The woman nodded formally.
'Taja what?'
She shrugged slightly, impatiently; as if it didn't matter.
'So I guess you know who I am. What did you want to see me about? Would you like to come in?'
'Echo—' Peter objected.
But the woman shook her head and indicated her purse again. She made an open-palm gesture, hand extended to Echo, slow enough so Peter wouldn't interpret it as hostile.
'You have something for me?' Echo said, baffled.
Another nod from Taja. She looked appraisingly at Peter, then returned to her purse and withdrew a cream-colored envelope the size of a wedding announcement.
Peter said, 'Echo tells me you've been following her places. What's that about?'
Taja looked at the envelope in her hand as if it would answer all of their questions. Peter continued to size the woman up. She used cosmetics in almost theatrical quantities; that overload plus Botox, maybe, was enough to obscure any hint of age. She wore a flat-crowned hat and a long skirt with large fabric- covered buttons down one side. A scarlet puff of neckerchief was Taja's only concession to color.
That, and the rose flush of her cheeks. Her eyes were almond-shaped, creaturely bold, intelligent. One thing about her, she didn't blink very often, which enhanced a certain robotic effect.
Echo took the envelope. Her name, handwritten, was on it. She smiled uncertainly at Taja, who simply looked away—something dismissive in her lack of expression, Peter thought.
'Just a minute. I'd like to ask you—'
The Woman in Black paused on her way to the stairs.
Echo said, 'Pete? It's okay. Taja?'
Taja turned.
'I wanted to say—thank you. You know, for the subway, the other day?'
Taja, after a few moments, did something surprisingly out of character, considering her previous demeanor, the rigid formality. She responded to Echo with an emphatic thumbs-up before soundlessly disappearing down the stairs. Peter had the impression she'd enjoyed intimidating the
Echo had a hand on his arm, sensing his desire to follow the Woman in Black.
'Let's see what this is,' she said, of the envelope in her other hand.
'She looks Latin to me, what d'you think?' Peter said to Echo as they returned to the front room.
Rosemay and Julia began talking at the same time, wanting to know who was at the door. 'Messenger,'
Peter said to them, and looked out the windows facing the street.
Echo, preoccupied, said, 'You're the detective.' She looked for a letter opener on Rosemay's writing table.
'Jesus above,' Julia said. 'Sounded like a ruckus. I was reachin' for me heart pills.'
Peter saw the Woman in Black get into a waiting limousine.
'Travels first class, whoever she is.' He caught the license plate number as the limo pulled away, jotted it down on the inside of his left wrist with a ballpoint pen.
Rosemay and Julia were watching Echo as she slit the envelope open.
'What is it, dear, an invitation?'
'Looks like one.'
'Now, who's getting married this time?' Julia said. 'Seems like you've been to half a dozen weddings already this year.'
'No, it's—' Echo's throat seemed to close up on her. She sat down slowly on one of a pair of matched love seats.
'Good news or bad?' Peter said, adjusting the blinds over the window.
'My . . . God!'
'Echo!' Rosemay said, mildly alarmed by her expression.
'This is so . . . utterly . . . fantastic!'
Peter crossed the room and took the invitation from her.
'But why me?' Echo said.
'Part of your job, isn't it? Going to these shows? What's so special about this one?'
'Because it's John Leland Ransome. And it's the event of the year. You're invited.'
'I see that. 'Guest.' Real personal. I'm overwhelmed. Let's play.' He took out his cell phone. 'After I run a plate.'
