Winning Appeal(24)

We didn’t bother to answer him; we just put our heads down and kept walking toward the party. The questions didn’t stop, though. The reporters and paparazzi just shouted at us more loudly as we retreated.

“Any wedding plans?”… “Any political ambitions of your own Mark?”

As we got closer, I saw that the trees outside the mansion had been strung with lights, and a jazz quartet was playing on the porch. People were milling about holding champagne flutes, and laughter filled the air. It was like a scene from another era.

“Well, this is impressive,” he said, leaning down to speak into my ear, so that I could hear him over the din of the crown and the lively jazz music.

“Paul Gerard is famous for hosting fabulous parties. Looks like this one will be no exception,” I answered as he led me up the stone steps to the entry of the mansion. I nodded to the mayor on the way in.

When we got inside the massive entry hall, there was even more music, more champagne and a bigger crowd. A stage had been set up in the center of the room and four women dressed like flappers did a lively Charleston there. Mark plucked two glasses of bubbly from the tray of a passing waiter and handed one to me, as he looked around taking everything in. The Gerard mansion was the perfect setting for a party of this type, as the décor was Art Deco and quite elegant.

As with the previous event, we didn’t need to do anything other than find a place to stand. People “working the room” made their way over to us and we chatted with some new people and some from the weekend before. Our conversations always wound their way back to the mission of our practice and the difference we were making, and I had a feeling that we had impressed some important potential donors. Mark was doing a fantastic job charming people, and we made a great team. I was actually having a very good time, until I turned around and saw Caitlin bearing down on us.

“I’m glad you’re here. Come on before he sees us talking,” she said urgently, looking around the room as if she were searching for someone in the crowd.

“Who sees us? What are you talking about?” I asked, annoyed already. Why couldn’t she just leave me alone? Every time I saw her these days, I pictured Mark kissing her and it made my stomach roil.

“We don’t have time,” she said, clutching onto me. I didn’t want to go anywhere with Caitlin, but she seemed so desperate, and, frankly, I wondered why.

“What exactly do you want Caitlin?” Mark asked, reaching down, and removing her hand from my arm.

“My grandfather was a famous painter and his last painting was stolen ten years-ago. It’s here and I need to show Beth. She’ll recognize it.”

“It’s here?” Okay, now I was intrigued.

“We have to go now,” she said, still searching the room frantically. I nodded to Mark to let him know I wanted to go and at least see what she was talking about.

“Okay, but we can’t be gone long,” Mark said, putting his arm around me as we followed Caitlin out of the entry hall. She seemed to know her way around, which struck me as odd. We were heading away from the party and into a private part of the house.

“Caitlin, where are we going?” I asked, starting to feel uncomfortable. My family’s home was quite impressive, but this place was amazing. It was huge and everywhere I looked I saw expensive furnishings and art. It was more like a palace than someone’s house.

“I told you, to see the painting. It’s in his private study, but we’ll have to get in from outside,” she said over her shoulder, looking around nervously as we made our way through winding hallways. Initially, we passed catering staff or servants bustling about, but eventually, there was nobody but us.

She was moving very quickly and before I even realized what she was doing, she had opened a window and climbed out! What the fuck? This was getting weirder by the moment, but I had to admit that my curiosity had really been piqued.

“No! No way, Beth,” Mark said stopping dead in his tracks.

“Mark, the painting she’s talking about is legendary. People aren’t even sure it existed. She seems very sincere, and it makes me wonder.”

“If we get caught…”

“Caught what? Climbing through a window to the outside of the house? Sure, we’ll look kind of nutty, but we’re not really doing anything illegal are we?”

“Oh… fuck!” he growled. What is it with the women in your circle? You all want me to dress up in costume and climb through windows for you.”

“I’ll make it up to you later,” I said, squeezing his hand.

“Promises, promises,” he grumbled but he followed me. Just then, Caitlin stuck her head back in.