As nights together go, this one was by far the most memorable. We'd finally get down to the base of our feelings, those sticky things that crop up every time intimacy and love are introduced. Some days I'd rather deal with an ill-mannered shark than with my feelings – they are just too difficult to express at times. But it was what we needed to deal with. I knew that if we didn't working together things would become awkward and intense.

"I want an answer to my question."

"After dinner, we'll talk." Tony grazed my cheek with a gentle and smooth motion of his fingertips while he looked into my curious eyes.

"Hmm..." I almost seemed to purr.

"What?"

"All the times you stare into my eyes, what is it you see there?"

'The weight of the world and the wonders of the universe."

I smiled.

Together we followed the house boy down the grand staircase and into the lavished dining room that dripped in everything velvet and firelight. As gaudy places go, this one took the cake. The room felt like it was competing with a museum with all of its grandeur and paintings, gold furnishings and as I said velvet. A visible chill rolled through me as the image of a funeral parlor filled my mind.

"All it's missing is a coffin."

"Behave..."

"This room seems to be built for drama. There is nothing I can do or say that would detract from it."

The house boy returned to the door and stood as still as a statue. We both found it odd and disconcerting but assumed that it was his natural position in the house. We'd never been introduced to so much formality – it was a bit of culture shock but we got along. I remembered seeing those movie star damsels outside of theaters when their pictures broke Hollywood while standing on a red carpet and figured we'd be in for a treat. I was not wrong. The Countess was just as dramatic as those starlets with her entrance. The house boy even announced her arrival and bowed as she broke the threshold.

"Countess Miravinci."

He then did a gesture with his hands for us to rise from our seats while she entered. I continued to sit and check to see if I had lipstick on my teeth in the gleaming silverware until Anthony lifted me by my elbow. As I stood I yanked away from his grip and gave him a look as cold as ice and he ignored it. Countess made her way towards the table with long strides as the length of her silver gown encrusted with rhinestones drug behind her. The fur she had wrapped around her shoulders was white and full with the face of an animal that had large eyes baring its teeth. It brushed her cheeks as she turned her head towards Anthony. Those long lashes batted like spiders caught up in a windstorm. And the rouge...

"Ahem..."

"What?!"

"Did she really look that bad to you?"

"She looked like an over made up dolly baby!"

(Tony chuckles)

"Come on...continue with the story."

The living kewpie doll approached us with her gloved arm extended and her wrist bent palm facing the floor. The drama ensued as Anthony gave her what she wanted, he kissed the back of her hand.

"Ahh...Countess, you are a vision of loveliness."

"Mr. Thompson."

"No no...Tony please."

She giggled then bowed slightly at the knee and lowered her head with a grand smile that made the pale of her face look like an angry clown dawning red lipstick and sharp teeth. Countess lifted her head and met eye(s) with Anthony then rattled off something in her thick accent that only Anthony seemed to understand. He complimented her again and she lingered leaning into him and kissed at the air near his cheeks on either side. I half expected her to issue a long drawn out "darling" when she reached me.

"Miss Stone."

She produced her wrist and shook it.

"It is customary to greet one with kisses where I come from. And since you are in my home, would you indulge me?"

I looked to Anthony and he shook his head in a gesture to go ahead and do as she asked. I guess he figured it was least we could do. She was putting us up and taking care of our expenses. I cupped her hands lightly and kissed the air at both of her cheeks. I refused to pack on any more bull that had already been said. I took my seat and was lifted up again by the elbow.

"Samantha, I don't think we sit until the hostess sits."

"Yes, Miss Stone. It is customary to give the hostess respect in this manner. I do hope you don't mind."

"Sure, why not."

"Is this what you consider formal wear Miss Stone?"

"I wasn't aware that there was a dress code Countess."

"Ah." She said abruptly.

"I have a gown you may change into if you wish, though...it may be a little tight around your middle."

"I'm fine thanks. Anthony..."

"No, no...I am quite comfortable with everyday clothing at my formal events. No need."

"I see that you are without your eye patch tonight."

"Sam!"

"It is quite alright. It is common knowledge that I wear a false eye from time to time."

Countess gave me a stare that stilled me. It wasn't fear coursing through my veins. It was anger. My body was preparing for a charge.

"Countess, why don't we have some drinks?"

"Leave it to a man to calm a situation amongst scrappling cats. Wouldn't you say Miss Stone?"

I sighed and stood still with my hands clasped together. Countess stood looking me over from head to toe, picking me apart bit by bit and I have never wanted to sock a woman as much as I wanted sock her at that time.

"Really, you wanted to punch her?"

"Yes!"

"You're still angry?"

"You should be too!"

"I own the gift of forgiveness."

"Well, I own the gift of goodbye!"

"Sam...you crack me up."

Her attention went to Anthony. She whispered something in his ear. They both laughed and I was infuriated. She tossed at glance in my direction, gave a shark's grin then patted Anthony on the shoulder before stalking her way across the floor towards her seat. The house boy pulled her chair out. Countess had a look in her eyes, this was all a game. She stood beside her chair and sent the house boy to fetch her cigarettes and the rest of her elusive guests then motioned for Anthony to come to her.

"My dear Tony, would you be so kind as to make us all some drinks?"

"It would be my pleasure."

I was hot beneath the collar of my blouse. I loosened the tie around my neck a bit while Anthony talked and schmooged with Countess Miravinci. Instead of standing still and feeling uncomfortable, I decided to walk and feign interest in the paintings that adorned the dining room walls. The walls themselves were covered with a mauve velvet accented paper in a floral pattern I'd never seen before. The velvet carpeting was red along with seat cushions of the high backed chairs. The air of the room smelled heavy of oak and the fresh cut flowers that lined the center of the dining room table intermittently with two large lit candelabras. There was no cloth on the table...but cloth place settings for each seat. As I walked my attention going from one thing to another, I noticed a dark stain in the carpet near the large fireplace and on the stone of the fireplace itself. It looked as if someone had tried their best to clean the spot but was unsuccessful.

I looked over my shoulder towards Anthony and Countess. Laughter broke out between the two. I wondered briefly what they were talking about but the stain and spot on the carpet held my attention more than their dulled conversation. I bent down to run my fingers over the stain. It should have been plush to the touch but instead was hard and crusty. In my mind I formed a picture of what could have happened there but I didn't like it.

This was no ordinary spill. This was...

"Samantha."

"Yes?"

"What makes a good story a good story?"

"Well...the fact that it's told without interruptions for one."

"Of course and second?"

"Thrills, chills and excitement."

"So get to it!"

"I'm trying to! You just interrupted me!"

"Oh."

"Are you even paying attention?"

"Yeah sure..."

"What are you even doing right now?"

"I'm reading a letter from Countess."

"Real time...really?"

"Yes."

"She sends her regards and has extended another visit to her home, this time in Rome."

"WHAT?"

"Isn't she supposed to be..."

"On the lamb? Yeah."

"This just gets worse and worse."

"Sad thing is...they don't know. We're nowhere even close to why she's on the run."

"We haven't even talked about Morocco and you bring up this letter?"

"I'm foreshadowing."

"Well stop it, will ya. You're giving away too much."

"Do we give them a little more?"

"Sure why not."

I stood up unable to tear my eyes away from the stain on the carpet. My mind rushed with the possibilities of how and why until I began speaking to myself, quietly moving my lips. My gaze turned to the fire while it danced and licked at the air. The house boy returned to the room and I barely noticed. I was lost in my thoughts. A quick thought entered and I acted on it. On the table there were water goblets filled half way and pristine white cotton cloth napkins. I walked to the table and grabbed a napkin, dabbed in the one of the water goblets then returned to the spot on the floor. I bent over and rubbed at the spot with the wet cloth and saw quickly that it began to absorb a deep red color.

"Blood."

I quickly stuffed the napkin into my suit jacket pocket placing it out of sight. As I was about the stand up from my hunched position, something glinted in the corner of my eye from within the walls of the fireplace. I moved to the side to get a closer look. My breath caught in my throat. There beneath a burning log was the steel end of a dagger.

I stood up quickly. So quick a dizzy spell washed over me. I nearly tipped over when I felt the arms of a man wrap themselves around me.

"Samantha, are you alright?"

"Yeah, I think so. Just came up too fast is all."

"What were you doing down there?"

Before I could answer, a flurry of footsteps and heavy voices entered the room. Just as the house boy was about to announce the guests, he was tapped on the chest and silenced by an overweight balding fellow with a mustache carrying a cigar in one hand and a drink glass in the other. He was closely followed by a young woman that looked around the room in the same manner I did but was more familiar with her surroundings, she went right over to Countess with a warm smile and actual kisses to her cheeks. They seemed to be well acquainted. She motioned to the surroundings of the room. The words "I love it" left her lips with an enthusiastic giggle. And there on the end of that giggle I thought I heard the word "aunt".

The last guest entered the room and seemed out of place for the gathering. He was dressed in the formal uniform that Interpol agents only wore on special occasions. His hat was clutched in the crook of his arm and a drink found itself gripped tightly as he stepped into the room seemingly overwhelmed by its trappings.

"This is going to be an interesting night. How about that drink?"

"Sure, no problem."

"Tony..."

"Yes, Samantha."

"Stick close. Something's not right."

"Why Samantha Stone, do you mean to protect me?"

"I'm serious, something's wrong."

Before he could place the drinking glass in my hand the lights dimmed then came back up to their full glory. The room went silent. The overweight gentleman reckoned it was the storm brewing outdoors and the rest of the room agreed but what had me on edge was not the storm brewing outside but the climate of the weather in the room. My eyes met with Countess'. Countess raised her glass to me before drinking then turned her attention to the Inspector.

I shook my head no, grimaced at the way she flirted with the man in uniform then removed the glass of brandy from Anthony's hand.

"We won't soon forget this night."