Limoncello Yellow (Franki Amato Mysteries) Read Online Free PDF

cut me out of that one, child!" She laughed with a hacking sound typical of smoker's cough. "Anyway, I dropped a wad of dough on those costumes, so I've gotta look after my investment."
    " Of course," I said, empathetically.
    " Now. I don't mind your furry friend here as long as he doesn't poop and pee on my chaise lounge. I had to search all over Louisiana to find one in faux zebra."
    " Oh, he's house trained."
    " One last thing: The Visitor Policy. I don't allow my female tenants to have more than two male friends spend the night at one time. I've got a reputation to protect, and I don't want people to think I rent to whores."
    " Certainly not," I replied with conviction.
    " Let me know if you have any questions."
    I started to ask Glenda about the origin of the furniture and then decided to keep my mouth shut. "No, I think it's all painfu-, er, very clear for now."
    " All right then, you ladies have a good evening. And when you're all settled in, Miss Franki, I'll take you over to Thibodeaux's for a Harvey Wallbanger. Au revoir !"
    I looked at Veronica. "What's a Harvey Wallbanger? Or is that a who?"
    " Nooo. It's some drink from the seventies."
    " That's funny. I'd sort of taken for her a Fuzzy Navel or Slippery Nipple drinker."
    She laughed. "You know, Glenda's a little rough around the edges, but she's whip smart."
    " An interesting choice of adjectives to describe her intelligence."
    Veronica leaned over to pick up Hercules, who, despite his mighty name, had been having a tough time fending off Napoleon 's skillful battle techniques. "So, what do you say, Franki?"
    " I say that people think Austin is weird, but it's got absolutely nothing on Nola!"
    " Are you ready to start work tomorrow?" She adjusted Hercules' sweater.
    I took a seat on the chaise lounge. "After today, I'm ready for anything."
     
    * * *
     
    Napoleon and I were just settling down to sleep in our black French bordello-style bed with the hot pink velvet duvet and matching canopy, when my phone started ringing. I figured that it was my mom or my nonna calling to make sure that I'd encased the mattress in plastic, which I had seriously considered doing, so I prudently ignored it. But then a minute later the phone rang again. I looked at the display and saw that it was Vince.
    Vince had called me every day since I 'd caught him in bed with the wrathful wrestler, but I had never answered the phone. I had also promptly deleted all of the messages he'd left for me without listening to a single one of them. Deep down I was thinking that if I just avoided him, I wouldn't really have to face the fact that it was over, that I was alone yet again. But tonight I knew that the time had come to hear him out and then tell him in no uncertain terms that we were through. Otherwise, I was never really going to be able to reassemble the shattered pieces of my life—not to mention my pride—and move on.
    " What do you want, Vince?"
    " Franki! Finally! Why haven't you returned any of my calls? I've missed you, babe."
    " Oh, I'm sure you haven't missed me that much. You seem to be perfectly capable of finding other women to keep you company when I'm not around."
    " Babe, listen. That…it was all a misunderstanding."
    " Oh, really ? So, you're telling me that I didn't see the Munich Maniac's legs wrapped around your waist? Or, maybe I did, but she was just giving you private wrestling lessons? Is that it?"
    " Look, Franki, the guys dragged me to one of those nude oil wrestling joints—"
    " Spare me the sordid details, Vince!" I interrupted. "I don't care anymore."
    He sighed. "Okay, I made a mistake. I admit it. Haven't you ever made a mistake?"
    " Yeah. I have. The day I decided to trust a cheat like you. And while we're on the subject of mistakes, did you happen to notice that Petra looked a lot like a Peter?"
    " Damn it, Franki! Why are you being so harsh? Lots of couples deal with cheating, and they come through it stronger, babe."
    I snorted a laugh. "First of all,