A caterer hurried through the foyer with a tray of small bites from the kitchen, and exited through the front door.

Razor Burn pulled Star to his chest. She smiled and straightened up and said something to him and Archie saw her move the bag she was carrying behind her hip. Whatever was in it, she didn’t want it drawing Razor Burn’s attention.

Razor Burn’s lips were shiny with saliva. He wrapped his hand around Star’s wrist and moved her hand to the front of his pants. He was either oblivious to anyone else’s presence, or he didn’t care. No heroics, Sanchez had said.

“Star,” Archie said loudly.

Razor Burn and Star both snapped their heads in Archie’s direction. Archie strolled toward them, feeling the Russian’s gaze on the back of his neck.

Star didn’t pull away from Razor Burn. She was smart. Men like Razor Burn needed to feel in control. If she disentangled too soon, he might react violently.

“You remember me,” Archie said, lifting his mask above his eyebrows. “Detective Sheridan.”

Archie saw a trace of a smile cross Star’s lips. “The birthday boy,” she said.

“That’s right,” Archie said.

“You’re Leo’s friend,” Star said with a glance in Razor Burn’s direction. Archie saw what she was doing. She was spelling it out for him, but letting him put it together himself. Razor Burn might be dumb, but he knew enough not to do something stupid in front of a friend of the boss’s son. Sure enough, Razor Burn retracted his arm. “I’ll find you later,” Archie heard him snarl.

Star adjusted the strap of her dress and stepped forward, out of Razor Burn’s reach. Her wrist was red where he had grabbed her and Archie could see the pulse in her throat throbbing. She had been afraid, even if she’d done a nice job not showing it. Her knuckles were white where she clutched the straps of the grocery bag. It was one of those polypropylene grocery totes that the stores guilted people into buying instead of using paper or plastic bags. This one had a recycling symbol on the side of it and a sad-looking polar bear. Archie had five similar bags in his trunk right now. His bags were all empty. The bag Star was carrying was not. She saw him looking at it, and moved the straps up her arm and onto her shoulder.

“Can I buy you a drink?” Archie asked.

“The drinks here are free,” Star said.

“Even better,” said Archie.

“Well, come on, then,” she said, and Archie followed her toward the front door.

Star’s legs were bare and her dress showed them off. She was wearing black strappy high-heeled sandals, which didn’t slow her down at all. Her polypropylene bag was secured under her arm like a top-secret diplomatic pouch.