CHAPTER FOUR
Refreshment Rites
"Maxine du Pre." A broadly boned, freckled farm girl gave Nora a forthright handshake.
"I'm Gerry Vestry." Silver spectacles sporting the Sigma initials danced on the heart-shaped face. The blonde reminded Nora somehow of Theresa Russell, but chummier.
She showed them both into her compact apartment. A silver tray held china cups and a fragrant pot on the flat-topped, iron-bound antique chest she used as a coffee table. The two sorority girls deposited themselves on her sofabed, now in its couch mode.
"Coffee? I have water on the boil for tea. Darjeeling, Oolong, or herbal guck? I have cream, honey, or fructose."
"Coffee's fine, thanks." Maxine appraised the snug r studio. "That's really unusual. Is it stone?"
"Incised marble, with an acid wash to give
