Order Fontaine had been standing in front of the mirror long enough to make the tie worse.
He pulled the narrow end, then the wide end. One shortened. The other hung almost to his belt. He worked a finger beneath the knot and looked at his reflection as though it might know something he didn’t.
“Debbie… can you help me with this thing?”
Freddy looked over from behind him, smiling. His own tie was still in Debbie’s hands.
“We know. It’s like having two children.”
“No,” she said. “Pets.”
Order laughed and let the ends fall. There wasn’t much of a defense available to him with the evidence hanging around his neck.
Debbie finished with her brother and came over to undo Order’s work. She had already managed to get herself into an emerald dress, arrange her curls, and make both of them look presentable. Freddy’s emerald shirt and black tie had survived her inspection. Order’s navy suit was doing fine. It was just this last little part refusing to cooperate.
“Hold still.”
“I am.”
She gave him a look. He lifted his chin and held still properly.
End of opening excerpt
About The Assignment