Lisa Scottoline - Think Twice

“I ran into his partner in the lobby, and he told me he wasn’t there. So I’ll have to catch him later or maybe settle for a phone call, when Grady isn’t around.”

Mary’s neck erupted in blotches. Bennie never shared this kind of personal information with them and still wouldn’t have, if Judy hadn’t made her. “That explains everything, to me.”

Judy swallowed visibly. “It does. Sorry.”

“Good, now I have some questions for you.” Alice wanted to flush Judy out. If the associate didn’t come clean, she wouldn’t survive the night. “Why did you follow me in the first place? What were you thinking?”

“It’s been a bad day, I know, and I… was worried about you.”

Yeah, right. “Why didn’t you simply tell me that?”

“I was going to, but then Mary came, and you, right after.”

“You’re sure that’s it?”

“Absolutely.”

“Nothing else?”

“No.”

You just signed your own death warrant.

Mary interrupted, “Looks like rain. We’d better get back.”

“You’re right, DiNunzio.” Alice got the girls walking again. “Tell you what, Carrier. I’m having dinner tonight with a biotech company from Dublin, Ireland. I’m meeting the CEO, the general counsel, and an operations type. This just came up today, and I’d love to get their business. Do you want to come with me?”

“Sure.” Judy sounded pleased, which was just what Alice wanted.

“Good. It will be a late night, though. They’re expecting me to show them around. They’ve never been to Philadelphia, and I have to show them how much fun we are.”

“No problem. My boyfriend’s away on a job. What company is it?”

“It’s a fairly complicated parent-sub relationship. I’ll let you know before the meeting.”

Mary interrupted, “I’ll take Grady to dinner. How about that?”

“Thanks.” Alice squeezed Mary’s arm. “Make him pay. Order the lobster.”

“You’re on.” Mary smiled as they hurried along. Suddenly it started to drizzle, and everybody on the sidewalk picked up the pace, fumbled for umbrellas, or covered their heads with purses.

“Haul ass!” Alice shouted, and the women half-ran and half-scooted down the crowded sidewalk, hustling all the way back to the office in the rain. They hurried past the Rothman guards and through the doors, then emptied into the lobby, out of breath, laughing, and slightly damp.

Steve looked up from the security desk. “You guys need some paper towels?”

“No, thanks.” Alice led the girls to the elevator bank, swiped her card, and punched the button with a wet hand.

Mary grinned. “I can’t keep up with you two. My legs are too short.”

“You did fine, stumpy.” Judy’s soaked hair was red as blood.

Alice ushered them into the elevator when the doors opened, and pushed the button. They prattled on about hair, and she zoned them out, alone with her thoughts. The rain was a lucky break because it would get darker sooner, and she and Judy would have dinner at a restaurant down by the Delaware River, where there were fewer people and plenty of back alleys.

The elevator doors slid open, and the women dripped into the reception area, where Marshall and Grady were standing. Grady turned, smiling. “What happened to you guys?”

“We went on a field trip, girls only.” Alice walked over and kissed him on the cheek. “I’m taking Carrier to dinner tonight, so you’re dating DiNunzio, okay?”

“Great!”

“We’ll be out late with an Irish client, so don’t wait up. Now let me get back to my office. I have to make one more call before the end of the day.”

“Go ahead,” Grady said, and Alice left them in reception. She went down the hallway, entered her office, and closed the door behind her, then walked around the desk, opened the bottom drawer, and moved aside some correspondence. Underneath, where she had hidden it, lay her revolver.

She picked it up and checked the chamber. It housed six bullets, which was five more than she would need for Judy. She clicked it back into place and aimed it at the air, imagining her target.

“Bang!” she whispered.

Mary spent the next hour or so at her desk, returning calls, answering emails, and tackling the day’s correspondence. Her cell phone started ringing, and she slid it from her holster, thinking immediately of Anthony, but the screen showed the realtor’s number.

“Hi, Mary,” Janine said, “the owner has your offer, and they’re considering it.”

“That’s all? I offered the asking price.” Mary sighed just as Grady popped his head into her open door, and she waved him into the chair opposite her desk, where he sat down, silently.

Janine was saying, “I think they’ll accept, but there are other offers, so don’t start celebrating. They have three days to accept, and it’s prudent to take the full time.”

“I don’t want to get into a bidding war.”

“I’ll call you when I know something. In the meantime, we have to line up an inspector, and I’ll email you with a referral.”

“Thanks.” Mary pressed END and set the phone down.

“The house?” Grady asked. “It’ll come through.”

“I hope so. It cost me my boyfriend.”

“Wanna talk about it? I’m here.” Grady looked sympathetic, but Mary didn’t know him well enough to cry on his shoulder.

“Nah, thanks. I’m fine.” She reached for her computer mouse. “Let’s look online for a restaurant. What would you like? Chinese? French? Steak? They’re gonna be out late.”

“I know, Bennie gave me the house keys. I’m supposed to put them in the flowerpot for her, then go to sleep.” Grady rose and came around the desk. “On a different point, this thing Judy’s talking about, that somehow Bennie is really Alice. You don’t agree with her, do you?”

“No.” Mary looked up. “Why?”

“It’s odd.” Grady leaned against the credenza, slipping his hands into his pockets. His shirtsleeves were rolled up, and his striped tie loosened. “I’ve been thinking about it ever since Judy said it.”

“Really?” Mary was starting to wonder if the world had gone nuts.

“It’s like when someone asks you if you hear water dripping, and you don’t. But then, after they mention it, it’s all you hear. You’re listening for it, then. You understand?”

“You mean you agree with Judy now? You said you didn’t.”

“I know, I didn’t.” Grady’s brow knit in confusion. “But now I’m thinking about it.”

“Why?”

“Because of some things that happened last night, between Bennie and me. Little things, like she gave me a glass of milk and she knows I hate milk.”

“Not a smoking gun.”

“But it was an old joke between us, because she loves milk so much.”

“So she forgot. You haven’t seen her in a couple of years. Do you remember which drink she absolutely hates? There is one.”

Grady’s expression went blank. “Uh, no.”

“Root beer.”

“Touché.”

“Plus, you surprised her with your visit, didn’t you? Your coming in probably threw her for a loop.” Mary was thinking about the man who worked at Mellon Center. “She’s just off her game.”

“Possibly.”

“Definitely.”

“So Judy’s completely wrong?”

“Yes.” Mary’s cell phone rang and she checked the display screen, hoping again for Anthony, but no luck. “Excuse me, it’s my parents. I’ll just be a minute.” She pressed the green button and said, “Hi.”

“ Maria, Maria! ” It was her mother, in tears.

“Ma, what’s the matter?”

“Your father, he’s a cheat with Fiorella!”