In the sitting room across from the front door, a young woman was playing a harp next to a group I assumed, from the instruments around them, were members of a string quartet taking a break. I had never been inside such a luxurious home. I felt even more out of place than I had at La Caille. As usual, Nicholas was in his element.

“I don’t think they’ll be serving jalapeño poppers and Budweiser,” I said.

“And the party will be the worse for it,” he replied.

“May I take your coat?” a young man asked.

“Yes, please,” Nicholas said. He helped me off with the stole Zoey had also brought me and handed it to the man.

Just then a mature, silver-haired man wearing a beautiful burgundy suit walked up to us. He was accompanied by an elegant woman I guessed to be his wife. “Nicholas,” he said. “You made it.”

“And this time you brought someone,” the woman said. “And she’s lovely.”

“Thank you,” I said.

“Elise, this is Alan McKay, our senior partner, and his better half, Careen.”

“Thank you for having us,” I said. “Your home is beautiful.”

“Thank you, dear. We enjoy it.”

“Food and drink is that way,” Alan said, pointing to a side room. “Please, enjoy yourselves.”

“Thanks, Alan,” Nicholas said. “Careen.”

Our hosts flitted away like butterflies.

“They were nice,” I said.

“They’re good people,” Nicholas said. “Alan is the firm’s founder and senior partner. He’s also the one who brought me over from the prosecutor’s office.”

The party was considerably smaller than the one at La Caille, with maybe thirty guests in all. As we walked around I recognized some of the lawyers from a couple weeks earlier.

“Will Scott and Sharon be here?” I asked.

“No. Scott’s not a partner. At least not yet.”

“How many partners are there?”

“Eleven.”

“And how many lawyers does your firm have?”

“Ninety-seven.”

“How come you’re the one with your name on the door?”

“They like me.”

There were two food tables in the dining room, one savory, one sweet. At the head of the savory table was a man in a white chef’s coat and hat, carving roast beef. There were also various hors d’oeuvres: bacon-wrapped scallops, crab puffs, jumbo prawns, caviar, carpaccio, and sushi.

The sweet table had three chocolate fountains with dark, white, and milk chocolates, the bases of the fountains surrounded by fruit. There were miniature key lime pies and cheesecakes, sweet croissants, puff pastries, baklava, millefoglie, and dipped chocolates.

“This is amazing,” I said. “I think I’m going to gain weight.”

“I’ll help,” Nicholas said.

We filled up our plates and sat down near the musicians. A few people came by to talk to Nicholas. They were all very warm and welcoming.

When I had finished my plate, Nicholas said, “Would you like to see the house?”

“I’d love to. Will they mind?”