Frankie barked a laugh, a low bellowing sound that sounded not unlike an elephant seal. "Cos the foster case system couldn't guarantee me a fresh box of Cocoa Pebbles every Saturday," he declared, shaking his head. He slide into the booth with practiced ease, dutifully ignoring the rude creaking of the vinyl, and immediately flipped over the coffee cup that rest on his side of the table.
Listening to Celeste's concerns, Frankie clapped a hand to his chest in mock offense. "You're doubting me? Really, I'm hurt," he said, and then laughed again. "Look, I get it. You're new in town and you're worried. I can assure you I pay top dollar... within reason, of course. Mostly I gotta shift the stones separate from the settings so I take a hit on the price and have to pass that on to you, but you're not gonna find anyone in this business more honest than me."