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

took another slice. “Maybe that won’t be so bad.”
    Story of her life for the last year. “Frank, think of her rather than yourself. Call her tomorrow and then break it off in person. Not over the phone.” More wine. “If I had a buck for every junior and senior who cried on my shoulder because their boyfriends texted their breakup...”
    “Yes, Sister. You’re the soul of fairness and decency, Sister.”
    “I’m not a nun anymore.” She clipped the words and bit into more pizza. Don’t lose it. She should have caught the bus. She wasn’t fit company for anyone, let alone her boss. And she wasn’t decent anymore. Her mouth hadn’t formed a prayer since he’d stuffed his...
    “Giulia.”
    Her eyes focused on her white-knuckled hand around her wine glass.
    “Want to tell me what’s been bugging you all night?”
    “No.”
    “I could see it in the orchestra pit. You—”
    “Frank, my personal life is my business.”
    “Of course it is.”
    “Then let’s talk about something else. Where did you find Sidney?”
    _____
    Frank parked two spaces from her building’s front door.
    “Thanks for the ride and the pizza, Frank. See you Monday.”
    “Giulia, how long have you lived in this neighborhood? Do they issue a can of mace with your house key?”
    “It’s not that bad. We all look out for each other. Besides, it’s affordable.”
    “It’s two derelict buildings away from becoming a slum. That punk on the corner’s radiating attitude. Let me walk you to the door.”
    Was it Pot-Breath? She had to get out of the car. She had to put a good face on it. If it wasn’t him, was that other guy near the doorway the right height? Could she get down the hall and lock her door before Frank drove away?
    “Giulia.”
    Say something. Make a joke about defending yourself with your flute case. Turn this door handle and get out. Mary, Mother of Mercy, protect me.
    “Giulia, what’s the matter?”
    Frank’s hand came down hard on her shoulder, and she gasped and shied against the door.
    “That’s it.” He shut off the car and pocketed the keys. Before Giulia could protest, he came around and yanked open the passenger door. “Out. Your chivalrous employer is seeing you to your abode.”
    She ghosted a smile up at him and put one foot on the curb. Hooray, her legs didn’t give out. Frank stuck to her back as she opened her own door, but walked through each room while she locked them in.
    His “Me Tarzan” act was funny and comforting in its way. But he should go home, now that she was safe inside.
    Liar. Face it: what she really wanted to do was hide under the covers and not come out till Monday morning. She had to beat that fear into submission.
    Frank settled into the corner of the couch near the window. “Nice couch. Come join me on it.”
    She squeezed into the opposite corner. If she thought of it like one of the girlfriend interviews, she could detach herself.
    Frank leaned away, legs crossed, one arm across the back of the couch. “First let me tell you that I had another reason for taking you out to dinner and getting you to let me in here.”
    Her heart stuttered. Frank was the soul of decency. She thought. What if he really wanted—
    “We need to talk about Pamela.”
    She nearly laughed. Work? That was his ulterior motive? Her legs unfolded, and she took a full breath. “You’re reprehensible. I don’t even get overtime pay.”
    “You got pizza. You said it was good pizza.”
    “You don’t need to look so charming, Frank. What do we need to work on?” Piece of cake. She needn’t have worried.
    “Someone tried to rape Pamela last night.”
    Her heart stopped this time. It must have, because when it beat again a second later, a jolt of pain zapped her chest.
    “At—at her house? Near the camera?”
    “No such luck, if I can put it that way. She’s running the Children with Cancer auction this year. First organizational meeting was last night at that French restaurant downtown. The