“He’s a little big for me.”
Connie laughed, an easy, throaty sound that went with her slumberous brown eyes. “That he is. I loved meeting him and Mavis. She’s a true and unique delight. And the baby! What a beauty. Now come along with me, see your old friends, your new ones.”
“Dallas!” Marlo, sleek in a sheath of dull bronze, rushed forward. “I’m so glad you made it. Peabody said you’d already closed the case. Isn’t that amazing?” she said to Connie. “They caught a killer within hours.”
“It’s not hard when the killer’s a moron,” Eve commented.
“Aren’t the two of you something?” Connie caught one of Eve’s hands, one of Marlo’s in turn, and made Eve wonder if everybody in Hollywood felt compelled to touch.
“I’ve known Marlo for years,” Connie continued, “but seeing you both side by side is, well, surreal. There are differences, of course.” Angling her head, Connie looked them both up and down. “Marlo’s a bit shorter, and your eyes are longer in shape—and without the makeup Marlo lacks the little chin cleft—but at a quick glance, it’s—”
“A little spooky,” Eve finished.
“It is.”
“Joel wanted me to have the cleft done surgically—the producer,” Marlo added.
“You’re not kidding.”
“I’m not. Joel tends to go over the top. But it’s what makes him the best.”
“I shaved my head for him for Unreasonable Doubt,” Connie said. “But in that case he and Mason were right. And I have the Oscar to prove it.”
“It wasn’t the shaved head that netted you the Oscar. It was brilliance.”
“See why I keep this beautiful young thing around?” Connie asked. “Oh, that must be Charlotte Mira.”
Eve glanced back. “Yeah. That’s Doctor Mira and her husband, Dennis.” God, he was cute, Eve thought, in his spiffy suit and mismatched socks. She felt more relaxed just looking at him.
“I need to introduce myself. Take care of our star, Marlo.”
“You know I will. She’s magnificent,” Marlo said when Connie walked toward the Miras. “She’s the classiest actor, and woman, I know. She and Roundtree have been married—first time for both—for over twenty-five years. That’s a good run for anybody, but a miracle in our business, especially when both are in the business.”
Then she stared over Eve’s shoulder, blinked. “Oh my.”
“Ladies.”
“Roarke,” Eve said by way of introduction.
“It certainly is. They didn’t get the eyes. Close, but not quite. Sorry. Julian and I have been working together for months now, and I’ve gotten used to thinking of him as you. But now here you are.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I admire your work.”
“You’re here.” Peabody, girls rising proudly over a bodice of stars scattered on midnight, rushed over. “We were getting the tour of the house, which is seriously uptown.”
“Peabody.” Roarke took a flute off a tray and offered it. “You look delicious.”
“Oh my God,” Marlo said under her breath as Peabody flushed and beamed.
“Thanks. This is so exciting. We’re having the best time.”
Beside her, Ian McNab grinned. His version of fancy dinner wear ran to a pumpkin-colored shirt, a lime green suit, and high-top skids that matched the shirt. His blond hair was pulled back from his thin, attractive face in a long tail, leaving the dangle of gold loops on his ear to glint in the light.
Eve started to speak when a man stepped to Peabody’s other side. He wore his blond hair pulled back in a long tail, leaving his thin, attractive face unframed. His suit, shirt, tie were all the color of night fog, and fit his slim frame perfectly.
“McNab, that’s what you’d look like—almost—if you dressed like an adult human.”
“Pretty tight, huh?” McNab said and chomped into the canapé he’d snagged from another tray.