Force of Habit: A Falcone & Driscoll Investigation by Alice Loweecey Page A

shrugged. “Maybe they didn’t see your nameplate next to the door. We had ours propped open because it got wicked hot. I thought I heard a voice asking for Driscoll’s, but I was behind the counter, so when whoever it was left it on one of the tables, I couldn’t stop them.”
    Giulia set it on Sidney’s desk. Smudged return address. She wasn’t sure she’d have the guts to pick it up again. Sidney and Mingmei were staring at her, and she forced a smile.
    “It doesn’t matter. Frank told me we’d be getting a delivery today.” Liar. Confession this Saturday. Without fail.
    Mingmei poked Sidney’s swimmer bobblehead. “Cute. You?”
    Sidney grinned. “First place, 400 free relay, Big Ten championship.”
    “Wow. I’m impressed. I swim like a rock: straight down.”
    Sidney’s face conveyed that she had just encountered an alien life form. “You can’t swim, Mingmei? Really? That’s terrible. Everyone should know how to swim. What if someone you love needed help? Here—” She reached beneath her desk and opened her messenger bag. “I teach kid and adult classes at the Y all summer, weeknights and Sundays.” She handed her a brochure. “It’s only thirty dollars for six weeks if you’re a member. All the parents say I’m a real patient teacher.”
    Mingmei’s blue-tinted eyelashes blinked at a rapid pace. “Um, thanks, Sidney. I’ll check my schedule.”
    Another brochure appeared in Sidney’s hand. “Ms. Falcone?”
    “Been swimming since I was ten.”
    “Good.”
    Mingmei slid the brochure into her apron pocket. “Giulia, I forgot to tell you that someone was asking about you guys the other day.”
    “For business? Why didn’t he come upstairs?”
    “She. You weren’t open yet. She wanted to have you guys check out a new personal assistant she was thinking of hiring. Wondered if I knew anything about you people.”
    “Ah, the upper class.”
    “You know it. She looked rich and dressed it, too: blonde, tall, fancy linen coat, fancy makeup, perfect hair, shoes that cost more than I make in a month.”
    “Good. Sounds like easy money for us.”
    “I never thought you’d be mercenary.” Mingmei looked at Sidney. “A promotion can corrupt the best of us.”
    Sidney laughed.
    Giulia said, “Oh, how I long to work with you again and give up eight hours a day with my polite, eager, funny officemate. Really.” Giulia faked a glare at Mingmei. “By the way, shame on you for making this poor woman buy me coffee.”
    “Sidney, did it work? Was she nice to you?”
    “I am always nice.” Giulia pointed to the door. “You may leave now. I resent these slurs on my character.”
    “You know what they say about these ex-nuns, Sidney.”
    Sidney’s mouth opened. “No. What? Tell me.”
    Giulia shook a finger at Mingmei. “I’ll get you for this. Confusing the innocent. Think of purgatory.”
    “Not Catholic, doesn’t apply, ha ha.”
    Giulia blew a raspberry at Mingmei, and she left. Then Giulia picked up the box, went into Frank’s office without knocking, and closed the door behind her.
    _____
    Giulia stared at the Barbie doll in the shoebox. “Why are her wrists handcuffed?” It also wore a brown, curly wig, exaggerated makeup, and a passable imitation of lingerie she’d seen in a Cosmo “Better Sex” article.
    Frank lifted the doll’s arms. “Why the slutty underwear?”
    “Frank.”
    “There’s no other word for it, Giulia. Nice girls don’t wear bras with the nipples cut out and open-crotch panties. I didn’t know you could get the legs to pose like that.”
    Never in this or any other lifetime did Giulia think she’d be standing next to her—male—boss discussing X-rated underwear.
    The phone rang. A moment later, Sidney buzzed Frank’s intercom.
    “It’s a Mr. Parker on one, Mr. Driscoll. He sounds kind of upset.”
    Frank looked at Giulia. “Let’s hope it’s just another pomegranate.” He took a deep breath and straightened his tie before he picked up