dark, and made a striking contrast with the actress’s
waist-length blond hair.
“Um . . .” Judith hesitated. “Let me get the room
chart. I’ll be right back. There’s a settee in the hallway
and a phone, if you need it.”
Without any response, Angela passed on to the second floor. Judith hurried to fetch the room chart, which
she’d left on the entry-hall table. The only thing she remembered was that Bruno Zepf had the largest room,
Number Three, to himself, though he shared the bathroom with Room Four. Judith couldn’t believe that she
was so rattled by a bunch of Hollywood hotshots. After
ten years in the hostelry business, she thought she’d
met just about every type of person from every level of
society. Maybe she was more impressionable than she
realized.
Swiftly, Judith tabulated the guests who had arrived
so far. Unless she was mistaken, at least one of the
members of Bruno’s party hadn’t shown up yet.
“Psst!” Renie hissed from the hallway. “We’re on
the job.”
Judith turned sharply. “You are? Doing what?”
“Plying your guests with adult beverages,” Renie
replied. “Or, in some cases, the freshest of springwaters and a vegetable drink that looks like a science
experiment.”
“Thanks, coz,” Judith said with a grateful smile.
“Thank Arlene for me, too. I’ll be right with you.”
Checking the chart, Judith noted that Winifred Best,
Bruno’s special assistant, was slotted for Room One.
Since there were only three women in the party and Judith had recognized the two actresses, Winifred must
be the Armani-clad black woman who had sailed into
the house and closeted herself with Bruno.
Dirk Farrar and Ben Carmody were sharing Room
Four. Judith wondered how—and why—they’d put up
with such an arrangement. The same could be said for
Angela La Belle and Ellie Linn, who would be staying
in Room Six. Of course it was only for two nights. Perhaps the proximity to Bruno was worth the sacrifice.
Still, Judith wasn’t accustomed to such self-effacement
among the Well-Heeled.
Room Five had been assigned to
Costello, was set for Room Two, the smallest of the
lodgings. Chart in hand, Judith went back upstairs to
find Angela La Belle.
“Room Six,” Judith said with a cheerful smile.
Angela was sprawled on the settee in the hallway,
leafing through one of the magazines Judith kept
