When the phone rang that day a couple of months ago, Nancy had heard the familiar voice and knew who it was immediately: Rita Colbert newly married and now Mrs. Tom Nelson. Nancy had laughed. Whatever her name now, it was good to hear from Rita. They had gone to college together and, after graduation, they had drifted apart and lost contact with one another. Nancy was genuinely glad to hear from Rita, for she had really liked her at school. Warm, tender, a bit wacky and rumored to be "racy"! Nancy found Rita more sinned against than sinning. Rita liked to stay out late and have a good time. She liked to drink a little too much, but she had a good heart and common sense. Besides, she was the one girl she knew at college that didn't resent her stunning beauty and the way men buzzed around her. "Hell," Rita had cracked, "it gives me a chance to meet a lot of groovy swingers."

"Nancy, how the hell are you and guess who this is?" The voice was gay and kind of brazen.

"Rita! Where are you?"

"Here in Chicago."

And that had been the start of it. Nancy didn't, at that time, suspect a thing. She never knew that Tom was checking her out from the bar, seeing if she was right. They met for lunch down on the busy loop. Rita had suggested a place which turned out to be an expensive bar with pine paneling and leather chairs studded with brass nails. It was darkly lighted and the lunch was expensive and tasteful and it was good to see Rita once more. Nancy had noticed that a lot of handsome men and attractive women were meeting one another. Also, a lot of men were openly staring at her ink-black hair and stunning sensually full lips that contrasted so wantonly with her delicately chiseled features.

And Rita. Rita had changed since college. She was flashier, more heavily made up and… with Nancy trying not to notice… she wasn't above flirting with complete strangers.