Page 40 of S.O.S. Mizzay

“Missy Andriopolos?”

“Yeah? Whaddaya want?” she barked, staring up at the chiseled guy.

Way, way up.

Anddamn. He was a tall one. Not that she was the least bit intimidated by his towering presence. He could attack if he wanted, but she’d been well trained and could hold her own, even with a behemoth like this.

The man scowled. “You know you shouldn’t open your door to just anybody before you’ve checked to see who it is,” he chastised gruffly.

“Yeah, well, Iknoweverybody,” she sassed back, “so I’m not worried. Who the hell are you?” she questioned, negating her previous statement, even though she was aware hehadto be Delancourt’s man.

Instead of answering right away, the guy glanced at the boxes piled high in a state of disarray. “You’re…moving?”

“Whowants to know?” she asked again. If he didn’t give his name up immediately, she was going to slam the door in his face. She was in no mood to play cute.

“I’m from the agency you called for a search and rescue,” he told her. “S.O.S.”

“SOS, huh? Bizness card?” she demanded, holding out her hand.

“Uh, we don’t have any yet. We just settled on the company name today.”

He took the hand she was holding out, into his own, turning the gesture into a shake. “I’m Prez.”

“Well geeze-Louise. It took yah long enough,” she snarked. “Don’t just stand there, Mr. President,” she continued sarcastically. “Get your pretty ass in here.” She yanked him forward, which wasn’t easy with the man-mountain, but she had determination on her side. “I want to know where the hell my niece is. Have you found her yet?”

“No ma’am.” It looked like he was trying to maintain his stoicism, but that something about her tickled him. He coughed back a rusty sounding chuckle. “I just got your case this morning. I thought I’d start with a visit to you, and find out what you know.”

“If I knew anything, would I need you?” she growled, then huffed before relenting. Pissing the man off wouldn’t do her any good. “Okay. Relax your tush if you can find a spot, and don’t trip over the boxes.”

Without budging, Prez gazed around and asked again, “Moving in or moving out?”

“In.” Missy picked a box up off a chair and deliberately dropped it. She wasn’t sure, but she might have heard the tinkle of breaking glass as it hit. She didn’t so much as blink. Right now, personal possessions were the least of her worries, except…

She eyed Prez up and down, then sent her gaze toward her sofa.

“Do me a favah,” she ordered “You’ve definitely got some muscle. That heavy-assed sofa ovah theah needs to be five feet closer to the windows, doll. Do that for me, then we’ll talk.” She indicated the chair she’d emptied, offering it up to him in exchange for his brawn-services.

Prez bit the inside of his cheek, and it was obvious to Missy he was trying not to laugh.

She was glad he found her amusing.

“I’ll be happy to move your couch,” he nodded. “But you take the chair. I’m good standing.”

He moved to the sofa in question and didn’t even grunt as he picked up and put it exactly where she’d indicated.

That was all good, but she didn’t need anyadditionalgentlemanly gestures.

“Take the chair. I have more than one,” she snarked, and to prove her point, she dumped another box from the seat of a second and plunked her jean’s clad ass down on it with a sigh to wait him out.

Prez, still clearly trying to maintain a straight face, took the seat she’d first proffered and judiciously attempted to start over. “Okay. Tell me what you know about your niece’s disappearance.”

She gave him a shake of her head. “Didn’t you get everything I said on your answering machine?” she asked.

“Uh, we’re currently without a receptionist,” he admitted. “The wife of my boss is doing double-duty taking phone messages from home, and sometimes things don’t get passed down exactly right. So, to cover everything correctly, I’d like to hear the intel directly from you.”

Missy suddenly sat up straighter. “Youze are without a receptionist?” she questioned, and before he could answer she jabbed herself in the chest with her thumb. “I’m without a job.”

She regarded him with renewed attentiveness. “I might be just the person you need. Your firm is right up my alley, I never screw up passing on information, and I’m a damned good employee. Nothing gets by me,” she assured him.

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