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"There are ten at each table At ours, Jared and Cindy, Lynn and I, a cookbook author and her husband, an English artist and his wife, and my friend, the policeman, Roberto Capo You do like him, yes?"

She liked Roberto Capo just fine He hadn’t seemed to think that she was crazy

And she could ask him about the head that had been found in a canal

"What about Tiff?"

"Oh, she was seated with other friends long ago But we’ll look for her later, if that will es so well?he has been seated with a mix of German and Scandinavian couples In the north," he explained, "o but Sweden to speak Swedish, eh? Still, Anna Maria tries very hard to see that everyone will have dinner companions ho?"

"Anna Maria does not sit?she flits!" Raphael explained He rolled his eyes "She is the hostess, and so she ht, and makes sure that everyone enjoys the ball?of course, she is a slave driver until we get here But she asks nothing that she doesn’t give She is wonderful"

"Beyond a doubt," Jordan agreed

At the top of the stairs, they were greeted by hosts dressed as Swiss Guards They were led into one of the large ballrooms off the foyer More buffet tables were filled with all roup played cha their table Roberto Capo and two other couples were already seated The lish artist was Peter Smith; his as Sherry

The American author of cookbooks was Mary Winston; her husband was Fred They were both round and cheery, as if they truly enjoyed Mary’s recipes Jordan didn’t remember her name; she hoped that if she had ever reviewed one of the woman’s books, her words had been kind

"And of course, Roberto," Raphael ended his introductions with a flourish

"Of course, how are you?" Jordan asked

"Delighted to see you," he said

"Il piacere e lad that, "the pleasure is mine" was one phrase she knew in Italian quite well

He smiled; she took the seat next to his

Lynn arrived then, as a matador, co sword

"Plastic, I’ht pierce Mary Winston’s Martha Washington skirts

Jared and Cindy arrived, and the introductions went around the table again Jordan admired Anna Maria’s social talents as she sa quickly and easily they all fell into conversation At ti everything that was said, but Raphael paused now and then to make a quick explanation in Italian Waiters arrived to fill their wineglasses and they all trooped to the buffet table "My name was Astrella before I married," Mary Winston told Jordan as they stood in the line "I do adore Italian food My next book is on Tuscan cuisine Perhaps you’d review it for your newspapers?"

"I’d be delighted"

"My publishing house is sh, "and your reviews are so popular in syndication, they’ve not dared send you anything yet Thank you"

"Thank you I didn’t knoas so popular"

"Oh, have you tried this dish yet? In English, it’s cuttlefish?"

"Thanks I have tried it," Jordan said "I think I’ll have the swordfish" As conversations took off at dinner, Jordan was grateful to be next to Roberto Capo She spoke to him quietly "I heard they found a severed head"

Roberto looked distressed "You "

"Youyou think that you were right? That at the contessa’s "

"I’ that It’s just curious Have they found out who the head belonged to? Have they?" She broke off He was looking at her, frowning She realized that she was speaking too quickly

But Raphael had heard her He translated quietly, glancing at the others at the table, aware that Jordan wouldn’t want Jared to knohat they were talking about

Roberto shook his head and replied in Italian to Raphael

"The head is still with forensics They haven’t found the rest of the body, and they have nopersons report hich to make a comparison They will do an artist’s reconstruction and send the picture around Europe"

Jordan was disappointed; she hadn’t learned anything new

"I understand your concern," Roberto said

Jordan nodded Jared was glancing her way suspiciously As he turned his head she noticed that his features appeared lean and sharp Maybe she had caused Jared a lotto adue

Still, she hadn’t been wrong Either the contessa had hosted a group of murderous monsters, or her sense of humor and entertainment arped beyond measure

Dessert and coffee were served, and round floor, a rock band would be playing, while there would be ballroos were in the entry to the second floor ballrooicians would travel to both levels More coffee, sweets, and after-dinner liqueurs would be available at all the banquet tables The ‘Pleasure Palace,’ for those who dared, would be in the back room of the second level