Suddenly, I heard a knock on the door. It wasn’t like when Allie would tap and then rap a little harder. This was an immediate pounding.

Allie scooted from the couch and said, “I’ll get fired if I’m caught in here.”

“Me too,” added the bartender.

I shut off the music and called out, “Who is it?” Trying to keep my best homemaker’s voice.

From outside the door I heard, “Palm Beach Police, Mrs. Moore.”

That had an effect on Marty, who sprang up and started toward the bedroom. I said, “You need to stay out here with me this time. These two have to go into the bedroom. They can’t be caught in here or they’ll lose their jobs.”

Marty said, “Leave it to me. They won’t get their names.” He scrambled to get dressed as I slipped my blouse back on and pulled up a pair of shorts. I opened the door a crack, like I was worried about who was there. It was the same two cops who had crashed our first party. That must have been how they’d known my name.

I opened the door and waved them inside.

Only one of the cops spoke, just like last time. He was tall and handsome, with blond hair and great arms. They strained the sleeves of his polyester uniform.

He glanced around the room and noticed the other clothes, and even I could see the shadows of Allie and the bartender under the door of the bedroom. They weren’t particularly discreet.

The cop said, “Looks like you’re having quite a party.”

Marty smiled and said, “Wanna join in?”

Neither of the cops thought that was very funny, and they got it across with a long, surly look at Marty. That made Marty clear his throat and say, “Just kidding, you guys.”

The cop pulled a pad from his back pocket and said, “I’m sorry, Mrs. Moore, but we had another complaint about the noise. I just need to write a quick report about it. If you promise to keep it down, we’ll let this one slide too.”

“I promise.” I was in no mood to deal with the police.

The cop looked at Marty and said, “And your name, sir?”

Marty hesitated. “Why do you need my name?”

“Why don’t you want to give me your name?”

“Why should I give you my name?”

“Because we were called here on a complaint of noise and you appear to have been contributing to that noise. I think we’ve been very polite and pleasant during this encounter, but that is going to end if you don’t give me your name. Now.”

I immediately understood that Marty was distracting the cops from Allie and the bartender, but I also saw how serious the cop was, so I was surprised that Marty stood his ground. He really didn’t want to give the cop his name. The whole encounter was kind of thrilling, at least through my drug-enhanced view of it. I just hoped Marty’s ploy worked and the cops didn’t go to the bedroom and get Allie’s and the bartender’s names as well.