Free Cheddar Off Dead by Julia Buckley

moved to the front to pay, as Donato had done minutes earlier.
    I promised Rosalie that I would, indeed, be returning, and then we left Rosalie’s and traveled back toward the elevator, at which point I began hissing at Serafina, asking why she had mentioned my traumatic day, and had she known that Nonno was Enrico Donato?
    â€œOh! I suppose I have heard his first name before, but I didn’t know he was the man Parker spoke of. I’m sorry, Lilah! But old Nonno is harmless as a fly. He’s very sweet—and he dotes so much on Giovanna, his youngest grandchild.”
    â€œI don’t even know what to say. Parker is going to kill both you and me, assuming that the mob doesn’t kill me first,” I huffed.
    We had reached the door of her apartment; she turned to me now and said, “Did you get the impression that he would harm you?”
    â€œNo,” I said.
    Serafina nodded, turning the key and letting us in. “Heis just a nice man. The police, they—what is it called? Jump to ideas.”
    â€œJump to conclusions.”
    â€œYes. Parker is too busy, anyway, to—”
    â€œHe said he’ll be here in half an hour.”
    â€œOh.” She set down her purse and took off her coat, which she slung carelessly on the couch. If I knew my neat brother, he would hang it up when he got home. “Lilah, before he gets here, could you do me a favor?”
    I was still feeling upset with her. Mick loped up to me with his usual friendly greeting, and I petted his ears. “I suppose,” I said.
    â€œI have a couple of dresses that I don’t want anymore. I will give them to someone at work, or to Goodwill, unless you want them. Would you try them on for me?”
    I sighed. I wanted to call work, find out what was happening, and get in touch with some of my secret clients. “Um—okay, really quickly.”
    She clapped her hands and disappeared down a hallway where, apparently, they had a clothing closet. Then she returned with the dresses. She handed me the first one—a winter-white pullover made of soft mohair. I eyed it dubiously. “I don’t think this would look so great on me,” I said. “And I’d have to pull it over my nice new hair.”
    She was already pushing me toward the bathroom. “I think it will look amazing on you. Just try it on.”
    With a loud sigh I went into their large white-walled loo and stripped out of my jeans and sweater, then pulled on the dress and fluffed my hair back into place. The shade of white looked surprisingly good against my blonde locks. “I can’t really see it,” I said.
    â€œCome out here; I have a full-length mirror in the hallway.”
    I emerged, and Serafina gasped. “Oh, I love it! It is so perfect on you, Lilah!”
    I moved to the mirror she pointed out, and my mouth dropped open. Never had I realized how many curves I possessed until I slipped on the white dress. I turned this way and that, admiring my form and the lovely softness of the material. “Wow. Where do you shop? Sexy Women R Us?”
    Serafina tinkled out another happy laugh. “I like feminine things. Wait, don’t take it off. I have a necklace that is so perfect.” She jogged away. She needn’t have worried; I had no intention of removing the dress, perhaps ever. Between my new hairstyle and this amazing clothing, I was feeling like a new woman.
    A knock sounded on the door; I knew it was probably Parker. “I’ll get it,” I called, and I jogged to the door, peeking first through the peephole to see Parker’s somber face. I would have thought the man never smiled if it hadn’t been for that one evening in the distant past. . . .
    I opened the door, and Parker blinked at me. “Lolla,” he gurgled.
    â€œWhat?”
    He cleared his throat. “Lilah. Are you going out?”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œI said you need to stay in, Lilah. I