"DOES THE DOORMAN know you?" I asked her.
"Sure."
He waved us in as soon as he saw her face. Never looked at mine. She was quiet in the elevator.
The door swung open before I had the button depressed enough to ring the bell. Candy.
"Come in here," she said to the girl, not looking at me.
Elvira walked past her to the couch, dropping her bag on the floor like the maid would get it in the morning.
Candy walked over to me, reached up and put her hands on my shoulders. "Thanks, baby," she stage-whispered. The girl was sitting on the couch, watching her mother's back. Waiting for the truth.
I gave it to her. "Where's the money?"
Her fingers bit into the top of my shoulders, eyes lashed at me. I waited.
She whirled, heels tapping on the parquet floor. Elvira put her fingers to her chin, like she was considering something important. Her mother came back into the living room, stopped two feet in front of me. Handed me an envelope. I put it into my coat.
I heard the door click closed behind me.