“Richard,” she says, puffing. “I should call my mother before we go to the party. There’s a pay phone right in here. It will only take a minute.”
The guard and Bevins look at each other. Millie tosses her overnight bag to Bevins. The force of the bag hitting him makes him sway a little.
“Hold this for me while I call,” she says as she turns to go back inside.
“Let’s go, Millie,” Richard quickly says. “You can call her when we get there.”
“I can’t do that, Richard,” Millie says coolly, glancing at her watch.
“Gotta get this place locked up,” the guard says sourly. “Call from somewheres else.”
That was good enough for Bevins. He plods down the stairs. But Millie doesn’t move. When he doesn’t hear her behind him, he stops. She’s clicking her teeth, irritably, like a rattlesnake manipula
