She smiled, looping her scarf back into place. “You say that with love.”
“I do,” I admitted.
She reached out, brushing my cheek affectionately. “You are a fine attorney, and I know you’ll take care of that silly lawsuit with Gloria.”
I leaned into her touch. “How did you already hear about that?”
“I was at the post office earlier.”
Yep. That totally made sense. “Aiden doesn’t make idle threats.” It was only fair to warn her.
Nonna fastened her coat and picked up her gloves. “If that man thinks to arrest me, he’s completely lost his mind.”
True. Very true. “Um, Nonna? I think it’s super nice that you’re helping Nana.”
“I’m a kind person, cara.” She pulled on one glove.
“Why are you assisting her?” I held my breath.
She paused and focused those warm brown eyes on me. “She’s family. I own a detective agency. Of course I’ll help her.”
I tried to swallow but my mouth was dry. “Um, through the years, I mean kind of, it has seemed that you and Nana aren’t close. That you might not even like each other.” I couldn’t breathe.
Nonna chuckled. “That’s just silly.”
Yet it wasn’t. “Please tell me about notes you showed each other earlier.”
She patted my cheek and then slid on her other glove. “Sometimes matters are better left in the past. This is one of those matters. Let it go, Annabella Fiona Albertini.”
My full name. The Irish and the Italian parts. I couldn’t speak.
She crossed the room. The door swung shut behind her, leaving the faint scent of her perfume and the steady hum of the refrigerator.
I immediately dialed Aiden.
“Hi,” he answered, no doubt seeing me as the caller.
“Hi. Three Hens has taken on the theft case,” I said without preamble. “We have to find the thief and fast.”
I could swear a slight growl came over the line. “There is no we when it comes to this case, or to dynamite in general.” His voice went Aiden low. “Tell me you understand this.”
Well, like grandmother, like granddaughter. “Nope. See you at home, Devlin.” I ended the call. Taking a deep breath and knowing better, I called Nonna.
“What, dear? I just left you,” she said by way of answer.
I exhaled. “Would you let me know what you find out after speaking with everyone in town later?”
“Of course. You do represent the Three Hens, you know. You’re our lawyer.” She ended the call.
Great. Just great. My phone buzzed and I glanced down to see Aiden calling. My abdomen turned over as I declined the call.
He wasn’t going to like that.
Chapter 7
The law office of Bunne & Albertini smelled like vanilla on this fine morning. On the second floor of a quaint building on Main Street in Timber City, our firm consisted of two attorneys, one file clerk king, and one office czar. My partner was Clark Bunne, the king my sixteen-year-old cousin Pauley, and the czar our receptionist, Oliver Duck.
Oliver looked up, his hair red, his eyes brown. “Afternoon.”
