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she’s not there herself.”
    “Who’s
that?”
    “Mamie
van Marais.”
    “Didn’t
you take out her husband?”
    “Two
years ago.   Now Mamie wipes her ass
with his money.   She owes me and she
knows it.   If anyone can get us
inside, she can.”
    She
pulled out her own phone, found van Marais’ number and dialed it.   When the line was answered, Carmen said,
“I need to speak to Ms. van Marais.”
    “Who
shall I say is calling?”
    “Tell
her it’s Carmen.”
    Carmen
waited less than a minute before Mamie van Marais picked up the phone.   “I asked you never to call me here.”
    “You
wouldn’t have a ‘here’ if it wasn’t for me, Mamie.   This is important.   I’m calling in a favor.”
    “Carmen,
I don’t know how I possibly could do you a favor.   We both know how resourceful you are.”
    “And
you’re one of my resources.   Tonight, something is happening at the Four Seasons.   I need to get inside.”
    “I know
what’s happening.   That horrible Tootie
Staunton-Miller is throwing a party there tonight with her gay husband,
Addy.   They just completed the
restoration on their home on Fifth and although I can’t stand her, I have go
give it to her.   She did it
right.   That house is back to what
it once was--the grand dame of Fifth Avenue.   Fifty rooms!   Tootie and Addy have been staying in the
Royal Suite at the Waldorf Towers for years while waiting for the
restoration to be complete and now it is.   It has one of the only private indoor swimming pools in New York.   Tootie likes to say that to anyone who
will listen.   In fact, some are
saying she says it too often.”
    “So, why
are they at The Four Seasons?   Shouldn’t they be celebrating at their new home?”
    “Never,”
Mamie said.   “Only select people
will ever be invited to the home itself.   I heard that Tootie had massive photographs installed in the Pool Room
at the Four Seasons to give people an idea of how the restoration turned out,
but only the best of the very best will ever actually see the house in person.   It’s all about positioning, dear.   Her popularity will skyrocket thanks to
that house.   Everyone but the real
money will want to say they’ve been invited there.   I can hear them now.   ‘I’m sorry, but Tootie Staunton-Miller
invited us to dinner at her grand home on Fifth Avenue so we’ll need to
decline.’   It’s grotesque.   She’s got the best house on Fifth and
she’s doing well with her charitable affairs, but she’ll never be as endearing
as Addy is.   We all love Addy,
regardless of his sexual complications.   But Tootie?   She can toot
herself to the moon.”
    “I need
you to get me in.”
    “That’s
impossible.”
    “Killing
your husband wasn’t, Mamie.”
    She
lowered her voice.   “Please don’t
talk about that.   Ever.   It’s awful how Bonzy died.   Who knew he had such enemies?”
    “I just
need for you to get me and one guest into the event.   That’s all I’m asking.”
    “She
knows I loathe her.   You’re asking a
lot.”
    “That’s
because I gave you a lot.   You have
my cell.   I expect a call back in
five minutes.”
    “But who
should I say is coming?”
    Carmen
came up with some bullshit names and a location.   “The Mark Edwards of East Hampton.”
    It took
Mamie four minutes to secure an invitation for them, which would be awaiting
them at the reception area.
    “Thanks,
Mamie.”
    “I
suppose I should be reading the front page of the Times tomorrow?   Final season at the Four Seasons?   Death by drowning in the Pool Room?”
    “Good-bye,
Mamie.”
    Carmen
looked at Alex.   “You have your
tux?”
    “Never
travel without it.”
    “And I
have a dress.   Let’s get back to the
hotel.   If nothing else, I need to
get this steak sauce off me.   I
don’t think Tootie Staunton-Whatshername would approve of it.”

 
 
 
    CHAPTER SEVEN

 
    At their
hotel, which was a modest but clean joint on Third