“Irene, for God’s sake,” Gloria whispered.

For God’s sake, what? Nineteen years ago you saw something wrong. And you haven’t seen him when he’s around her! You haven’t seen him when he’s crazed! I can’t stand any more of it and if he has lied to me—

Frank made a forward lunge. Tom rushed him with his arms up while Leo moved in from the side. The three of them toppled the chair as they fell to the floor. Virgil picked up a heavy glass ashtray and held it in front of him like a tambourine.

“Put that down!” said Vivian.

They grappled on the floor behind the sofa the women were sitting on. The women didn’t move. I jumped up and ran to the sofa. Leo had Frank pinned down, with his knee in Frank’s back, while Tom twisted Frank’s arm.

“Don’t hurt him!” I screamed. “Don’t hurt him!”

“They’re not going to hurt him,” said Vivian. “You’ve already done that quite sufficiently.” She got up and walked over to Frank. She planted her feet near his head and looked down at him. When she spoke, her voice was soft and caressing. “You don’t have to struggle anymore, Frank. I’m sorry it had to be this way, but you had to be shown. I told you once she would never understand. Her kind can’t. You can see Regina in a few minutes, but I have something to say first. Tom and Leo will let you go if you behave yourself. Will you promise?”

“Let me go.” His voice was deep and miserable.

“Promise me first. I told you you can see Regina soon. I always keep my word. You know that.”

“Wait,” I said. “What are you doing?”

“You keep quiet,” she answered, still looking at Frank. “Do you promise?”

“Yes,” he gasped.

The men came up off him. For a minute he didn’t move. Then he pulled up onto his elbows, his knees, finally his feet, and dragged himself past Vivian and me to the archway steps.

“Sit down,” Vivian said to me. “Over there next to your friend.”

Gloria had been standing during the fracas. Now she was glowering at Vivian and not about to sit. “Irene, let’s get out of here and call the police.”

“You’re not as smart as you look,” said Vivian. “There’s no need for the police. What would you tell them? You just sit down until I’m finished talking.”

I sat, pulling Gloria down with me. I picked up my purse and put it back in my lap. Vivian stared at the two of us, grinning.

“You snot-nosed middle-class bitches kill me,” she said. “You think the police can take care of your lives just because you pay your taxes. Virgil, get me a drink.”

He took her glass to the bar. He hadn’t asked what she was drinking. He knew. I saw the expressway ramp before me, his car coming down it, Regina inside. My lungs shriveled.