Amy took her time doing her hair and her make-up, going with a pink lipstick and a very light blue eye shadow. She chose a full-length white gown and matching robe and a pair of high-heeled slippers that matched, found a perfume she liked, applying it lightly, and then, at the last moment, she discarded the robe in favor of a satin number with a white feather boa. The boa felt like a Persian kitten sleeping on the back of her neck. As she turned at the door to see if she had left behind anything she needed, she got another look at herself in the full-length mirror. She could picture Sam’s face as he took in this get-up. He’d like it as much as Chino. “You really know how to do the girl thing,” he’d said one night when she’d wiped the floor with him. For all she knew, Sam was in the bar waiting for her — and all this was only a very bad dream.

No, a nightmare. The first person she saw as she approached the bar was Gregory. He eyed Amy up and down, sneering. “Chino will be right back,” he said. “He told me to see that you were comfortable. Would you like some more champagne?”

“Sure, what the hell?”

Was Chino dealing with Sam? Gregory turned his back to her to get another bottle out of the refrigerator. Was there anything heavy enough within reach to bust over his head? Then what? How far would she get? All she needed was a hood to look like a member of the Ladies’ Auxiliary of the ku Klux Klan. Copying his boss, Gregory eased the cork out of the bottle and carefully filled a fresh glass. “I can take it that you now find Chino interesting?”

“Yes, you were right about him.” She toasted him. “He’s very interesting. Extremely. He told me you captured my husband.

“Yes, that’s true. He won’t escape this time.”

“And you have him on ice while Chino, um, pursues his pleasure?”

“’On Ice’. I see. Excellent. Yes, you could say that. We have hours to go before we need your husband. We don’t need you at all. Never did. How convenient for you, since you’re obviously a woman who takes advantage of her opportunities.”

Let me ask you another question.” She made sure her voice dripped with sweetness. “When you shot those three men in the apartment, a certain expression came over your face. What did it mean?”

Gregory’s eyes hooded over and his expression made her think of Chino looking at her the same way. Gregory said, “Your position around here isn’t as secure as you might think.”

“I’m sure you don’t have the slightest idea of anything I might think — but I’ll remember you said that.”