Think Twice

“There’s no burned-up box,” Officer Dayne interjected, but Officer Villarreal waved him off.

“So?”

“So I have a day or two to find Alice. I need to call a cab, because I’m leaving.”

Officer Villarreal cocked his head. “Where are you going?”

Officer Dayne said, “You can’t leave the county.”

“Unless you arrest me, I sure can, and you know it.” Be

“Hold on.” Officer Villarreal blinked, uncertain. “I don’t know about this-”

“Then lock me up right now, and I’ll call a lawyer. I own a law firm, so the price is right. In the end, I’ll win.”

Officers Villarreal and Dayne exchanged glances.

“I thought so.” Be

Chapter Sixty

Alice was pretending to work in Be

She signed the paperwork, sca

“Marla?” she said, when the call picked up. “It’s Be

“Just fine. Did you get the signature cards?”

“Yes, thanks, I’m done. I sca

“I will. Wait a minute, I see your sca

“Understood. Please make the transfer after we hang up. My sister has already begun impersonating me.” Alice filled her in quickly on the details. “And now I have a restraining order against her. I think it’s prudent to expedite things.”

“Of course, I’ll make the wire transfer as soon as we hang up. Thanks so much for entrusting your business to USABank and its partners, in such a difficult time. You know how much we value our relationship.”

“I do, thanks.” Alice hung up, then pressed information, got the number of the TV station, and waited until the call co

When the phone was answered, Alice asked, “May I speak to Emily Barry, please? Tell her it’s Be

“Yes, please hold.”

Alice didn’t have to wait long.

“Be

“Thanks for taking my call. You did some of the best reporting on that case, so you were my first choice of reporters.” Alice paused for effect. “I’d like to give you some information, but it has to be off the record. You can’t attribute it to me.”

“You have my word.”

“I have reason to believe that Co

“Like what?” Emily sounded excited. “Sleeping with crooked cops, or otherwise whoring it up?”

Jealous, much? “No, impersonating me. We had one incident over the weekend, and I can’t tell how far she’ll go.”

“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. Very smart.”

“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 Be

“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 Be

“Stop, no!” Mary reached Be

“DiNunzio?” Be

“What’s going on?”

“Oh, nothing really.” Mary grabbed Fiorella by the arm. “Fiorella, this is my partner, Be

“Nice to meet you, Fiorella.” Grady extended a hand, but Fiorella barely looked at him, keeping a cold eye on Be

“Be

Be

“Why? Why would you do such a thing?”

“I’m pleased to meet you, too.” Be

“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 Be

“Hey Mare.” Judy came to the rescue, out of breath. “Be

“Benedetta!” Mary’s mother joined them, throwing open her arms and hugging Be

“I’m happy to do it,” Be

“BENNIE! CONGRADULATIONS ON MAKING MY DAUGHTER A PARDNER!”

“My pleasure,” Be

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,” Be

“You.” Fiorella fixed a dark gaze on Be

“Pardon me?” Be

“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!”