Stopping in front of the concierge’s desk, he removed his mask. “Whathappened?”
“I don’t know,” Enrique said, “but he was taken out on a stretcher. Harbor-UCLA MedicalCenter.”
Forty-five long minutes later, Jagger charged into the emergency room. After he spoke with the receptionist, she buzzed him through the double doors to triage. He found Robby resting, his red eyes swollen closed and his skin covered in giant redsplotches.
Robby tilted his head back to see. “What are you doinghere?”
“Jesus, what happened?” Jagger asked, dragging a chairover.
“I told them not to tell you.” Pausing, Robby sipped from a Styrofoam cup. “I had an allergic reaction, but I’mokay.”
Robby didn’t just have allergic reactions. He had anaphylactic ones. “What did youeat?”
“Food. Delicious, yummyfood.”
“Robby, this is serious. You scared the hell out ofme.”
“I ate whatever Kate gaveme.”
“What? Did you check withher?”
“Of course I did. She told me there was noshellfish.”
Jagger called his chef and hit the speaker button. “Charles, it’s Jagger. Robby had a serious allergic reaction. I’m with him in theER.”
“Hi, Charles,” Robbysaid.
“Oh, no, I’m sorry to hear that,” Charles said. “Remind me what you’re allergic toagain.”
“Shellfish and peanutbutter.”
“Did you dine in the restaurant?” Charlesasked.
“No. Since I hadn’t eaten all day, Kate brought me a plate of horsd’oeuvres.”
“With so many food restrictions, I made hors d’oeuvres to suit every palate,” the chef said. “Everything was carefully labeled with tent cards. Where’s my list? Ah, here it is. There was seafood in the lobster muffins with poached egg, caviar, spinach and hollandaise. Shrimp drizzled with peanut sauce. And deviled eggs with langoustine lobster tails. I’m sorry, Robby, and I hope you’re okay. The restaurant is packed. I’ve got torun.”
“Thanks for taking my call.” Jagger hungup.
“I didn’t eat shrimp,” Robby said, “but I wouldn’t have eaten the muffins or the deviled eggs if I’d known they were made withlobster.”
“Does Kate know about your allergy?” Jaggerasked.
“Awhile back we talked about food allergies. Her husband has the exact opposite allergy as me. He’s allergic to fish, like tuna and salmon, but not shellfish.” He set down the cup. “Anyway, I’m stable and the itching has subsided. It was anaccident.”
Jagger’s stomach clenched.I’m not so sure aboutthat.
* * *
Taylor chatted brieflywith the hotel owner. She didn’t want to be rude, but she had no interest in working for Whitner Hospitality. Once he left, she confirmed the first two erotic performers were ready, and checked in with the audio engineer. Since the talent couldn’t wear mics, stage props had to be wired for sound. Once her checklist had been completed, she left the salon to speak with David andAdele.
“You guys look great,” Taylor said. “Love that mask,Adele.”
“The feathers are driving me nuts,” David said. “They keep getting in mymouth.”
With an eye roll, Adele rose. “Trade seats withme.”
Taylor waited while they switched places. “Have either of you seen Jagger? He’s speaking to the audience before the showstarts.”
