! She’s screaming! And there’s blood, lots of blood.”

Jesus. Please. Be

“Marsh, it’sa okay, all okay.” Mrs. DiNunzio released Marshall’s hand, took off her brown wool car coat, and kneaded it into a bunchy ball, then tucked it under Marshall’s feet. “Your baby go

Thank God. Be