CHAPTER 14

Casey and I exchanged a brief glance, consciously devoid of meaning. I was about to

speak when Casey suddenly sat up, alert, and whispered "Sh!" in a warning tone. A muted, impassioned murmur was audible from the next room, and Casey leaned

forward, unashamedly trying to listen. The murmur wavered on the edge of coherence, then faded, growing faint before finally stopping altogether.

"This Mr. Sterling you mentioned is my neighbor—" I said.

"Don't talk. I want to hear what happens."

"Is something happening?" I asked innocently.

"You mean to say you don't know?" Casey replied, genuinely surprised. "I thought everyone knew."

"I don't."

"Well," she said hesitantly, "Max has some woman in New York."

"Some woman?" I repeated blankly. Casey nodded.

"She might at least have the decency not to call him during dinner, don't you think?"

Almost before I grasped her meaning, there was the rustle of a dress and the crunch of leather boots, and Max and Lily returned to the table.

"It couldn't be helped!" exclaimed Lily with strained cheerfulness.

She sat down, glanced at Casey and then at me, and continued, "I looked outside for a