Private Dick Casefile 01 - Lily White Rose Red

other’s eyes as he took her wrap made me wonder if the conclusions I’d drawn about him were correct despite the copious evidence I’d collected that his inclinations lay elsewhere. Maybe he swung both ways. They looked so right together, so at ease, as if they’d known each other a long time. Which made me wonder even more about Marguerite. If he could put on an act so good it fooled me knowing what I knew, maybe he could also strangle a woman in cold blood and never think about it afterward.

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    CATT FORD

    I looked at Lily reproachfully and then realized she had no reason to know that I needed to be warned in advance whenever Mr. Big was going to pop up at some event. She wouldn’t have a clue how he made my mouth go dry and my dick grow hard. I put a stop to that right away, though; I wasn’t going to be held hostage by an unruly body part.
    Mr. Martin led his date further into the room, and then I saw his head come up and his nostrils flare when he spotted me.
    I wasn’t up on my Emily Post of what to do at a straight party when you unexpectedly run into a closeted man whose cock you recently sucked, especially if it was completely your idea and he didn’t get a lot of say in the matter.
    I mean, I’d seen him once at his club since then, but this was a very different setting, and we both had women on our arms now. At least there I had him beat; however much younger his date was, Lily out-glammed every woman in the room.
    He sucked in a breath through clenched teeth, his lips tightening with lust for a moment. The look in his eyes almost made me start moving his way, but then he controlled it. The yearning disappeared behind the civilized smile as he turned to the beautiful woman at his side, escorting her to a table where he sat down with his back to me.
    That got me off the hook; I was able to take a normal breath again, and just in time, because Lily turned to see what had me mesmerized.
    “Did you see him?”
    “What? Oh—no, he’s not here yet.” I guess everyone wasn’t as enthralled with Mr. Big as I was. But of course, Lily knew him quite well, and maybe she was used to how beautiful he was. Maybe the stunning effect wore off as you accustomed yourself.
    The room was on the intimate side, and it was nearly full when we got there. With Mr. Martin safely ensconced on the far side of the room, I pulled out a chair that put Lily sitting with her back to the door, a spot I’d wager she’d never settled for before. I helped her with her stole, grateful for the lesson earlier when she beamed at me.
    There was a live band in an alcove: piano, violins, sax section, Lily White, Rose Red: Grey Randall, Private Dick Casefile #1
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    traps, and even a clarinet. The dance floor was crowded with couples dressed to the nines, and the sparkle coming off the dames was almost blinding in the dim light. But there was a sense of anticipation, and the party wasn’t really going to get off the ground until the host arrived.
    There was a buzz in the room when Mr. Hamilton made his entrance with a beautiful girl no older than his daughter on his arm, pausing at the door to take in the crowd.
    “What color is her hair?” Lily leaned over and spoke out of the side of her mouth without moving her lips in the most approved moll style.
    “Uh, blonde,” I said, when I caught up.
    “Good,” she said with satisfaction. She sniggered at my confused look and explained, “Max doesn’t care for blondes that much.” Well, however she chose to look at it. I realized that she must be used to seeing him with other women. Unlike earlier in their relationship, Mr. Hamilton seemed to be trying to protect Lily from public scrutiny lately. And maybe his wife’s. Although tonight was a different deal. The blonde was just for window dressing, because Lily was with me.
    “Let’s dance.” Lily stood up and kept her shoulders still, moving her hips seductively to the rhythm, holding out her arms to me invitingly.
    I swear, she must have had eyes in the back of her head. Precise to the moment that she stood up, Captain Woods entered the room. He had a redhead with him too, but the pale, freckly kind that couldn’t hold a candle to the flame of Lily’s hair, figure, and personality. Not that he could see any of her personality with her back turned, although her figure and hair drew his attention like a moth.
    Sgt. Bert Guthrie came in behind him, alone and in uniform. He really didn’t seem to have much use for