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I sat on the closed toilet lid with a towel around my neck, Vera’s body inserted betweenthe countertop "What are you going to do about the bruises on my face?"

"Trust oo in jars, brushes, applicators, sponges, Q-tips She worked with her face very close toinstructions "Close your eyes Now look up… God, quit blinking! You’rea mess" She painted on lipstick with a brush, her own lips for the shape she wanted me to form withher handiwork She twisted the lipstick back down in the tube "Yeah I like it," she said "What do you think?" She moved aside so I could see my reflection in the mirror

I looked at myself Suddenly, I had these dramatic eyes, all the color of aout in a dark windblown tuh," she said acidly "You look da at us both without remark Vera had done herself up in sixa black dress with a low-cut top filled to the bri breasts, black hose with a seam up the back, black spike heels She stopped dead in her tracks and put her hands on her hips "What do you say, Dietz? Coreat No shit Both of you look swell"

" ’Swell’ doesn’t even come close" And then to als’ "

"Not so far," I said

Dietz se He propelled us across the hall and down three doors into the safety of the banquet rooant: chandelier, white ork, walls padded in cream-colored silk Six tables for six had been laid out with a spray of orchids as the centerpiece Each table was numbered and I could see that place cards were set out, names in script

Many of the CF eroups of three and four, drinks in hand I spotted Mac Voorhies and his wife Marie, Jewel and her husband (whom I’d only edly) dope-peddling h Dietz’s arm and the three of us circled the room while everyone was introduced to everyone else and we all pro an eyeball cruise, checking across the heads to see if Neil Hess had arrived yet I was just hoping he’d be tall enough for her to spot

Dietz bought us each a drink His was a plain soda water with lime, mine a white wine, and Vera’s a tequila sunrise She sucked that one down and bought herself another I watched her with interest I’d never seen Vera so tense She turned to Dietz "God, how can you drink without sarette?"

"This isn’t alcohol"

She rolled her eyes "That’s even worse I’ to bum one," she said "No, I’m not Well, maybe one A puff"

"Is that Neil?" I asked A doctorish type was poised in the doorway, searching for a familiar face Without a reference point, of course, it wasn’t possible to tell just how short he was, but he looked okay to me Pleasant face, dark hair cut stylishly He wore a navy suit, pale blue shirt I could have bet would have rammed cuffs The bow tie was unexpected-I hadn’t seen one in years Vera raised a hand His face brightened when he spotted her He made his way across the roo her arm in his when they connected at the midpoint She had to bend a bit to talk to hihts didn’t seem remarkable to me I tried to picture him with his head on my pillow, but it really didn’t wash

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Vera, in charge of the seating, had of course set it up so that Neil Hess and I were together She and Dietz were at the table to our left Dietz had apparently interceded to so it so that I was secured in one corner of the roo the entrance Dietz was seated with his back tothe entrance as well so he could keep an eye on the door Vera was on his left, fully visible to me while all I could see of hiency exit that the security director had assured Dietz would re the course of the banquet

By eight, everyone had arrived and the asseroup settled at the tables like a flock of birds The noise level had risen several decibels as a result of the alcohol consumed These were coiddiness and unease at the sudden shift from business to social behaviors The three-course dinner was served at a leisurely pace: a salad of baby lettuces, boneless chicken breasts sauteed with leetables, hot breads, and finally a dense chocolate cake in a puddle of vanilla sauce I ate like a forest anin of er would shoith an Uzi andfrom the set of Dietz’s shoulders, he wasdown the front of Vera’s dress, a titillating distraction for any man