Private Dick Casefile 01 - Lily White Rose Red

women, as he sneered at the couples whirling by. But his eyes were drawn to Lily as well as she swayed in front of me. I guess Lily was right when she said redheads were very noticeable.
    Even if it weren’t in the script, I couldn’t have resisted her.

    176

    CATT FORD

    “Remember, I can’t dance,” I growled as she rested her hand on my shoulder.
    “Just keep in time to the music,” she encouraged me. “Try to remember, slow, slow, quick, quick.”
    We did little more than undulate to the music, handicapped as we were by my inability to foxtrot and the pressing need to keep her face turned away from our quarry or quarries.
    Mr. Hamilton had paused to speak with Woods, but now he led his young date to a table. Big Billy tagged along behind, escorting his date. He was good; after that first quick glance, he only glanced at Lily once on the way. I don’t think he even noticed me. Guthrie, on the other hand, blatantly stared at Lily once he spotted her.
    “Did we get a nibble?”
    “More like a chomp, I’d say.” I yanked her around so he only got her back as he tracked her.
    “Grey, darling, release the death grip you have on the back of my gown instantly or face dire consequences,” Lily ordered.
    I let go immediately, afraid that she meant to sic Celestine on me as revenge for any creases I might have inflicted. “How am I supposed to steer, then?”
    She gave me a Reproving Look. “You’re not. I’m leading. But don’t worry. I won’t challenge your masculine pride by suddenly taking off with another gentleman. However skilled.” Her purring voice reminded me of how she delighted in a dirty innuendo. She might get on with Artie like a house on fire.
    It proved to be quite a challenge to keep Lily turned away from Mr. Hamilton’s table and on the other side of the room from our suspects. I resorted to simply telling her where they were, and she did the rest. Despite the gravity of the situation, I could tell that Lily loved to dance. There was something in the expression on her face that told me she could hear something in the music that I never would, like she knew the composer’s intentions and translated them through her movement.

    Lily White, Rose Red: Grey Randall, Private Dick Casefile #1
    177

    Phil Martin waltzed by and paused, tapping my shoulder to indicate he wanted to cut in. To dance with Lily, of course! The room would have spontaneously combusted if two men started dancing cheek to cheek. Clearly, despite my insistence that he be kept on the list of suspects, I suspected that Lily and Mr. Hamilton did not agree, because here she was, letting him see her face.
    Mr. Martin unloaded his unfortunate date onto me and took off with Lily, whirling her through the crowd expertly while still managing to keep her turned away from Mr. Hamilton’s table. She smiled impishly at me and wiggled her fingers. I realized that she lied about taking off on me with a better dancer. Phil Martin never crashed her into another couple even though they were moving at a good clip. Her flowerlike face was aglow with pleasure. For her, I could see dance was the way she knew best to express her true self: a passionate, intense, woman. It was her art.
    “I have to learn how to do that,” I muttered.
    “I wish you would,” Mr. Martin’s date answered. “And soon.” She clearly lacked the personable nature of her date for the evening. Looking at her bored face, I was about to apologize when the band segued into a familiar rhythm. I pulled her tight against me and took control, leading her through a masterful tango. She was breathless and thrilled when the music stopped and I returned her to her table. She handed me her fan, and I set up a tornado of air while she caught her breath.
    “What did you say your name was?” she inquired with an arch look.
    “I didn’t, but it’s Randall, Grey Randall.” I thought it was probably better to leave off the dick part; she seemed a bit overheated as it was. “And you are?”
    “Celia Fraser,” she said.
    “Pleased to meet you,” I said, trying not to sound too pleased.
    Mr. Martin brought Lily back at that moment, and from his expression, he had guessed that he was performing a life-saving service right then; I had no idea how to escape Miss Fraser’s clutches. Luckily 178

    CATT FORD

    for me, he was a much better prospect, and the mere sight of his handsome face apparently dimmed Miss Fraser’s memory of our tango.
    “Phil darling, your friend