Natalie smiled at him and then looked back at Jazzmyn. “That’s not what I meant,” she began.

“Never mind.” Jazzmyn shook her head and looked away. “Stupid of me to think you’d be different from everyone else.” With a forced smile, she added, “Have a good evening.”

“What was that about?” James asked as they watched her walk away.

Before she could answer, James was accosted by a sixtysomething woman sporting a burgundy coif hair-sprayed into the shape of a large acorn. “James? Darling, how is your mother?”

James gave the same polite answer he’d given Karima, then turned toward the kitchen. They managed maybe five steps before the scene repeated.

“You seem to have found your demographic,” Natalie whispered.

James sighed and pointed her in the direction of a white swinging door. “Make a break for it and I’ll come find you.”

The kitchen was quieter than the outer rooms but filled with clusters of people talking and smoking in groups. Natalie spotted bottles of Evian on the white marble kitchen counter and started making her way toward them when there was a crash as a wine bottle hit the floor. This was followed by a handful of nervous giggles as a gaggle of guests relocated a few feet in the other direction, leaving the mess.

Natalie was appalled. She found a broom by the wall and started to clean up the glass.

“Natalie? Is that my Natalie?”

She spun around in the direction of a very familiar voice and was confronted by a large gut and a frighteningly familiar set of eyes all leaning in to hug her.

Is this happening?

“Chief? Hi!” she stammered scanning his little pointy teeth and bullet eyes. In person, he was smaller and more menacing than he appeared on screen, like the chatty customer who seemed friendly until you got a glimpse of his white van.

As the Chief swept, her into his tight and slightly sweaty embrace, she gestured at the wine on the floor.

“Leave that,” he said, pulling her away from the spill. “Karima and Raheem are old friends and I can assure you, they have plenty of staff to do the cleaning.”

With his hand gripping her elbow, the Chief guided her to an alcove far from the other guests. Natalie felt a chill of discomfort as he let his gaze quickly extend down her body and back up. He nodded in admiration.

“You are looking great, polished. Who knew you had such a nice figure!”

Just take it as a professional compliment, she told herself. She forced a smile. “Thank you, sir.”

“You’re doing very well, Natalie, you know. Substantive and credible.” He nodded in the direction of the party sounds. “Karima clearly likes you and my wife is a real fan of yours. Thinks you do great work.”