“You’re lucky. I have lost many friends. I have seen many people die. In my country,” he added.

“So you’re saying she wasn’t part of your group?” His shirt was immaculate, perfectly fitted. The whitest white.

“Yes, that is what I am saying. Excuse me, the movie will start now.” “Raul,” he called to a man who was standing by the door. The man lumbered over to us.

“Raul, this is Miss Logan. Our guest, our friend. Please see to her if there is anything she needs.” He said this in his charmingly accented English, then added several sentences in Spanish that sounded more urgent. Tony Guerrero gave me a beautiful smile and left me with the man.

Raul didn’t talk much. He couldn’t speak English, but he stuck to my side. He was short, dark, Indian. He looked like he’d seen enough people die that now he didn’t much care if he had to die, too. He handed me a paper cup with a sticky red punch I didn’t want. I stood there drinking it, watching Lupe across the room and wondering how Cathy Vega had fit into this group.

“I’m going over there,” I announced to Raul, who didn’t respond. “Over there, where that nice-looking young lady is standing. The one with the pink dress. I’m sure you’d like to meet her. I’ll introduce you, but remember, I saw her first.”

Raul followed me across the room as if he were glued to me. This was the kind of guy Lupe did tricks with. Silent, recently arrived, first paycheck. “Just relax, Raul. I’ll do the talking here. “

Lupe spoke rapidly in Spanish to Raul. He smiled. Tommy Hutchings was smiling. They were all smiling. She said something else and they all laughed. Lupe gave me a gracious hostess smile that said we don’t know each other.

“I’m going to start the video now,” the red-haired man said to Lupe. “Maybe we can talk some more later on.”

Lupe gave him a promising smile, and he turned away looking happy and pleased with himself.

“What kind of place is this?” I whispered, stepping closer to her.

“Stop acting like you know me,” she hissed under her breath.

“I’m not acting like I know you. I don’t know you. I don’t even know you had any regular clothes.”

“Of course I have regular clothes.”

“You look nice.”

“Thank you. It’s Grace Kelly. Dial M for Murder. You can’t stand here and talk to me. It looks suspicious.”

“All right, all right. I just wanted to make sure you’re on the job.”