“Good evening,” Laurence said, waving Theresa to his side. “I want to welcome you to our home. It’s good for a new boy in town to make some friends. I also want to announce that Theresa Crane and I are going to be married quite soon, as soon as my accountant and attorney can agree on which state we should be in when the wedding occurs.”

Applause and laughter.

“And, finally, I want to say that you are all welcome in our home at any time.”

More applause.

Laurence and Theresa began accepting congratulations as people approached them.

Butch gave his sister a thumbs-up from across the room. The actress ambled over.

“Ready to get out of here?”

“All set.”

He followed her to the door, and they took the elevator down two floors, where she let them into her apartment. It was smaller than Laurence’s but beautifully done up. “Are you spending much time in New York?”

“I’m starting to shoot a new dramatic series for television here early next month,” she said. “We have high hopes for it, so, with a little luck, I expect to be in the city for several years. That’s why I bought and decorated this apartment.”

“That’s very good news,” Butch said. “New York will be a better place for having you here.”

She moved closer to him. “I feel like celebrating.” She kissed him lightly.

“How can I help?”

“Follow me,” she replied, taking his hand. “You haven’t seen my bedroom yet.”

“I can’t wait.”

52

CURLY HAD FALLEN into bed still dressed after Maria had dropped him off, and now he woke, vaguely disoriented. “Maria!” he called. He wanted breakfast, and he had grown accustomed to her making it. It was past ten o’clock, and he was hungry.

He looked around the apartment for her and noticed that her suitcase was gone from the closet, and so were the clothes that had been hanging there. It took a moment for him to realize that Maria had decamped.

He didn’t even know if Maria was her name; all he knew was that she lived in Florida, and that was a big state. He had her cell number, but it was a throwaway. He also knew that he was very close to flat broke. He had been counting on the Barrington score to refresh his cash flow, and that hadn’t happened. His rent was due in a couple of days, and his electricity bill was already overdue. He picked up his phone and called Butch.

“Hello?”

“It’s me. We need to talk.”

There was a long silence before Butch spoke again. “It’ll have to be late tonight. I have obligations until then.”

“Right now will do nicely.”

“One AM at the band shell in Central Park, near that bench we sat on. Take it or leave it.”

“Okay, okay.”