Begging for Trouble (32 page)

“How do you do that?” Ellie asked.

Georgette held up a hand mirror and checked the back of her expertly coiffed head. She then gazed in the dressing table mirror and caught her daughter’s eye. “Do what?”

“Find the exact lipstick or eye shadow needed to enhance what you’re wearing?” To Ellie, pink was pink and purple was purple, while her mother could list a hundred variations in each color. “You even find clothes the same shade as your hair.”

Georgette turned and gave her a once-over. “You have a good eye, too, when you choose to use it, though I doubt you’d find anything to match the color of your hair. Which looks very nice, by the way. Not your usual frizzy mop.” She twirled her finger and Ellie moved in a circle. “And your hose and shoes do justice to that dress. Elie Saab?”

Ellie had found the dress on a closeout rack in a small boutique near Bergdorf’s. Because the label had been removed, she had no clue to the designer, but her mother was probably right. “I’m not sure, but I’ll say yes if anyone asks.”

Georgette straightened her shoulders. “I now pronounce us ready to dazzle the soon-to-arrive guests.”

Coming from her quick-to-judge mother, the words were practically a rave review. “Shall we find Stanley?”

Georgette pursed her lips. “I assume he’s with your dog. You did bring him for the evening, as requested?”

Her mother pronounced “your dog” as if accusing Ellie of bringing the bubonic plague to her home. “Sam took Rudy to see the judge, and he’s promised—er—I’ve told him to be good. I’ll try to keep him in the library, unless Stanley wants him by his side.”

“How nice. You’ve come with that adorable detective you brought to dinner on Thanksgiving.”

“Sam is here, but he’s not thrilled about it. He’s in the middle of a serious investigation, so his mind is on his work, not mingling with the upper crust of Manhattan politics.”

“Speaking of upper crust, did Corinna tell you the bad news? Because of this terrible snowstorm, Judge Sotomayor won’t be attending.”

“Oh, Mom, I’m so sorry. I know you were hoping she’d be here to lend an air of prominence to the night.”

“Yes, well, the flights from D.C. were grounded. She did send a telegram of sorts. Stanley’s going to read it to the attendees. It’s a word of good luck to whoever is chosen for the judgeship.”

“Who else is coming?”

Her mother’s eye’s brightened. “The mayor, for one. And a few of the city officials. I was hoping for the governor, but again, the weather didn’t cooperate.” She heaved a sigh. “Enough talk about the guests. I heard the doorbell, so I’m certain Stanley is waiting for me.”

They linked arms and walked through the closet and bedroom and into the dining room. “Tell me, how are things going between you and Detective Ryder?”

“Going?”

“Yes, going. Is there any news about future plans?”

Ellie swallowed. “Future plans?”

“Ellen Elizabeth, stop playing dumb. You know what I mean. Are the two of you going to—”

Corinna saved the day by flying through the kitchen door as if her tail was on fire. “Lordy, Ms. Georgette. What’s taken the two of you so long? I just heard that Judge Stanley’s greetin’ guests all by himself, with Rudy on his lap, no less.”

Georgette gasped, then grabbed Ellie by the hand. “Come along, daughter, and take control of your dog.”

 

Sam stood at the rear of the spacious foyer, eyeing the stream of guests walking through the door as if they’d all arrived on the same double-decker tour bus. He figured the downstairs doorman had his hands full, keeping the limos moving up Park Avenue while greeting and directing the A-list crowd.

Attendants took coats, and Judge Frye called each person who entered by name, then introduced him or her to Rudy. After exchanging a few pleasant words on the upcoming evening or their corresponding love of dogs, he instructed the guests to partake of the champagne and canapés that were offered by a group of waiters, who magically appeared from the dining room.

Corinna arrived two minutes later, with Ellie and her mother in tow. Georgette joined her husband at the door, and the housekeeper began supervising the troops, while Ellie walked to Sam’s side.

“How did things go in the library?”

He took her hand. “Fine.”

“That tells me a lot. Was Rudy a good boy?”

“How the heck should I know? He did a couple of tricks and ate the stuff the judge gave him. It made Stanley happy, so, yeah, I guess he was good.”

She opened her baby blues wide. “Rudy did tricks? What kind of tricks?”

“Sat up and begged, laid down like he was dead. The judge loved it. Did you know that he and Rudy have watched
Wheel of Fortune
together? He claims your dog understands the letters called on the show.”

“What? No.”

“Yes.”

Ellie focused on the judge and her dog, who were holding court at the front door. “Maybe I should remove him from Stanley’s lap before Mother has a cow.”

“From the way she’s smiling, that might be a good idea.” He nodded toward Georgette. “Those guests must think she’s got a piece of glass up her butt.”

Ellie
tsk
ed. “You are such a guy. I’ll be back in a minute. Do you have Rudy’s leash?”

Sam pulled the item from his pocket. “Just don’t let your mother have it or Rudy could end up at a hanging.”

When she grabbed the leash and took off in a rush, he shook his head. Even though Ellie was uptight about the evening, she looked beautiful and in control. She belonged with these upper-crust A-listers. Unlike him.

It had been damned disconcerting listening to the judge talk about leaving her money. Ellie already made more green walking dogs than he did protecting the citizens of this town. That she worked hard wasn’t the issue, and neither was her salary. What burned his shorts was the cash she would receive when Judge Frye passed away. And her mother.

He was pretty sure she would give all of the judge’s money to her favorite charity, which was Best Friends, just as she had the money she’d inherited from that homeless guy. But family money? That was a different matter. He’d be happy if she tossed it out the window or sent it to another of her animal rights groups, but what if she decided to keep it?

He watched the judge shake hands with Captain Carmody. Then he spotted Ellie, holding the little white dog they’d rescued when he and Ellie first met. Bobby? Billy? No . . . Buddy. The captain had brought Buddy to the party.

When Carmody waved him over, there was no escape. Pasting a smile on his face, he made his way across the foyer. The captain held out his meaty hand and Sam shook it.

“Captain.”

“Detective Ryder. It’s good to see you here.”

“Detective Ryder,” Mrs. Carmody said. The attractive woman grinned from ear to ear. “Do you recognize our baby? When Judge Frye called and insisted that we bring him, we just couldn’t say no.”

Unsure of how to comment or what to do, he gazed at Ellie, who had tears shining in her eyes. Oh, hell. Now what?

“Sam, look. It’s Buddy. Isn’t he adorable?” She nuzzled the dog’s fuzzy white head. “I’ve missed him so much, and you’ve missed me, haven’t you?”

Captain Carmody stepped aside and ushered the group out of the flow of guest traffic. “Stanley said you’d be surprised. You going to be okay?”

Ellie smiled. “I’m going to be just fine. But I think I’ll take both boys into the library so they can get reacquainted. Corinna set up a water bowl and a cashmere throw they can share, and we have treats, too. Unless you want to keep him with you.”

“No, no. You take him,” Mrs. Carmody said. “He’s wearing that distinctive Bichon smile, so I can tell he’s happy to be in your arms. Mitchell and I will mingle with the others. I’m sure the guests of honor will be here soon.”

“Detective. Ellie.” The captain nodded. “We’ll find you in a bit.”

Sam turned to Ellie, who had put Buddy on the floor. All of a sudden the huge foyer felt as small as an elevator. “Let’s get these guys to the library,” he said, taking both leashes from her hand.

“Okay, sure.” She sniffed back a tear. “I’d like to spend a little time alone with Buddy.”

He guided the dogs through the crowd, where many of the guests commented on the Bichon and asked Ellie about its unique haircut and happy demeanor. It took a good ten minutes to get back to the library, where Sam breathed a sigh of relief.

“I think I’m going to sit here for a while and play with the boys, if that’s okay with you,” Ellie told him.

Sam’s cell phone rang before he could answer her. He checked caller ID, held up a finger, and stepped to the desk. “Ryder.”

“Detective, it’s Battaglia. From the records room. I don’t mean to bother you on your night off, but Stallings said you wanted this info ASAP, so I decided to call.”

“Not a problem. Just give me a minute.” He held the phone to his chest. “I’ve got to take this. Do you mind?”

“Not at all,” said Ellie, giving each of the dogs a treat. “I’ve got plenty to do here.”

“Do you think it’s all right for me to borrow a pen and paper?” he asked her, scanning the desk.

“Go ahead. Stanley won’t mind.”

He opened a drawer, where he found a pencil and notepad. “Okay, shoot,” he told Battaglia. A minute passed; then Sam said, “You’re sure about this data. The dates and the trial’s wrap-up are correct?”

“It’s correct unless the info was recorded wrong, but I doubt that happened.”

“Okay, thanks.” He tore the slip of paper from the notepad and tucked it and his phone in his pocket. Then he walked to the sofa. “I have to talk to a couple of people out front. Do you mind staying here alone?”

Ellie gave him the okay and he aimed for the door. Scouring the crowd was the last thing he wanted to do, but he had to make contact with one of the guests. If he was willing to talk here, he’d ask a few questions, but eventually, the person would have to come to the precinct for a bigger sort-out session.

Tonight was no longer one of easy conversation and rubbing elbows with the city’s bigwigs. Now tonight was business.

Sam had been gone for about an hour when Ellie decided to leave the dogs and search for him. During the time she’d spent with Buddy and Rudy, she’d played with the Bichon and given lots of belly rubs. Rudy, on the other hand, didn’t exactly play the way most dogs do, but he did accept his fair share of praise and attention. Right now, while sitting like a watchful Buddha, he continued asking his old pal a round of questions.

Buddy rolled to a stand and gave a head-to-tail shake.
“Captain Carmody is great. Different from the professor, but still a good human.”

“We know what you mean,” Ellie told him. She gave Rudy the evil eye. “Enough with the personal questions. The Carmodys’ life is not your concern.”

“That’s it. I’ve heard all I want to for the moment.” Corinna had dropped in twice to say that Georgette was looking for her. “I have to show my face at the party for a while. You have water and Mother’s beautiful cashmere throw to keep you cozy. Do you need anything else?”

“Maybe another beefy bone?”
Rudy suggested, his eyes sad and pleading.

She crossed her arms, vowing not to be swayed. “The answer to that is no. You’ve each had one already, plus the Pup-Peroni from home. I even sneaked out to the buffet table and gave you a nibble from my own plate. More food will just make you sick.”

“You take the fun out of everything.”
The yorkiepoo dropped to a sit on the throw.
“C’mon, Buddy. I say we go on strike.”

Reaching down, she scratched Buddy’s fluffy white ears. “I bet you don’t feel that way, do you?” she asked the beautifully groomed Bichon.

“What a sweet thing to say.” She gave Rudy a pointed look. “I wish all my dogs were so nice.”

“He’s just trolling for another treat,”
Rudy warned.
“He’s not foolin’ me.”

“Buddy knows Mrs. Carmody wouldn’t approve of more snacks. He’s much better at listening to his superiors than you are, my friend.”