Think Twice

There were four offices off the conference room area, each with a shiny nameplate: MARY DINUNZIO, JUDY CARRIER, and ANNE MURPHY, and at the end, BENNIE ROSATO. She went into the office, where sunlight streamed through the tall window onto a nubby tan rug, walnut desk, and matching credenza with files. Bronze plaques covered the walls, and the end tables were blanketed with crystal bowls and engraved Lucite.

It’s not her office, it’s her shrine.

She went around the desk, dropped the messenger bag on the rug, and sat down in the black mesh chair. On the left was a Filofax open to Monday, and the day’s only appointment was in the afternoon with Rexco, a potential client she had read about in the email last night. She’d cancel the meeting to avoid any chance to slip up. Suddenly, Be

Well, how-dee-doo. “Hello, Karen,” Alice said into the phone, as Be

“Be

“Great, thanks.”

“Sorry to bother you on the weekend, but I left a message last night and didn’t hear back from you, and it’s kind of important. I won’t keep you, but I wanted to let you know that Alice quit on us last week, out of the blue. Just up and left.”

“Oh, no.” Do tell.

“I didn’t think you knew. I gather you two haven’t spoken recently.”

“No, I’m just so busy.” And important. You should see my awards.

“I thought as much. Alice worked hard and showed such an eagerness to learn, in the begi

What a bad puppy!

“She’s naturally intelligent and she has a fine legal mind. If she wanted, she could be a great lawyer, like you.”

We’re about to find out.

“Anyway, here’s why I called. There’s a problem. I hesitate to even say this, but we think that she might have taken some money from petty cash. It was about four hundred dollars and as you know, it’s not as if we have the money to spare, after the last funding cut.”

And you didn’t notice I embezzled about $1,500?

“One of our other employees saw her leaving the room last, and with her sudden disappearance, well, it seems sort of damning, doesn’t it?”

“How terrible, really. Karen, let me send you a check, and please accept my apologies.”

“Thank you, Be

“As am I, but I have to go. Good-bye,” Alice said, pressing END. She set the phone down, then heard someone clearing their throat.

She looked up, and standing in the doorway was her toughest test yet.

Chapter Nineteen

Mary stood in the threshold of Be

“DiNunzio, what do you want?” Be

“Uh, do you have a minute to talk?”

“Only just.” Be

“Thanks.” Mary entered the office, sat down, and crossed her legs, which was when it struck her that it was a huge deal to ask someone to make you a partner, and she hadn’t said anything yet, so she could just keep it to herself, for several years.

“DiNunzio, what is it?”

“How are you?”

Be

“Good. Where’s Bear?”

“Home.”

“Why?”

“What do you want, DiNunzio?”

Mary found her voice. “I was wondering if you’d made your decision yet, about making me a partner.”

“No.”

“The answer is no, or you haven’t decided yet?”

“No, I haven’t decided. I’ll think about it and get back to you.”

Mary thought the boss was being a little, well, bossy. “We agreed that you’d make your decision by September.”

“It’s still August. Don’t jump the gun.”

Mary flashed on what Anthony had said about showing initiative, but it turned out that initiative was overrated. Still, she deserved the promotion, even if she wasn’t jerky enough to say so. “I’d like to know more about what you’re thinking about it and-”

“Quiet.” Be

Mary felt nonplussed. Be

“Wait. DiNunzio?”

“Yes?” Mary turned back, and Be

“Listen, I hate to get personal, but I should mention that I just heard from Karen Wise that Alice Co

“I see,” Mary said, concerned. “I knew something was bothering you.”

“You did? How?”

“I could just tell. I’ve worked for you for a long time now.”

“Worked with me, not for me.”

Mary blushed. Maybe she really would make partner. “So, do you think you’ll hear from her? If she has no job, she’ll be needing money.”

“That may be true, but it’s not my problem, anymore. I haven’t seen her in a year or so, and I’m so tired of her expecting me to put her life back together, after she messes it up.”

“Remember, she gave you trouble before and she may do it again. She’s resentful of you, and you’re so successful now.”

“I didn’t think of that.” Be

“She stole from a nonprofit? That’s low.” Mary was a twin herself, and she knew from experience that being one wasn’t always easy. She and her sister Angie loved each other, but it could be tricky to establish your own identity when somebody else was wearing your face. “Remember, I’m a twin, even though we haven’t really talked about it much. So I’ve been there, to a certain extent.”

“Right. I had forgotten.”

“People do, since Angie’s off always doing missionary work, now that she left the convent.” Mary didn’t add that she’d never talked to Be

“Then let’s cancel the meeting.”

“We can’t. It took three weeks to get it scheduled. You should see the emails I had to send, back and forth.” Mary hesitated, then went for it. She was showing initiative all over the place. “Can I make a suggestion?”

“Sure.”

“Maybe we should tell building security to call you if she wants to come upstairs?”

“Do you really think that’s necessary?”

“Yes. I’ll call Steve and tell him to let us know if Alice shows up, and he’ll tell the other guys.” Mary felt good, advising Be

“Against her?” Be

“Better to be safe than sorry, that’s what you always say.”

“But she hasn’t done anything wrong.”

“She has in the past.”

“But she’s changed. She’s at PLG now and-” Be

“Let me draft the papers. You’ll be good to go, if she acts up. You have to let people take care of you, instead of taking care of them all the time.”