9~

The end of the week that followed the arrest of Conrad Lander, was the beginning of Rebecca Lander's life, as far as she was concerned. The party she threw was a bittersweet one, celebrating both her scheming nephew's incarceration and her freedom from him. His betrayal hurt her heart when his plan was exposed, however, the selection of friends that she invited, touched her heart just as deeply.

There were a dozen or so partiers in attendance, taking their ease among the alcoholic and non-alcoholic libations present and mingling contentedly in her home. In her world of wealth, a party this size would be considered a light get-together, which suited Rebecca just fine.

'My home,' she thought with a grateful smile. 'Mine, truly mine, again.'

Her ruminations was interrupted by the presence of her friend Nan Blake, sipping on a daiquiri .

"You look like you're enjoying yourself, Nan."

"Well, I always like a good party, but how are you holding up?"

Rebecca sighed. "Oh, fine. For a few days, I was the talk of the social set. Questions left and right, when I would see some of the neighbors. It's not as bad, now that things have quieted down and they moved on to some other juicy gossip. Which reminds me. I want to apologize for what I did to you at the hostess's party a few weeks ago. I had no right to try and pry into your family's life, then. I know how that feels and I shouldn't have done that to you. What I'm saying is, can you forgive me, Nan?"

Nan's eyes widened slightly in surprise. She didn't expect that to come from her. Yes, she was a bit of a busybody and a gossip, but when Nan looked into Rebecca's eyes, she could see the sadness of losing a family member, the stress he put her through for her wealth, and the gratitude she radiated now.

"Look, Rebecca, a lot has happened between now and then," Nan said. "You've been through a lot, and I think we all learned lessons. Like, maybe I should talk to my friends more about things that have been weighing me down lately, instead of bottling them up inside. That's what friends do, right? I guess, what I'm trying to say is, yes, I forgive you."

Rebecca gave her a friend a hug that Nan, one-armed, reciprocated fully. She gave a contented glance at her young guests of honor, as they helped themselves to food and drink, chatting with the older guests on various topics that surprised their elders with their acumen.

Marcie and Jason, between bites and gulps, gave their opinions on mad science and technology to a nearby tech magnate. Daisy had managed to capture the ear of a noted art critic, discussing the merits of junk art.

Red, however, boldly demonstrated his salesmanship to a director of a reputable company that served the tri-state area by circulating through the party, glad-handing and giving every adult partier a business card touting the virtues of Hedda's Hot Rod and Motorcycle Repair. And then, either through forgetfulness, or a desire to remind his potential customer base, he went around and gave out the same cards again.

Rebecca went over to the gang, acting as hostess, and asked, " How are you all doing? Having fun?"

With a positive acknowledgement from the teens, she nodded and turned on her entertainment system. A soft song floated from the expensive speakers and the older guests, those that were so inclined, paired up with their husbands and wives and embraced to the music.

Nan looked in the direction of her daughter, just as Daisy was standing up and coaxing a reluctant, so would say bashful, Red Herring to the dance floor. Eventually, she won the battle and Red awkwardly held her by the waist. Daisy corrected him in stance and step, and soon, they, too were moving to the mellow air being played.

Nan gave a thoughtful look at the two of them. Even though Daisy was a slacker among slackers, to her, she was still a Blake, and more importantly, a daughter. She hoped that this rough looking boy wouldn't hurt her or lead her astray. But the happy look on Daisy's face and the nervous look on Red's, painted a picture that showed Nan that maybe she needn't worry about her daughter, too much. She seemed to have everything under control.

"We Blake always did have strange taste in boys," she said to herself. But she noticed that one missing. Where was that odd girl, Marcie?

Marcie walked out onto a backyard patio that could have entertained a dozen people or more. Right now, it was just her platform under the night sky.

The song could be heard through the kitchen and out to the patio. Marcie let the tension of the case leave her, as she moved in time to a melody that promised romance, stolen kisses and quiet moments.

And then, the pang returned, that heartsickness that she honestly thought, or hoped she could outrun or out-think, and it was there again, haunting her heart, like a ghost roaming in a deserted house, making it its own.

"V, where are you?" she whispered, looking forlornly at the stars that would not give up their secrets of Velma's whereabouts to her. "Why did you leave me?"

'Why were things becoming so difficult for me lately?' she pondered, dejectedly. 'I can't talk to Velma for, I don't know how long, and if that wasn't bad enough, Dad hates my guts for some reason, and I've been banned from the park. Wonderful.'

She needed an escape from this, so she closed her eyes and drifted in the memories she did have with Velma when they were together. Memories of school, home, hobbies, and secrets of feminine childhoods shared.

Her body relaxed, and the weight of her problems lifted, if just for tonight. Those memories were her balm, her salve to heal her soul from within, and with a chuckle, she felt her spirit float in spite of her troubles.

She gently wrapped one of her arms around her midsection and held the other arm out in the swaying pantomime positions of someone dancing close to her partner. It would look strange to be dancing alone under the stars, but she decided that this was practice for the day when she and Velma saw each other again.

She looked again at those diamond stars, hanging in the velvet. Let them keep their secrets, she thought. Velma would be back. It was going to happen. If it took days or years, it was going to happen.

"You're not going to get away from me that easily, Velma Dinkley. You and I are gonna have this dance when I see you again, V," Marcie said with a solemn smile. "I promise."