subject begins to assume the qualities of the person he or she is playing and can even start exhibiting the same behavior, which often causes increased hormonal activity that can trigger episodes of uncontrollable sexual arousal. It's a real problem."
Nana raised her hand politely. "I'm sorry. How's that a problem?"
Oh, God. "Okay, just to refresh your memories. Bailey is the only person among our suspects who's scheduled to disembark in Maui, so if you see anyone other than her leaving, jump on them. Got it? That's your primary mission this evening. I'll be in a conspicuous place in the dining room, so please check in with me every so often to let me know how you're doing. Any questions?"
When no hands went up, I nodded with satisfaction. "All righty, let's get those photographs divided up."
A minor skirmish erupted between the Dicks over who'd be assigned to Shelly Valentine, so I resolved the problem with King-Solomon-like wisdom by handing her over to Bernice.
"Thanks a bunch, Emily," Dick Teig griped as I escorted him to the door. "I'll be burning up with sexual passion, and who will I get to ogle?" He slapped the front of his assigned photo. "Some English wacko in short pants and a bow tie. I'll remember that when it comes time for your evaluation."
After I'd shown the last person out, I scooted back to the desk in the living room and read the items that remained on my list. I'd already crossed out BUY PHOTOS FROM PHOTO GALLERY and HAVE CONCIERGE PROVIDE SUSPECTS' CABIN NUMBERS. I drew a line through ASSIGN PHOTOS TO GROUP, then stabbed the next item with the point of my pen. CALL ETIENNE.
Feeling equal parts anticipation and dread, I punched up his number
"This is Miceli," he said in his steamy baritone. "Please leave a short message. I'll get back --"
I slammed the phone down, unwelcome tears blurring my eyes. He wanted to make amends? He wanted to make it up to me? Sure he did. That's why he was falling all over himself to answer the message I'd left on his machine two freaking days ago!
I swiped moisture from my cheeks with an angry hand and scratched his name off my list. "Take that, Etienne Miceli," I sniffled, disguising my hurt as anger. But, hey, it was Halloween. Everything was parading around in costume. Even my emotions.
Proceeding to the last item on my list, I dried my eyes and punched up another number on the phone. "Are you through not being seasick?" I teased when Duncan answered.
"Completely." He lowered his voice seductively. "Are you through not pining over your no-account Swiss police inspector?"
Was I? Damn. It was time to stop waffling. I was old enough to be a ma'am, for God's sakes. I had to make a decis -- "Yeah," I blurted out before I had a chance to change my mind. "I'm...I'm through."
I could hear him smile through the phone. "I could be at your cabin in five minutes."
"I'm scheduled to do the buffet bash with my group, so I'll be tied up for a while."
"No worries, I had plans to do the buffet myself. I'll find you in the dining room."
"I'll be in costume, but without a mask, so you shouldn't have any trouble spying me."
His voice sizzled like a low current through an electrical wire. "With a mask, without a mask. You could be dressed in a soup can and I'd still know it was you."
He said it with so much conviction, I almost believed him.
Relieved not to be dithering anymore, I raced into the bedroom and grabbed my costume from the closet, my heartbeat quickening inexplicably when the phone on the bedside table began ringing. I stared at it in trepidation for a moment before charging around the bed and ripping it off the hook. "Etienne?"
"It's Nana, dear. Since you're the one what's gonna tail that Jennifer, I thought I'd let you know that Tilly and me seen her in the elevator, and she's all dressed up in black rubber."
I tried to visualize that. "What's she supposed to be? A Michelin tire?"
"I think she's s'posed to be Catwoman, on account a she had a tail."
"She's kind of early for the buffet, isn't she?"
"She told someone on the elevator that she was headin' to the rental shop 'cause her zipper got stuck and she wanted 'em to fix it. She was afraid if she fiddled with it, she'd break it, and she didn't wanna get stuck payin' for no damages."
"Catwoman,