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Prologue

It was only a part in a TV series, and only a one-bedroom apartment in New York But parts of any kind, much less decent ones, were hard to coeles, everyone knew the value of a pied-à-terre in Manhattan And the script arrived on the same day as the final divorce papers

If real life were a script, a movie executive would have stricken this fact as “too coincidental” But Schiffer Diaic of believing all things happened for a reason She was an actress and had lived on ic nearly all her life And so she took the part, which requiredback to New York City for six months, where she would stay in the one-bedroom apartment she owned on Fifth Avenue Her initial plan was to stay in New York for the duration of the shoot and then return to LA and her house in Los Feliz

Two days after she took the part, she went to the Ivy and ran into herwoman He was seated at a table in the center of the roo in his new status as the president of a network, and given the deference the staff showed the young woirlfriend She was rumored to be a concert pianist frolossy appearance of an expensive prostitute The relationship was a cliché, but twenty-five years in Hollywood had taught Schiffer that men never minded clichés, especially when the cliché concerned the penis Shortly thereafter, when she handed her ticket to the valet and stood outside the restaurant in her sunglasses, she decided to sell the house in Los Feliz, make a clean break of it, and move back to One Fifth

“Schiffer Diamond has taken a part in a TV series,” Enid Merle said to her nephew, Philip Oakland

“She ly

Enid and Philip occupied two of the second best apartments in One Fifth, located on the thirteenth floor with adjoining terraces, separated by a char white picket fence It was across this fence that Enid now spoke to her nephew “Itthe piece of paper she held in her hand “She’s going to play a mother superior who leaves the church to becoers”

“Now, there’s a believable concept,” Philip said, with the sarcasm he reserved for most matters Hollywood

“About as believable as a giant reptile that terrorizes New York I wish you’d quit screenplays and go back to writing serious novels,” Enid said

“Can’t,” Philip said with a smile “I’m desperate”

“It may be based on a true story,” Enid continued “There was a woman—Sandra Miles—as a mother superior and became an editor in chief Back in the seventies I had her to dinner once or twice A thoroughly miserable wo Being a virgin for so long, it’s possible she never got the sex part right In any case,” Enid added, “the series shoots in New York”

“Uh-huh,” Philip said

“I suppose we’ll be seeing her around the building again,” Enid said

“Who?” Philip said, trying to appear uninterested “Sandra Miles?”

“Schiffer Diao She may even be dead”

“Unless she stays in a hotel,” Philip said, referring to Schiffer Diamond

“Why on earth would she do that?” Enid said

When his aunt had gone back in, Philip reton Square Park, of which he had a superior view It was July, and the park was lush with greenery, the dry August heat yet to coe He wason a dock on Catalina Island twenty-five years before