Tags:
Mystery,
Mystery Fiction,
New York,
new york city,
mystery novel,
mob,
martini,
tracy keely,
tracey keeley,
tracey kiely,
killer twist,
nic & nigel,
nic and nigel
trailers.
twelve
Seeing that Barry was about to leave, Jules moved toward him and smiled up at him from under sooty lashes. âBarry,â she said sweetly, âI wanted to talk to you real quick. Iâve heard a rumor that youâre getting ready to cast The Deposition . If thatâs true, I hope youâll give me an audition. I really think I could nail the role of the prosecutor.â
Barry looked down at Jules, his expression unreadable. Cecelia was less circumspect. She regarded Jules as if she had just sprouted a second head. âTonight is for celebrating,â Barry said simply. âNot business talk.â
âI know, but â¦â Jules began with a pretty pout.
Cecelia interrupted her by turning to Christina. â You look absolutely beautiful, Christina,â she said loudly. âLife certainly seems to be agreeing with you.â
Christina smiled as if she were holding back a laugh. âIt is,â she said. âOf course, itâs been a great night.â
âThe first of many, Iâm sure,â predicted Cecelia. Her glance skimmed over John before she added pointedly, âGod knows youâve earned all that and more.â
Barry let out a gruff laugh. âOn that note, I think weâll say our good-byes. Nicole, Nigel,â he said to us, âit was nice meeting you.â Taking Cecelia by the hand, he said, âCome on, my little diplomat, letâs go before you start something.â As he passed Christina, he kissed her cheek. âEnjoy your night, sweetheart,â he said. âIâll be in touch soon.â
Frankâs brow wrinkled at this exchange. âBarry,â he said, âbefore you go, I need to talk to you about something.â
Cecelia let out a groan of protest. âFrank! No, I want to go home.â
Frank waved away her concern. âItâll only take a few minutes, CeCe,â he said.
Cecelia sighed and looked from Barry to Frank. With a resigned shake of her head, she linked her arm through Danielleâs. âCome on, Danny,â she said as she led her away from the table, âLetâs go make ourselves comfortable at the bar. Your fatherâs idea of a few minutes is an eternity.â
The two women said their good-byes and wandered off to the bar while Barry and Frank headed outside. âIf you havenât come back in half an hour,â Cecelia called over her shoulder to Barry, âIâm leaving without you!â
Barry nodded absently, his head already bent low to hear what his brother-in-law was telling him.
With their departure, the mood shifted. John and Jules now faced a table that was largely Team Christina. Sebastian regarded John with a derisive smirk. Janice pursed her lips and examined Jules as if she were something nasty on the bottom of her shoe. Mandy neatly communicated her own disapproval by simply sitting back in her chair and folding her arms across her chest. As for Christina, she stared at the bottom of her champagne glass as if it held tea leaves.
If John noticed the change in atmosphere, he didnât react. With his eyes fixed on Christinaâs bent head, he said, âWell, congratulations, again, Christina. Good to see Oscar will have another friend to talk to.â
Christina raised her head and held his gaze. Some unspoken memory seemed to pass between them. Johnâs mouth curved into a faint smile.
The absence of Barry and Frank made Jules bolder. She pressed her body close to Johnâs, her full lips curved in an over-bright smile as she regarded Christina. âYes, congratulations, Christina,â she said. âThat should certainly shut up the critics who say that Hollywood ignores older women.â
âSo, how do you explain why youâre ignored?â Sebastian asked. Jules glared at him. Sebastian leaned back in his chair and smiled. âYou seem tense, Jules,â he said, as he appeared to exam her face.