Tate came blundering up through the darkness, his breath wheezing.

“Well?”

“She’s gone.”

“You weren’t gone long enough to find a louse. If this is a double-cross—”

“Who could I cross? I’m on the same road you are. I tell you her pattern’s nowhere in the house. She’s gone.”

“Anyone notice her leave?”

“No.”

“Christ! Out of the house!”

“We’d better leave too.”

“Yes, but we can’t run. Once we get out of here, we’ll have the rest of the night to find her, but we’ve got to leave as though nothing’s happened. Where’s The Guilt Corpse?”

“In the projection room.”

“Watching a show?”

“No. Still playing Sardine. They’re packed in there like fish in a can. We’re almost the last out here in the house.”

“Wandering alone in the dark, eh? Come on.”

He gripped Tate’s shaking elbow and marched him toward the projection room. As he walked he called plaintively: “Hey… Where is everybody? Maria! Ma-ri-aaa! Where’s everybody?”

Tate emitted a hysterical sob. Reich shook him roughly. “Play up! We’ll be out of here in five minutes. Then you can start worrying.”

“But if we’re trapped in here, we won’t be able to get the girl.We’ll—”

“We won’t be trapped. ABC, Gus. Audacious, brave, and confident.” Reich pushed open the door of the projection room. There was darkness in here, too, but the heat of many bodies. “Hey,” he called. “Where is everybody? I’m all alone.”

No answer.

“Maria. I’m all alone in the dark.”

A muffled sputter, then a burst of laughter.

“Darling, darling, darling!” Maria called. “You’ve missed all the fun, poor dear.”

“Where are you, Maria? I’ve come to say good night.”

“Oh, you can’t be leaving…”

“Sorry, dear. It’s late. I’ve got to swindle a friend tomorrow. Where are you Maria?”

“Come up on the stage, darling.”

Reich walked down the aisle, felt for the steps and mounted the stage. He felt the cool perimeter of the projection globe behind him. A voice called: “All right. Now we’ve got him. Lights!”

White light flooded the globe and blinded Reich. The guests seated in the chairs around the stage started to whoop with laughter, then howled in disappointment.

“Oh Ben, you cheat,” Maria screeched. “You’re still dressed. That isn’t fair. We’ve been catching everybody divinely flagrante.”

“Some other time, Maria dear.” Reich extended his hand before him and began the graceful bow of farewell. “Respectfully, Madame. I give you my thanks for—” He broke off in amazement. On the gloaming white lace of his cuff an angry red spot appeared.

In stunned silence, Reich saw a second, then a third red splotch appear on the lace. He snatched his hand back and a red drop spattered on the stage before him, to be followed by a slow, inexorable stream of gleaming crimson droplets.

“That’s blood!” Maria screamed. “That’s blood! There’s someone upstairs bleeding. For God’s sake, Ben… You can’t leave me now. Lights! Lights! Lights!”

6

AT 12:30 A.M., THE EMERGENCY Patrol arrived at Beaumont House in response to precinct notification: “GZ. Beaumont. YLP-R” which, translated, meant: “An Act or Omission, forbidden by law has been reported at Beaumont House, 9 Park South.”