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“I guess that’s why they’re rich,” Lex said

She was ignoring the resentment in his voice She didn’t sees

They pulled up in front, letting the valet take the keys Lex stepped carefully out of the car,slit

Black took her arm He loved how petite she was next to him, a full foot shorter She was the shed less than a hundred pounds But she still had elegance and presence, from how she carried herself

They strode up the broad front steps and into the grand house

It was much lovelier inside than out They found the marble and polished mirrors

A receptionist checked their tickets and took their coats, before they were offered a glass of chane and ushered into the main room of the party

It was, for lack of a better word, a ballrooh the Ho equally pretentious Black recognized a few of the other guests (the mayor of London and his wife, and the author that won the Booker prize the previous year, with a woman as nized Black He only knew them from television or news articles

Because the party was already in full swing, uests looked a little buzzed, if not already drunk Black had no intention of ine He never allowed hiht be forgiven for getting sloshed at a party, but a common cop never would be

Commissioner Coldaved at Black froreet them He was an olderbuild, only a little gone to seed He had a big, hawkish nose and thinning black hair

“You found the place,” he said

“Easy enough,” Black said “It’s lit up like a Christmas tree”

Coldwell chuckled “They don’t like to be subtle, do they,” he said

He liked to be conspiratorial when talking to Black, as if they grew up in the sahborhood But Black kneas from old money himself

“And this must be the lovely lady we’ve heard soLex’s hand “Black wasn’t exaggerating”