“howmuchisshepayingyou?”heasked.

“wedidn’tdiscussit.”

“whateveritis,it’snotenough.ioweyoualotofthanks.youdidagreatjob,chum.iwasn’tworththetrouble.”

“that’sjustthewayyoufeeltonight.”

helaughed.“youknowsomething,marlowe?icouldgettolikeyou.you’reabitofabastard—likeme.”

wereachedthehouse.itwasatwo-storyover-allshinglehousewithasmallpillaredporticoandalonglawnfromtheentrancetoathickrowofshrubsinsidethewhitefence.therewasalightintheportico.ipulledintothedrivewayandstoppedclosetothegarage.

“canyoumakeitwithouthelp?”

“ofcourse.”hegotoutofthecar.“aren’tyoucominginforadrinkorsomething?”

“nottonight,thanks;i’llwaithereuntilyou’reinthehouse.”

hestoodtherebreathinghard.“okay,”hesaidshortly.

heturnedandwalkedcarefullyalongaflaggedpathtothefrontdoor.heheldontoawhitepillarforamoment,thentriedthedoor.itopened,hewentin.thedoorstayedopenandlightwashedacrossthegreenlawn.therewasasuddenflutterofvoices.istartedbackingfromthedriveway,followingtheback-uplight.somebodycalledout.

ilookedandsaweileenwadestandingintheopendoorway.ikeptgoingandshestartedtorun.soihadtostop.icutthelightsandgotoutofthecar.whenshecameupisaid:

“ioughttohavecalledyou,butiwasafraidtoleavehim.”

“ofcourse.didyouhavealotoftrouble?”

“well—alittlemorethanringingadoorbell.”

“pleasecomeinthehouseandtellmeallaboutit.”

“heshouldbeinbed.bytomorrowhe’llbeasgoodasnew.”

“candywillputhimtobed,”shesaid,“hewon’tdrinktonight,ifthat’swhatyouarethinkingof.”

“neveroccurredtome.goodnight,mrs.wade.”

“youmustbetired.don’tyouwantadrinkyourself?”

ilitacigarette.itseemedlikeacoupleofweekssinceihadtastedtobacco.idrankinthesmoke.

“mayihavejustonepuff?”

shecameclosetomeandihandedherthecigarette.shedrewonitandcoughed.shehandeditbacklaughing.“strictlyanamateur,asyousee.”

“soyouknewsylvialennox,”isaid.“wasthatwhyyouwantedtohireme?”

“iknewwho?”shesoundedpuzzled.

“sylvialennox.”ihadthecigarettebacknow.iwaseatingitprettyfast.

“oh,”shesaid,startled.“thatgirlthatwas—murdered.no,ididn’tknowherpersonally.iknewwhoshewas.didn’titellyouthat?”

“sorry,i’dforgottenjustwhatyoudidtellme.”

shewasstillstandingtherequietly,closetome,slimandtallinawhitedressofsomesort.thelightfromtheopendoortouchedthefringeofherhairandmadeitglowsoftly.

“whydidyouaskmeifthathadanythingtodowithmywantingto,asyouputit,hireyou?”whenididn’tansweratoncesheadded,“didrogertellyouheknewher?”

“hesaidsomethingaboutthecasewhenitoldhimmyname.hedidn’tconnectmewithitimmediately,thenhedid.hetalkedsodamnmuchidon’trememberhalfofwhathesaid.”

“isee.imustgoin,mr.marlowe,andseeifmyhusbandneedsanything.andifyouwon’tcomein—”

“i’llleavethiswithyou,”isaid.

itookholdofherandpulledhertowardsmeandtiltedherheadback.ikissedherhardonthelips.shedidn’tfightmeandshedidn’trespond.shepulledherselfawayquietlyandstoodtherelookingatme.

“youshouldn’thavedonethat,”shesaid.“thatwaswrong.you’retooniceaperson.”

“sure.verywrong,”iagreed.“buti’vebeensuchanicefaithfulwell-behavedgundogalldaylong,igotcharmedintooneofthesilliestventuresievertackled,anddamnedifitdidn’tturnoutjustasthoughsomebodyhadwrittenascriptforit.youknowsomething?ibelieveyouknewwherehewasallalong—oratleastknewthenameofdr.verringer.youjustwantedtogetmeinvolvedwithhim,tangledupwithhimsoi’dfeelasenseofresponsibilitytolookafterhim.oramicrazy?”

“ofcourseyou’recrazy,”shesaidcoldly.“thatisthemostoutrageousnonsenseieverlistenedto.”shestartedtoturnaway.

“waitaminute,”isaid.“thatkisswon’tleaveascar.youjustthinkitwill.anddon’ttellmei’mtooniceaperson.i’dratherbeaheel.”

shelookedback.“why?”

“ifihadn’tbeenaniceguytoterrylennox,hewouldstillbealive.”

“yes?”shesaidquietly.“howcanyoubesosure?goodnight,mr.marlowe.andthankyousoverymuchforalmosteverything.”

shewalkedbackalongtheedgeofthegrass.iwatchedhergointothehouse.thedoorclosed.theporchlightwentoff.iwavedatnothinganddroveaway.