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local town then became mayor before Mal had been in kindergarten. When they were in fifth grade, he’d run for Congress and won. Fifteen plus years of service later, he’d promised his family twice he would retire from the DuPont Circle rat race and twice he’d reversed the decision.
    If he really did plan to run for Senator…Penny scrubbed a hand over her face. Mallory hated her father’s political life. She hated that their family events became political rallies and she hated her mother’s unhappiness.
    “Hey,” she called out. “I changed my mind. Let’s open a bottle of the good stuff, eat pizza and watch chick flicks.”
    “Sold!” The excited reply carried just enough uptick in her mood that Penny had to smile. Padding into her bedroom, she smothered another yawn. She didn’t sleep on planes. It was only late afternoon New York time, however, so she couldn’t crash yet. Digging out her flannel pajamas from the dresser, she sighed at the snuggly feel.
    Footie jammies were the only way to go in the middle of winter. After toweling her hair dry, she found her comb and grinned at the sound of the doorbell. Perfect . Pizza, wine and movies on a snowy afternoon. The day couldn’t get better.
    Her phone buzzed. She dug it out of her purse to see Anna’s name and a text asking if she’d made it home. Firing off a quick response, she dumped her phone back into her purse. It buzzed a second time, but Penny didn’t need another mother and she could find out what Anna wanted later. Instead, she padded out to the living room. “How much do I owe you for the pizza?”
    “Um…” Mallory’s less than illustrative answer didn’t prepare Penny. George Dagmar stood in the middle of her tiny living room, flanked by two men in suits.
    “You’re not pizza.”
    The corner of his mouth curved faintly. “No. I’m not.”
    She wasn’t often tongue-tied, but she couldn’t fathom why Armand’s brother and his entourage of goons lurked in her apartment. Maybe she should have read the second text message after all.
    “What are you doing here?”
    “Penny!” Mallory sounded scandalized. “You could introduce us, especially since his boys already frisked me.”
    “They did what?” Penny swung around to look at Grady, George’s head bodyman or guard or whatever they called him. “Why the hell are you frisking my roommate?”
    “He did not touch her.” George waved his man off.
    “He could.” Mallory grinned wider and Penny rolled her eyes.
    “Okay, rewind and start at the beginning.” She twirled her finger, only then remembering the comb she held, her footie pajamas and damp hair. Fantastic . She looked like a refugee from a girl’s slumber party. Pointing to Mallory, she said, “Go open the wine.” Cause I really need it. Pointing at Grady, she said, “You two get out. It’s too small in here for this many people.”
    “Ma’am, we need to do a full sweep…”
    “Then do it and get out.” Everyone paused while Grady motioned to the second man. Folding her arms, Penny waited for them to complete their ‘inspection.’ It took longer than the size of the apartment would seem to warrant.
    When the second man returned, he said, “There’s a fire escape off the…”
    “Doesn’t work.” Penny and Mallory spoke in unison. When her roommate went silent, Penny added, “They don’t work. The ladders don’t extend. In fact, the only thing they’re good for is hanging out in the summer or on nice days.” Or when I need a smoke, but you don’t need to know that. Her cigarette addiction came and went.
    George didn’t smile, but Penny didn’t miss the glimmer of amusement in his eyes.
    “We’ll be outside.” Grady beckoned the other man. They stepped out and closed the door, but not before Penny caught sight of more suits in the hall.
    “Mallory,” Penny said, glancing at her friend who remained rooted to the spot. “Wine?”
    “Oh. Right. On it.” She disappeared into their kitchenette,