The Naughty List (30 page)

An eager light blazed in the shiva’s eyes. “Security office?”

“Yes.” Warning alarms blared in her head.
This is crazy. Don’t do it.
Rosalie extinguished them with a large ice-cold bucket of reality.
Shut up. We need help and they’re here.
“Stephanie slashed the positions. Even though we’re hiring again I can’t find experienced people to fill huge gaps in our surveillance system. Most of the time the department isn’t even manned. The cameras are only checked sporadically.” She nodded toward the E.L.F. “David knows. He sneaked all around the store totally unobserved.”

For some reason David appeared reluctant to agree. “Rosalie’s right. Only—”

“You see, I need help. Shoplifting is way up over last year.” She motioned to the door. Want to see the security office?” They followed eagerly behind.

Once inside Sadhri glanced around in surprise. “No one is here.”

“I told you. We don’t even have a chief of security anymore, and only enough staff for spotty coverage during peak hours.”

The shiva peered at the banks of monitors. “What sort of trouble do you handle?”

“A little bit of everything; shoplifting, parking problems, disruptive customers—”

“Lost children?”

“Oh, yes,” Rosalie promptly agreed, “especially this time of year when the store is so crowded.”

“Like him?” Sadhri pointed to a camera overseeing the shoe department. Her sharp eyes located a little boy wandering around with a distraught expression. She glanced at her nephew. “Billy?”

“On it.” He dashed out the door.

“The mother’s scent permeates the boy’s clothing,” Sadhri explained. “Once Billy isolates it, he’ll reunite them in no time.”

Rosalie watched in fascination on the monitor as the hellhound appeared. He crouched down beside the little boy and whispered something. The child took his hand. Billy paused and inhaled.

“He’s drawing in the scent now,” explained Sonia. “Any second and he’ll acquire the target.”

As soon as the words left her lips, Billy and the boy made an immediate beeline down the aisle. Another camera picked them up…then another…in less than a minute they were halfway across the store. Billy steps never faltered. They turned down one last aisle. The camera picked up a woman with a frantic look on her face. The little boy let go of Billy and rushed toward her. She scooped him up in relief. The mother was all smiles as she and Billy exchanged a few words. The boy waved a cheerful goodbye as the hellhound headed back.

He returned to the office, chuckling. “She thought he was right behind her and couldn’t figure out how he managed to get halfway across the store in a few minutes.” A shade of doubt crossed his face. “I told her I was with store security. Was that okay?”

“Hell, yes, it’s okay,” Rosalie crowed. “What you did was a yotify">mazing. I’ve never seen anything like it. You’re all hired if you want the jobs.” A quick chorus of agreement followed.

“Ramesh, too?” asked Sonia. “He’ll be back on his feet soon.”

“Penrose’s has room for everyone,” Rosalie assured her. She turned to Sadhri. “Would you consider becoming security chief?”

“Me?”

“I need someone in charge. That is…” Rosalie glanced around at the others. “If the rest of you think you are all able to work together.”

Billy draped his arm playfully across Sadhri’s shoulder. “A medusa in a hellhound pack with a shiva for a leader? Sounds like the start of the Apocalypse to me.”

Sadhri jabbed her nephew in the ribs. “That will be enough of that, young man. I see pack discipline is seriously lax.” Her voice was stern, but the pleased expression betrayed her true feelings.

“How about you, Carlos?” asked Billy. “Any problems joining a pack?”

“As long as you’re all housebroken and don’t beg at the table,” he said with a laugh. “I’ve got no beef.” The teasing banter increased.

“Report first thing in the morning, then,” announced Rosalie. She handed Sadhri the procedures manual. “We’ll go over everything tomorrow in my office. Meanwhile I’ll take care of the employment paperwork. Do you all have a place to stay?”

David spoke up. “Not yet. Why doesn’t everyone head over to Mom and Dad’s condo? I told them you’d be along once we finished here. I’ll join you in a minute. I need a word with Rosalie.”

As soon as her office door shut behind them, he eyed her askance. “The security office?”

She frowned. “What about it? I thought you’d be pleased.”

“I’m pleased they’re out of New York, only I thought more like Central Receiving. You know, stacking packages, unloading crates.”

“Oh, come on,” she snorted, “does that group look like warehouse workers to you? Do you really see them sorting through pallets and tackling inventory?” The E.L.F.’s unreadable expression made her suddenly antsy. “Why? Don’t you think they can do the job? You saw Billy in action.”

“No, no,” he assured her. “I’m certain they’ll handle the job. You may need to curb their enthusiasm a little is all.”

“Enthusiasm?”

“I’m sure nothing you can’t handle.” Before she could ask him to elaborate David pulled her close and kissed her. All other thoughts flew out of her head. “I missed you.”

“I missed you, too.” After much too short a time Rosalie pushed him away with a sigh of regret. “I have to get back to work.”

He kissed her neck sending pleasant little shivers right down to her toes. “I’ll talk to the new owners about letting you slack off.”

“Actually, Marissa and I have a meeting with the new owners this afternoon. They’re bringing preliminary plans for the changes at Penrose’s. I’m so excited, but must finish a ton of work in the office before then. Plus, I have a new security team and a cupid to add to the payroll.” She poked him in the chest. “Meanwhile, you get busy, too.”

“Me?”

“You’re not leaving your mother to house two hellhounds, a shiva, and a medusa in the condo. Before you pop back to New York, find Penrose’s new employees a place to stay.”

“Are you sure you’re not theuthink th Baal?”

“Yes, I’m sure and stop nuzzling. You know how I get when you nuzzle.” He grinned wickedly. She looped her arms around his neck. “You’ll come for dinner?”

“I’ll come for dinner.” He kissed her again and then she held nothing but air.

****

“The plans are amazing,” Marissa exclaimed.

Brian had begged off on the meeting to help his son deal with their new house guests, but Grace arrived and set up a laptop. Rosalie peeked over her friend’s shoulder at the screen display—an animated walk-through showcasing the new ideas for Penrose’s. “Seriously, a rooftop tea room?”

Grace nodded. “Actually, the idea was Arthur Penrose’s. In the original plans for the store Penrose wanted to add a fifth floor, but scaled back because of finances. The tea room was always in the back of his head, though.” She clicked to another screen. “See?”

Blueprints popped onto the screen. “He had a complete set of drawings.” She scrolled down to a new page. “We took some of his ideas and incorporated our own. The hair salon will be moved up to the new fifth floor and incorporated into the day spa. The tea room will be right next door with an open patio for outside dining in nice weather.”

“What about the coffee shop downstairs?”

She clicked on another screen. “A complete remodel and expansion for accessibility from the street when the store is closed. The downtown is expanding and growing—a new condo is under construction right across the street—another one down the block will sell soon. Lots of young people are moving in. A bistro should do well in this location. We’ll expand the menu; keep the old favorites, add some new items.”

“Just don’t lose the sweet potato pie.”

“Never. Miss Lu already promised to leave all her recipes when she retires.”

Marissa scrolled through the rest of the plans. “What’s in this area here?”

“One of your ideas. The new artisan’s gallery will carry limited, one-of-a-kind items produced by local craftsman and unavailable anywhere else.”

Rosalie peered at the screen. “Not much square footage. You can’t stock a large variety.”

“We don’t intend to. The purpose isn’t to pose a threat to the galleries in town. I thought more on the lines of showcasing a different artist each month, maybe keyed to seasonal displays.”

“If you move the wall here,” Marissa suggested, as she pointed at the screen. “You could put in a work space where customers can watch art created.”

“What about a classroom?” Rosalie chimed in. “Penrose’s could offer cooking lessons, arts and crafts projects for kids during the holidays to bring in the parents.”

Grace’s face lit up. “We are going to have so much fun together.” She clicked off the screen. “First, the real work begins. Brian and I are sorting through contractors’ bids. Then there are architectural drawings to approve and interior designers to hire.”

“How long will the remodeling take?” asked Rosalie. “I want to be one of the first customers in the day spa.”

“You have quite a wait. We estimate at least a year from start to finish if everything goes smoothly. We plan to select a contractor before the New Year. The construction will begin as soon as all the permits are acquired and likely phased in, so expect quite an upheaval in the store for a while.”

“Worse than a demon in Christmas Land?” Rosalie laughed. “Don’t worry. I think we’ll handle it.”

Grace rose up from behind the desk. “Marissa, please share the new plans with all Penrose’s employees. I know everyone is curious.”

“That’s putting it mildly,” Marissa said. “They’ll all be thrilled, especially when they see the designs.”

“Warn them the next year will be crazy. We’ll need each employee’s full cooperation in order to pull this off smoothly.”

“Don’t you worry,” Marissa promised. “You’ll get it. I’m encouraging anyone to look for ways to make a smooth transition including bonuses for great ideas. I’m so happy someone believes in Penrose’s again as much as we all do.”

“So am I,” seconded Rosalie.

Grace had another appointment so Rosalie escorted her to the front door. She glanced around and then dropped her voice. “How is Brian dealing with your new boarders?”

“Let’s just say the sooner we find them a place of their own, the better. Not that after twenty-five years of marriage to the Santa I don’t enjoy the constant parade of Integrals with one crisis or another, but I look forward to having my husband to myself for a change. Speaking of having no private time, how’s it going with the cupid?”

“Not bad.” She filled her in on Natalie’s new position in Christmas Land. “After lunch, she gave me a short pop quiz on the consolidation of the Vedic and Assyrian pantheon. I nailed it.”

“I’m really sorry about all this.”

“Don’t be,” Rosalie assured her. “Actually, the assignments are interesting. I feel like I’m reading a really hot romance based in a mythical fantasy land except the names of people I’ve met keep popping up. Did one of David’s distant ancestors really steal a bride away from her groom on the wedding night and snatch all the presents, too?”

“Ah, that would be Olaf. He was quite a pistol.” She shot Rosalie a bemused look. “I hear Billy and the others are working security.”

“Yes.” Grace wore the same undefined expression as David.
Rosalie hazarded a cautious question. “Do you foresee any problems?”

Grace patted her arm. “Nothing you can’t handle, I’m sure.”

Rosalie’s gaze followed Grace as she walked down the street back toward the condo. A teensy flicker of concern jabbed her in the mental pants, but she flicked it aside. She had nothing to worry about. Billy and the others were professionals. A good talk with Sadhri tomorrow would set the ground rules, and everything would be fine.

Natalie was so pleased by Rosalie’s steady progress she cornered her before leaving for the day and gave only a short reading assignment. David arrived at dinnertime with equally good news. He and Brian had found a furnished rental house nearby for Penrose’s new security team. The cupid’s goodwill extended through the evening since Rosalie and David actually managed a full dinner and several uninterrupted hours together before Natalie finally checked in.

The next morning Rosalie woke in high spirits. When she arrived at work, Sadhri waited for her at the office door holding the procedures manual, all business and practically at attention. “Oh, hi,” Rosalie chirped in surprise, swallowing a mouthful of danish. “I didn’t expect you quite this early.” She led her inside and offered a seat.

Sadhri raised an eyebrow. “I’m used to rising early. I ran the others through morning PT and came straight over. They wt ourprise,ill join me shortly.”

Morning, PT?
Rosalie guiltily dumped the remains of her pastry into the trash. “Uh, that’s great. So do you like the new place?”

“Yes. It has a large secluded backyard. The house is well appointed and the space more than adequate for our needs. We didn’t come with anything so we settled in immediately.”

Rosalie was taken aback. “No luggage? Personal items?”

“A few changes of clothing. We left suddenly.”

She regarded the shiva with sympathy. A stoic demeanor didn’t necessarily mean a person had no feelings underneath. No matter how tough, there’s no getting around the painful realization your own people threw you out. “I’m sorry, Sadhri. The move must be hard on everyone. Do you need anything?”

The shiva’s expression softened. “We’re fine.”

“Nevertheless, you need money to get started. I’ll see you all draw an advance on your salaries.”

“You’re very kind, Rosalie. We appreciate the trouble we’ve caused.”

“You’re no trouble. I want everything to work out. Having you all here is good for you and good for Penrose’s.”

“Brian always said Integrals need humans as much as humans need Integrals. I never understood completely until now.” She placed the procedures manual on the desk and placed her hand on top. “We all swore to uphold the honor of the company.”

“Uh, okay. Did you find anything in the manual unclear?”

“The operation appeared quite straightforward. Only…” She stopped mid-sentence and appeared reluctant to voice the rest.