One Fifth Avenue

Annalisa immediately sat up and smoothed the skin under her eyes. “I’m fine,” she said. “I just need a moment to myself.”

One floor below, Enid Merle pushed through the little gate that separated her terrace from Philip’s, and knocked on his French door. Philip opened it looking, as he had ever since he’d returned from Los Angeles, miserable. Enid wasn’t sure if his relationship with Lola was making him depressed, or the fact that Schiffer Diamond had been seen all over town with Derek Brumminger.

“Have you heard?” Enid asked.

“What now?” Philip said.

“Billy Litchfield is dead.”

Philip put his hands in his hair.

Lola came out of the bedroom wearing a T-shirt and a pair of Philip’s boxer shorts. “Who’s dead?” she asked with interest.

“Billy Litchfield,” Philip muttered.

“Do I know him?” Lola asked.

“No,” Philip said sharply.

“Okay,” Lola grumbled. “You don’t need to yell.”

“Schiffer found the body,” Enid said, addressing Philip. “One can only imagine. You must give her a call.”

“Schiffer Diamond found the body?” Lola exclaimed with enthusiasm. Rushing past Enid and Philip, she we

nt out to the terrace and looked over the edge. There was a throng of photographers and reporters outside the entrance, and she recognized the top of Thayer Core’s head. Damn, she thought. Thayer would probably be calling her any minute requesting information, and she would have to give it to him. If she didn’t, he would once again threaten to post Philip’s unfinished script, and Philip would be furious.

She went back inside. “Are you calling her?” she asked Philip.

“Yes,” Philip said. He went into his office and closed the door.

Enid looked at Lola and shook her head. “What’s wrong now?” Lola demanded. Enid only shook her head again and went back to her own apartment. Lola sat down on the couch in a huff. Philip had just gotten over having his things rearranged and no longer banged the cabinet doors every time he was in the kitchen. But now this Billy Litchfield person had died, and Philip would go back to being in a bad mood again. It was all somehow Schiffer Diamond’s fault. Philip would have to pay attention to her, and Lola would have to fight her off again. Lola lay back on the couch, absentmindedly rubbing her stomach. Aha, she thought. There was the answer: She would get pregnant.

Philip came out of his office, went into the bedroom, and began getting dressed. Lola followed him. “Did you talk to her?” she asked.

“Yes,” Philip said, taking a shirt out of the closet.

“And? How is she?”

“How do you think?” Philip said.

“Where are you going now?” Lola said.

“To see her.”

“Can I come?” Lola asked.

“No,” Philip said.

“Why not?”

“She’s working. On location. It’s not appropriate.”

“But what about me?” Lola said. “I’m upset, too. Look.” She held out her hands. “I’m shaking.”

“Not now, Lola, please.” He pushed past her and went out the door.

Sure enough, her phone began bleeping moments later, announcing a text from Thayer Core. “Just saw Oakland leave the building. What’s up?”