Killer Smile Read Online Free

lawyer. What do you expect? Don’t get your thong in a bunch.”
    “I don’t wear thongs. What kind of girl wants people to think she doesn’t wear underwear?” Mary sounded crazy even to herself, and Judy was looking at her like she was nuts. “All I’m saying is that I’m Catholic, okay? I
welcome
visible panty lines.”
    Judy put up a hand. “You’re hungry, that’s why you’re so cranky. So let’s go walk my dog, then eat.”
    Mary returned to the booklet. The caption read, United States Department of Justice and under it, Certificate of Identification. There was an inky, rolled-out fingerprint on the left, and on the right, a black-and-white photo of Amadeo Brandolini, who was movie-star handsome. His eyes were dark under a strong forehead, his full mouth formed an easy smile, and his thick black hair glistened, evidently pomaded for his meeting with his adopted government. Mary held up the photo. “Doesn’t Amadeo look like George Clooney?”
    Judy squinted at the thumbnail-size photo. “No, freak, he looks nothing like George Clooney.”
    “He does, too. Exactly.”
    “You’re getting bizarre. It’s like you have a crush on him or something.”
    “Don’t be ridiculous.” Mary’s gaze shifted to the right page of the booklet, which recorded that Brandolini was five seven and only 155 pounds. Under Distinctive Marks, someone had written
scar on forehead left side
. It said that he was born on August 30, 1903, in Ascoli-Piceno and had resided at 4933 Thompson Street in Philadelphia. Under Length of Residence in United States, someone had written
32 years
. Mary shook her head. Thirty-two years in this country, but he’d never applied for citizenship because he couldn’t read and write. It would be his undoing.
    “Where did you get that registration book? That wasn’t at the National Archives, was it?”
    “No, it was in his son Tony’s personal effects. I got it from the lawyer for the estate, Frank Cavuto.” Mary looked at the last page of the booklet. On the line that read Signature of Holder was scrawled a scratchy
X
. Next to it, someone had written
his mark.
Mary couldn’t stop looking at that
X
. The unknown.
    “Girls!” came a shout from the door, startling them both. It was Bennie Rosato towering in the threshold, her thick blonde hair piled into an unruly topknot. She wore jeans and a Fairmount Boat Club sweatshirt and hoisted a heavy handbag, trial bag, and black suitcase. She didn’t look at all hungover to Mary, which was only one of her superpowers. “I gotta go to New York, I got called to trial in Preston on Monday. I’ll be two weeks, tops. Can you tykes hold the fort?”
    “Is a raise involved?” Judy asked with a smile, but Mary didn’t have the guts, especially since Bennie carried concealed.
    “That’s almost funny, Carrier. Now. DiNunzio.” The boss fixed her intense blue eyes on Mary. “I left two of my cases on your desk. They both have depositions this week. Take one and defend the other. Thanks.”
    “Sure. Yes. Fine.”
Eeeeek!
“What about Premenstrual Tom? I heard he called again today.”
    “I didn’t take the call, and you’d better not take any more while I’m away. He didn’t come to my house last night, did he? He didn’t come to the office today, did he? See? He’ll go away, they always do.”
    Premenstrual Fred didn’t.
“What about that man, at my window?” Mary asked. She’d slept lousy last night and couldn’t shake her bad mood. Even Conan O’Brien hadn’t helped, when he did his little hip dance.
    “That man was a shadow.” Bennie shook her head. “Now tell me what’s new in Alcor and Reitman. I heard they were getting active.”
    “No, they’re quiet right now.”
Because I’m ignoring them.
    “I don’t want you spending all your time on Brandolini, I told you that. We’re just recovering from last year, so this isn’t the time to let down.” Bennie’s eyes narrowed. “Bill some time, ladies. Clients who pay