Manny was still interrogating the now terrified delivery man. Phillip was quietly standing by, his body language mirroring Manny’s. Vinnie and Colin were whispering to each other, careful to not be heard. But I didn’t need to hear their words. Their nonverbal cues were speaking loud and clear. They were planning and their plans involved violence. No one took notice when I turned away from the commotion by my front door. I cleared the last of the dishes from the coffee tables in the living area and took it to the kitchen. I had to repack the dishwasher. Vinnie’s system of organising the dishes in the dishwasher was not completely unacceptable, but mine was better. “Genevieve, I’m really sorry.” Francine plucked a balloon down by the hanging tinsel and reached for the kitchen scissors. She pointed it at the door. “That bastard destroyed everything.” She cut the knot of the balloon and held onto the tinsel while the balloon deflated.
