Lucy Ardizzone sat at the counter in the diner waiting for Barbara De Luca. Lucy and Barbara went back a long ways, long enough for Lucy to know that Barbara would never be on time for anything. There was always a convenient excuse, and it was usually the truth since Barbara had the worst luck known to anyone. Why Barbara picked this diner was beyond Lucy’s comprehension. She hated the Saddle Brook Diner, much preferring the Parkway diner on Route 46, where the elite meet to have a drink and catch up on old times.

Lucy was surprised to see Barbara walking through the door with Helen Rowland. Suddenly, it was like old timers week. Helen talked to the hostess while Barbara walked over to Lucy. “We’re not sitting at the counter Lucy. We’re sitting in a booth instead.” Lucy grumbled, “But I just ordered a coffee here.” “Well, tell the waitress you’ll be sitting in a booth with your friends.” Lucy never cared much for Helen and the feeling was mutual. Helen, Lucy felt, always put on airs and made Lucy feel diminished. She thought Barbara felt the same way which made her think something was up. Lucy made her way over to the booth where Helen was already seated.

“Hello Helen. How are you? It’s been a while since I last saw you. How’s Franklin Lakes?” Lucy asked. Barbara gave Lucy a look like, ‘what the hell are you talking about?’ “Hello Lucy darling. I live in Spring Lake, not Franklin Lakes, heavens no.” “Yes Lucy, we talked about that a few weeks ago. Alice Fry lives in Toms River, Mary Lynch moved from Hackensack to Franklin Lakes and Helen lives in Spring Lake, remember?” “Oh that’s right. What was I thinking?” Lucy said out loud, while silently she wanted a drink. Right then and there.

Barbara started on rehashing the gossip that floated around. “Vasicek and Paul LoPresti all got fired as well as Dave Manzo, Gary Pless and even Mary Lynch.” “I can see Vasicek and LoPresti getting fired as well as Manzo and Pless, but Mary?” Helen asked. Barbara continued, “Well, you knew they were all involved in embezzling from the company right?” Lucy interrupted, “Did you know Helen? I thought I knew what was going on but I was way off base…” Helen shot Lucy a look that basically said, ‘when aren’t you off base?’, even Barbara saw it.

Barbara continued, “so that’s why the building has been closed for the past two days. We were told not to come back to work until Monday. It’s nice though, we’re getting paid for it.” Lucy glared at Barbara, “Nice? What’s nice about it? Our friends got fired and might be facing criminal charges.” “They weren’t your friends dear,” Helen said. “They thought they were better than everyone else and they all were caught with their grubby hands in the cookie jar.” All Lucy heard was ‘they thought they were better than everyone else’ and looked back at Helen.

Just then the waitress came up and asked if they were ready to order.