Part 26 (2/2)
She spoke to him quietly. ”I heard they found a severed head.”
Roberto looked distressed. ”You must not worry-”
”I'm not worrying.”
”You ... you think that you were right? That at the contessa's ...”
”I'm not saying that. It's just curious. Have they found out who the head belonged to?
Have they-” She broke off. He was looking at her, frowning. She realized that she was speaking too quickly.
But Raphael had heard her. He translated quietly, glancing at the others at the table, aware that Jordan wouldn't want Jared to know what they were talking about.
Roberto shook his head and replied in Italian to Raphael.
”The head is still with forensics. They haven't found the rest of the body, and they have no missing persons report with which to make a comparison. They will do an artist's reconstruction and send the picture around Europe.”
Jordan was disappointed; she hadn't learned anything new.
”I understand your concern,” Roberto said.
Jordan nodded. Jared was glancing her way suspiciously. As he turned his head she noticed that his features appeared lean and sharp. Maybe she had caused Jared a lot more trouble than she was willing to admit. Maybe that explained Cindy's pallor and fatigue.
Still, she hadn't been wrong. Either the contessa had hosted a group of murderous monsters, or her sense of humor and entertainment were warped beyond measure.
Dessert and coffee were served, and more activities for the guests were announced. On the ground floor, a rock band would be playing, while there would be ballroom dancing on the second floor. Tarot card readings were in the entry to the second floor ballroom. Palm readers would be there as well. Jugglers and magicians would travel to both levels. More coffee, sweets, and after-dinner liqueurs would be available at all the banquet tables. The 'Pleasure Palace,' for those who dared, would be in the back room of the second level.
”Shall we dance?” Raphael inquired immediately.
”I've never been asked by such a charming belle,” Jordan a.s.sured him.
Raphael wanted the fast action on the ground floor, but as he started to lead her down, Jordan made him pause. ”Where was Tiff supposed to be?”
”Table seven, in the room where they'll be setting up the Pleasure Palace. I think she wanted to make several trips,” he said with a grin.
They walked over to table seven; it was already empty. It appeared, however, that someone had been seated at every chair.
Raphael shrugged. ”You see why we don't worry so much about Tiff? Don't be angry; enjoy your night.”
”Wait. Where was Ragnor supposed to be?”
”Table eighteen-the next flight up.” He groaned. ”Okay, we'll look.”
But upstairs, the tables had emptied as well.
”Maybe they both decided to get lucky,” Raphael said. ”Give them no more thought.”
Downstairs, they danced. As Raphael had expected, they were often cut in on. A dottore came and danced with Jordan. She was certain at first that it was Jared, but as she talked, and he failed to respond, she realized it wasn't he. He thanked her in Italian for the dance.
There had been something so familiar about him ...
But as she was claimed by a short Julius Caesar, she noted that there were at least five dottores in the room. All of them seemed to be about the same height.
Around midnight, Raphael excused himself to dance with Anna Maria. This time, she was partnered by a handsome Basque jai alai player who had fun showing her the immense muscle in his right arm, and the smaller muscle in his left. She thought at first that he was explaining his costume, he wasn't. The game had given him two definitely different-sized arms.
As the dance ended, Jordan thanked him and hurried after Anna Maria and Raphael.
Anna Maria, resplendent as Mary, Queen of Scots, kissed her cheeks. Jordan told her that the party was wonderful, then asked about Tiff.
She gave her the same reply Raphael had given earlier. ”She must be very well costumed; I have not seen her.” She frowned. ”I believe all the tables wound up full, but then, though people are seated, many, many people here have known one another for years, and they ...”
”Table hop,” Raphael said.
”Table hop. Right.”
”Let's have our cards read!” Raphael said.
”I don't know . . .”Jordan murmured.
But the next thing she knew, she was upstairs, watching as an Italian woman spread out her cards. She indicated that Jordan was to touch them. When she turned the cards over, she shook her head and shuffled them again. This time, Jordan gave close attention to what appeared. She saw the Grim Reaper before the woman could collect the cards.
”That was death, right?” Jordan insisted of Raphael.
”It can mean many tilings, she says.”
The tarot reader spoke quickly and earnestly in Italian. She looked at Jordan as if she were about to whip out a cross and put it between them to ward her off.
”Raphael ...”
”She says that you must watch out for the shadows. And take the gravest care at deep midnight.” ”She is warning me of death.”
”No, the card may mean many things.”
”But death is one-”
”Jordan, watch out for the shadows. And deep midnight.”
”What the h.e.l.l is deep midnight?”
”The true dead of night. When all light has faded. When shadows fall even in darkness.
Let's dance again. This was not good.”
Downstairs, Roberto Capo was the first one to cut in on her. As they danced, he asked her if she was happy, if she was having fun.
”Yes, very much so.”
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