"Penn," I mumbled into the phone.
"Hello Mr. Penn, I have a Mr. Rafael Amatucci and guest here at reception. I'm calling to verify your connection," a pleasant feminine voice said down the line.
My eyes popped open. I turned to see the glowing numbers of the clock on my side table. "It's four-f*****g-thirty in the morning."
The woman laughed softly. "Indeed, it is. Can you verify the relationship, please, sir?"
I got my head out of my ass. "Yes. Rafael Amatucci is a friend and I'll vouch for him." It was the second time in as many days that I'd claimed a closer relationship to an Amatucci than I'd ever thought possible.
"Thank you, sir. Enjoy your day."
"Wait! Is the friend with him a female in her early thirties?" I asked before she could hang up.
"I can't answer that informat
