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“I won’t get anything useful from Davis. He thinks Poole’s the Ultimate Cop, no matter what. Rookies.” He eyed Frank. “I remember getting saddled with a wide-eyed rookie once. Giulia, did he ever tell you about the drunk nursing mother who squirted us with breast milk when we tried to give her a sobriety test?”
    Giulia choked with laughter. It felt good.
    Frank aimed a punch at Jimmy’s shoulder. “Are you through? I’ve got six separate cases waiting for me. Rent’s due next week.”
    “Right. I’m going to spend my morning on this report. Poole and Davis can take over the Senior Citizen Weeklong Car Crash Flash Mob.” He opened a blank document. “Giulia, let’s have what you know, and we’ll compare it with what I’ve got here.”
    Giulia opened her purse. “I don’t have all the details, but I know Laurel has pages of them. Can she email everything to you?”
    “Sure.” He spelled out his email address.
    Giulia opened her cell. “This’ll only take a second … Laurel? It’s me. Write down this email address.” She waited while Laurel repeated it. “Yes. Email everything you have on the other two kidnappings to Captain Reilly … I know it’s already ten thirty … I know it’s Tuesday … I’ll call you in a little while, sweetie.”
    Jimmy waited till Giulia returned the phone to her purse. “Giulia, briefly. I see that the ransom deadline is Thursday. Does your friend think there is an underlying deadline as well?”
    “Yes, based on the other two kidnappings. Neither infant was returned alive.” She clenched her hands together. “I wish you could know how hard it is for me to pretend I’m calm and detached about this.”
    Jimmy gave her a brief smile. “Your hand-wringing and non-verbal cues are telling me everything I need to know.”
    She didn’t return it. “Are they telling you how much I want to vent my anger on your homophobic detective out there?”
    He closed his eyes. “I swear that idiot expects me to screen crime victims so every case he’s assigned to gets him adulation or a raise. I don’t make enough money for this.”
    “If his omissions cause harm to the baby, I will show him the other side of polite, inoffensive Giulia Falcone.”
    Frank coughed. Giulia started. She’d almost forgotten he was in the room.
    Jimmy clicked his mouse. “I’d pay money to see that. The documents just hit my in-box. Frank, I’ll call you. Giulia, if you accidentally spill hot coffee in Poole’s lap, I promise not to see it.”
    “You shouldn’t tempt people to be naughty so close to Christmas. Santa may be listening.”
    This time they smiled at each other.
    “You sound like my kids,” Jimmy said. “You’ll hear from me this afternoon at the latest.”
    In the outer room, Poole was saying to the other policemen in a voice pitched to carry, “How many ex-cops does it take to screw in a light bulb?”

six
    Giulia didn’t speak until Frank’s car was stuck in a long line at a red light.
    “That miserable, self-centered—”
    “Asshole.” He reached over and squeezed her gloved hand. “Any other words you want me to use so you don’t have to?”
    She bit her lips. “A few.”
    “Consider them said. The ironic thing is, you should thank Poole.”
    “What?”
    Frank laughed. “Your voice cracks when you’re angry.” Their turn at the light came, and he continued onto the freshly salted street. “Think about it: Jimmy was going to freeze us out of his office. I knew it even though he agreed to talk to us. This is police territory, period.”
    “But—”
    “But nothing. Jimmy’s people have the case. If he asks us to help, then we have an opening. You’ve seen enough movies where the police hate the PI. Constantly threaten to take away his license, won’t share information. That’s not my style. I’ve still got a great working relationship with Jimmy. I’m not jeopardizing that.”
    Giulia’s arguments withered on her lips.
    Frank glanced at her and