Page 63 of In the Line of Ire

"Doeseveryone buy something at these events?" I asked.

Lilyshrugged. "I don't know. Maybe."

"Charlaine must get some kind of commission. She put a lot ofeffort into this party," I said as I snagged acanapéfrom the silver tray borne bya passing waiter. "What do you think? Five percent? Ten?Twenty?"

"I don'tthink she'll tell us. She might not want us to think she’s justselling stuff to her friends. It sounds almost like being poor, ormaybe, like she needs a job."

I raisedmy eyebrows. "Like us?"

"Likeeveryone else in the whole world."

"That'sweird."

"It’s calledkeeping up with yoursocial circle. Not one member of this crowdwants to feel inferior by having less than the other. They'llprobably out-buy each other even if they have to put it on a creditcard and eat Top Ramen for the next month."

"I likeTop Ramen but not that much."

"No onelikes Top Ramen that much. Hey, do you remember thatnoodle-wrestling night we went to when we were about twenty-two?That was some night!"

"No, Idon't remember a thing." Which was true, almost. I vaguely recalledbeing challenged to a fight in the noodle pit. It was not so much afight as a lot of slipping over one another until someonesurrendered. I did, however, vividly remember picking the noodlesout of my hair the next day and finding my shoes glued to theceiling of my bedroom. I never quite understood that one and Lilyswears to this day she had nothing to do with it.

"Thankgoodness no one had cameras on their cellphones back then," saidLily.

Ishuddered at the mental image of Lily and me outside her bardressed in those costumes. It flashed into my head withoutprompting. That embarrassing incident had to definitely vanish fromthe internet just as soon as I found out who Purple Monsterwas.

"I don'tthink my outfit was very flattering for noodle-wrestling," Lilycontinued, oblivious to my mental scars.

"That'swhat worries you about that night?" Lily gave me a “duh!” face andI sighed.

"Weshould continue looking around," I said.

"Wheredo we start? Charlaine's bedroom? The study?"

"No! Wehave to watch, question, and listen. We might pick up somethinguseful."

"On topof breathing too, that's a tall order. Should we splitup?"

"No,never!" I said.

"Phew!This has been my longest relationship ever."

"Andyou're never getting rid of me. Let's go talk to her. She seems tobe on her own," I said, nodding towards a tall woman wearing blackpants and a plain shirt. She stood by the fireplace, observing theguests, a hot pink purse tucked under her arm.

"Hi, Icouldn't help noticing your purse from across the room," I said,smiling at the woman. "That's a great color.”

Shesmiled warmly in return. "Thank you. It's not for everyone but itbrings such joy to me."

"Are youfriends of our host?" asked Lily.

"Sortof. I live down the street so we say hi to each other every sooften. And you?"

"Knowneach other since we were kids," said Lily. "But this is our firsttime at one of these parties."

"Metoo."

"I'mexcited to see the purses," I chirped to keep the conversationmoving.

Sheleaned in, whispering in a conspiratorial manner, "Apparently,there's a discount for all purchases this evening. I love abargain. Almost as much as I love a new purse."

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