The Naughty List (31 page)

“What?”

“Some methods are inefficient.”

“You mean like the schedules? Adjust them anyway you want. Be creative.”

“Creative?” the shiva mused. “Interesting. Creativity is not something an Integral employer suggests. They are bound to the rules.”

“Well, you’re not at HQ any more. You can be flexible.”

Sadhri considered Rosalie’s words. “Flexibility is helpful. Also, I not sure I understand the apprehension system. The security office has no prison.”

Rosalie stifled her desire to smile. “We’re only a department store with no room to house criminals. If you catch someone, say shoplifting, you notify me and contact the police. All you do is file a report and hold the person in the security office for pick-up. They book them downtown.”

“The manual didn’t state the consequences.”

“Yeah, it’s like The Book in that regard. Punishment is up to the courts, but in my opinion they’re not nearly severe enough. Usually perpetrators get a fine and a slap on the wrist. We always ban thieves from Penrose’s, but they slip back in or steal from another store.”

“Not anymore,” Sadhri stated firmly.

Their conversation was interrupted by a knock on the door. Billy poked his head in. “We’re here.”

“Great! Before everyone gets to work, I’ll walk you around the floors and introduce you to everyone. I want to make sure all the employees recognize our new security personnel so they can call for you if they need assistance.”

Rosalie set aside several hours for indoctrination. The group was a little stiff at first. They seemed confused by the warm welcome of the other staff.

“That woman “ for in the children’s department,” remarked Sonia, “appeared very grateful to see us.”

“Of course,” declared Rosalie. “Penrose’s employees are like a family.”

“And security protects the family,” stated Billy with a nod. “We understand.”

“Sure, you could say that.” Their formal language took some getting used to. She reminded them several times not to bow during an introduction. Once they returned to the security office, Rosalie handed over the keys to Sadhri. “This is your home now. I’ll let you get settled in. Feel free to move the furniture around or set things up to work better for you. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to call me.” She cleared her throat. How to put this delicately? “My only caution is, be careful. Make sure none of the employees or the customers notice your special talents.”

“No problem,” Carlos said. “As long as you keep explosives away from Sadhri, they won’t even know we’re here.” The shiva shot him an affronted look.

Rosalie experienced a momentary qualm. “Great,” she stammered all the while keeping her fingers crossed Carlos was kidding. “I’ll drop by every now and then in case of any questions.”

“Thank you.” Sadhri gripped Rosalie’s hand firmly. “Don’t worry. I believe with a few minor adjustments in the current security system, loss prevention will increase over one hundred percent.”

Each morning Sadhri gave Rosalie a short briefing. The new security staff settled in to a routine with at least two Integrals on duty at all times. Rosalie was beyond pleased with the way they eagerly accepted their new assignment. The new employees were a risk on Rosalie’s part, her first big management decision. Marissa certainly thought she’d lost her mind, and wasn’t shy about telling her. Only fancy talking by Rosalie convinced her to give the Integrals a shot.

The risk paid off. Day after day passed without incident. The very presence of the Integrals imbued the store personnel with the feeling of security. Loss reports from all the departments fell to practically nothing, even though Sadhri only took one shoplifter into custody. Don’t overanalyze, she told herself sharply. Your new security team is a sharp-eyed deterrent force who stop problems before they start. Simply be thankful one more stress is gone from your life. Concentrate on more pleasant things like the Christmas party.

Rosalie received her formal invitation from Grace and Brian one night at dinner in their condo. “We host a party every year on Christmas Eve,” Brian explained. “The holiday is kind of a big deal at our house.”

“Technically,” added Grace, “you can’t be David’s official date but there is nothing in the Lover’s Edict to say you can’t show up at the same social event as our guest.”

“Besides,” David muttered, “I need you to prevent me from drop-kicking all the cupids off the roof. Mom hired an Integral catering firm. Penrose’s will be crawling with cupids.”

“Actually, cupids ferry the guests from New York and set up the pavilions. Dryads will cook.”

Rosalie’s ears pricked up. “You said at Penrose’s?”

“Originally, Grace and I planned to host the party here,” said Brian. “We didn’t think too many Integrals would make the trip down from the Big Apple, but we received a surprising number of affirmative RSVPs.”

“More than we can comfortably accommodate in the condo,” Grace added, “even as roomy as it is. We decided to move the party to the roof of the store. Penrose’s closes at six on Christmasx oomfort Eve, so the catering firm has plenty of time to set up. The roof is structurally sound, with tons of space, and the location offers us a chance to discuss the new plans. Maybe,” she winked, “even recruit a few more employees.”

“What do I wear? Is the Santa’s Christmas party, you know, Integral formal?” Rosalie half-hoped she’d be offered Selka’s dress again. She hid her disappointment when Grace shook her head.

“Dressy, but not formal, so no battle gear, crowns, or clan regalia. You’ll probably see lots of designer labels. Integrals know how to dress, and they love a good party. Everyone brings their families. Traditionally, people are allowed to inspect their own pages from The Book so a pavilion will be set up for them. There’ll be lots of food and dancing, maybe even fireworks from the Odin if the kids talk him into it.”

Rosalie raised an eyebrow. “Not to put a damper on the entertainment, but the neighbors might be a little curious about the guy on the rooftop shooting lightning bolts from his eyeballs. I’m just saying.”

“Not to worry,” announced Brian. “Security is covered. Dominic already offered to do shields around the building. From the outside, no one will notice a thing, not even fireworks.”

David was taken aback. “Come on, Dad. You didn’t seriously invite him to the party. After everything he put us through.”

“What does The Book say?”

“He’s making amends,” he admitted with a grumble.

“No denying Dominic has an attitude. All members of the baal clan do. They’re raised with a sense of entitlement, but his grandfather and uncle were much worse. I hold high hopes for Dominic.”

“He’ll no longer be a butt-head?”

“I’ll settle for him simply to be less of one.”

Rosalie picked out her dress the next day in the formal department. She noticed the sexy little ensemble weeks ago, but didn’t have an occasion to consider a purchase until now. Marissa tagged along for a second opinion. Rosalie twirled around in front of the large three-sided mirror at the far end of the changing booths. The deep red satin was cut to fit a body in all the right places in all the oh-so-wrong ways.

Rosalie fingered the coin around her neck certain Selka would have approved.
Langbor’s gold set the color off nicely. She balked a little at the price. Even with the employee discount, the outfit put a dent in her budget—but what the hell? If a girl couldn’t go overboard on a dress for a Christmas Eve party with a supernatural pantheon, when could she?

She twirled again. “What do you think?”

Marissa sighed. “It’s beautiful.”

Marissa and her son had also been invited. She hesitated to accept at first, not sure how to explain Mommy’s new employers to the little boy. “Brian said not to worry. He would tell Alex he couldn’t talk about the new people with anyone but his mother and you. He was very sure Alex would obey.”

“Hey, he’s the Santa. Kids listen to him. By the way, what are you wearing?”

“Oh, I don’t know,” Marissa shrugged. “I haven’t given an outfit much thought. I have a couple of nice dresses in the back of the closet—”

“—that are too plain and way out of date.” Rosalie snatched a black velvet number from the rack. “Try this one on. It will look killer on you.” After a little coaxing, her friend agreed. She exited a changing booth a few minutes later wearing the look women get when they discover they "justie perfect little black dress.

“Buy it,” Rosalie insisted. “You got a big raise. Grace and Brian reinstituted the holiday bonus. I know you finished Christmas shopping for Alex and haven’t treated yourself in…well…forever. You can afford a teensy splurge.”

“Black velvet is a date dress,” Marissa protested. “I don’t have a date.”

“Trust me, this will lure in a few potentials.”

“Not with a five year-old boy as an escort. Anyway, I’m not sure I’m ready to date a human, let alone an Integral.”

“You’ll never know unless you buy that damn dress.”

“I’m not even sure I’ll go to the party yet.”

“You have to,” Rosalie wheedled, “a rooftop gala at Penrose’s…catered by dryads…on Christmas Eve. How can you turn the invitation down?”

Marissa dropped her voice. “Are you sure no one will see them?”

“The Baal is doing the shields. Nobody will notice a thing.”

Marissa succumbed and went into a booth to change. Rosalie spun around one more time in the three-way mirror, scrutinizing herself with a satisfied smile.
This dress should come with a warning label.

A floorboard creaked behind her as if someone stepped past. Startled, Rosalie glanced around. No one else had entered. The only face reflected in the mirror was hers. She made a mental note to write a memo about the squeaky floorboards in the dressing rooms so Grace could put it on the to-do list for the contractors when they started refurbishing the space.

Rosalie slipped back into her street clothes. The two women paid for their outfits and headed home. Rosalie hefted the bag with the dress over her arm. She left the store humming a Christmas carol, wondering what delightful surprises were in store for the party.

****

“They’re an amazing group,” Rosalie exclaimed to David a few days later in her office. “They have an instinctive feel for trouble.”

The E.L.F. shrugged. “Anticipating problems is part of the training, especially for Sadhri and Carlos.”

“Be as nonchalant as you like, but I’m totally bowled over. I’ve heard excited stories from the staff about the new security team apprehending shoplifters right and left, so quickly and quietly the customers don’t suspect a thing. Of course, Sadhri is a little lax in her paperwork. I haven’t seen any of the police reports, yet, but I cut her some slack.” She jabbed him in the ribs. “Admit it. You had doubts.”

“Not about snagging criminals. That’s business as usual, but the human retail setting worried me at first. I’m glad to hear everything worked out.”

Rosalie noted a shift in his expression. “You kept tabs on them in The Book.”

David flushed. “Yeah, I wanted this placement to be successful both for me and you. We have a lot riding on it. My parents invested heavily, other Integrals look to us with hope for a different future, but,” he eyed her brightly, “The Book is happy. Regular notations are made on the Nice List for all of them about the application of Sadhri’s new containment measures to deter criminal activity.”

Containment measures? What containment measures? Rosalie shook off the little niggle of alarm at the weird Integral term. She really should ask Natalie for a glossary.

“The Book may be happy,” she said. “But Penrose’s employees are ecstatic. They all feel safer with a fully staffed office,tafidth="29 especially the women who work at night. Someone is always available to escort them to their cars. Of course, the fact that Billy, Carlos, and Ramesh are hot doesn’t hurt either.”

David raised an eyebrow. “Hot?”

“Very,” she jibed. “Not to mention, the effect Sonia and Sadhri have on the men. Practically all the single employees threw themselves at my feet weeping for joy. Once the holiday rush is over, the new members of the security office will have very active social lives.”

“Now, I’m concerned,” he teased. “I hadn’t realized so many available women worked at Penrose’s. Perhaps I should check them out first and make sure they’re suitable companions for Integrals.”

She poked him again. “Tough. You’re taken, so suck it up, E.L.F. boy. By the way, what are your plans for this afternoon? Visiting your mom and dad?”

“No. They’re up to their eyeballs in meetings. I only came by to see you and check in on Ramesh.”

“He’s doing great, isn’t he? Other than a stiff arm, you’d never know he was shot. Integrals sure heal fast.”

“If not, we’d be extinct already considering how much time we spent battling each other in clan wars. See you tonight?”

“You bet.” She kissed him and he was gone.

Rosalie’s phone rang with a call from Marty in Central Receiving. “Another ten pallets of merchandise arrives tomorrow. Since the secondary storeroom is full, I have to shift things around and need you to authorize overtime for two of my guys.”

She frowned. “What’s in the storage unit?”

“Oh, you know, stuff Sadhri said to stash for the remodeling. Those statues sure are lifelike.”

“Statues?” The niggle of worry blew up like an overinflated balloon.

“Not very good looking, though. I can’t believe anyone hired that chunky chick as a model. She must be the sculptor’s relative.” He chuckled. “It’s kind of funny how Sadhri named them already. She calls her Ms. Gilbert—”

“H-How long have they been in there?”

“I don’t know. Say,” Marty cleared his throat, “do you know if Sadhri’s seeing anyone? Hello?”

“I’ll get back to you,” Rosalie stated numbly and hung up the phone. “Statues in storage…stay calm...they’re probably something Grace commissioned…perfectly normal…always order your statues before beginning any remodel.” She shot out the door and then race-walked her way over to the security office.

Sadhri looked up from her desk. “Rosalie, is there a problem? You appear disconcerted…and out of breath.”