Body Blows Read Free Page B

at my age.”
    â€œHiding up here for so long was a bad habit,” says Vivienne. “I’m thrilled you’ve decided to rejoin the human race.”
    â€œI guess the timing was right,” says Leo, with a puckish smile. I can’t be certain but he may have winked at me.
    â€œMy divorce was final as of yesterday,” she says to me sideways.
    â€œI’m never sure,” I say. “Are congratulations appropriate?”
    â€œIn this case, definitely,” she says.
    â€œBe a shame to waste half a bottle of Veuve Clicqot,” says Leo. “How are we for time, Joseph?”
    â€œIt’s your night,” I say. “It can’t start until you show up.”
    Leo refills Vivienne’s flute and his own with the flourish of a man handy with champagne. I take my half-finger of whisky and retreat a few steps. Three’s a crowd. Vivienne is telling Leo about a tango club in Buenos Aires. I notice that Raquel, Leo’s housekeeper, is preparing canapés in the kitchen.
    Cómo está usted esta noche, Raquel? I ask.
    She smiles at me. “ Muy bien, Señor Grundy ,” she says. She lowers her voice. “He looks fine tonight, does he not?”
    â€œVery fine.”
    â€œIt is good to see him like this,” she says.
    â€œI didn’t know he was taking tango lessons.”
    I’m almost certain I catch the flicker of a smile as Raquel turns to check her mis en place. There are serving dishes and shiny glasses standing by.
    â€œAre guests coming back here after?” I ask.
    â€œHe says it is possible. If there is anyone he is still friends with. You know how he talks. I have things prepared.”
    â€œThen I’ll see you later,” I say.
    She holds up one finger and looks around the corner to make sure Leo is occupied. She gestures me closer.
    â€œCould you do something for me?”
    â€œI’d be happy to,” I say.
    â€œI have bought a little gift for Señor Alexander,” she says. “I wonder, could you pick it up for me? It’s a secret. I don’t want him to know until his birthday.”
    â€œWhere do I go?”
    â€œThe cigar store on Robson. You know the one? Austin & Davies?”
    â€œThat’s where Gritch wants to go when he dies.”
    â€œIt’s all paid for.” She checks to make sure the coast is clear, then hands me a folded piece of paper. “The receipt,” she says. “You are kind to do this.”
    â€œTomorrow,” I say. It takes me a moment to come up with the correct phrase. “ Tengo tiempo .”
    â€œVery good. You have time.” She grins. “ Gracias . I am relieved.”
    â€œIt will be my pleasure,” I say. “ Hasta luego .”
    â€œ Si ,” she says with a lovely smile. “ Hasta pronto .”
    She’s always pleased when I get it right.
    â€œAll set?” Leo is beckoning from across the room. Vivienne is adjusting her wrap, black roses with a crimson lining. I glance back at Raquel. She is ignoring the elegant woman with the perfect hair and the diamond necklace. Leo hands me his cigar case and gold lighter. “Hold these for me will you, Joseph?” The case is three-barrelled, Spanish leather, primed with Cuban extravagance. The lighter is a Colibri. Han Chuen Chu’s tux has a special inside pocket to hold both items without ruining my silhouette. Leo no doubt has the same pocket but chooses not to burden himself.
    It crosses my mind that Caesar Augustus would have appreciated the regal decorum of Leo’s passage through the lobby. Maurice has imposed a level of restraint on the personnel, no palm fronds waving or ram’s horns blowing, but, had Leo deigned to raise a finger in benediction, twenty people would likely have genuflected. To most of the hotel staff, whether customer service or support, Leo Alexander is a mythic figure, the unseen power who lives on Olympus and controls their