aweekwentbyandiheardnothingfromthewades.theweatherwashotandstickyandtheacidstingofthesmoghadcreptasfarwestasbeverlyhills.fromthetopofmulhollanddriveyoucouldseeitleveledoutalloverthecitylikeagroundmist.whenyouwereinityoucouldtasteitandsmellitanditmadeyoureyessmart.everybodywasgripingaboutit.inpasadena,wherethestuffymillionairesholedupafterbeverlyhillswasspoiledforthembythemoviecrowd,thecityfathersscreamedwithrage.everythingwasthefaultofthesmog.ifthecanarywouldn’tsing,ifthemilkmanwaslate,ifthepekinesehadfleas,ifanoldcootinastarchedcollarhadaheartattackonthewaytochurch,thatwasthesmog.whereiliveditwasusuallyclearintheearlymorningandnearlyalwaysatnight.onceinawhileawholedaywouldbeclear,nobodyquiteknewwhy.

itwasonadaylikethat—ithappenedtobeathursday—thatrogerwadecalledmeup.“howareyou?thisiswade.”hesoundedfine.

“fine,andyou?”

“sober,i’mafraid.scratchingahardbuck.weoughttohaveatalk.andithinkioweyousomedough.”

“nope.”

“well,howaboutlunchtoday?couldyoumakeitheresomewherearoundone?”

“iguessso.how’scandy?”

“candy?”hesoundedpuzzled.hemusthaveblackedoutplentythatnight.“oh,hehelpedyouputmetobedthatnight.”

“yeah.he’sahelpfullittleguy—inspots.andmrs.wade?”

“she’sfinetoo.she’sintownshoppingtoday.”

wehungupandisatandrockedinmyswivelchair.ioughttohaveaskedhimhowthebookwasgoing.maybeyoualwaysoughttoaskawriterhowthebookisgoing.andthenagainmaybehegetsdamnedtiredofthatquestion.

ihadanothercallinalittlewhile,astrangevoice.

“thisisroyashterfelt.georgepeterstoldmetocallyouup,marlowe.”

“ohyes,thanks.you’rethefellowthatknewterrylennoxinnewyork.calledhimselfmarstonthen.”

“that’sright.hewassureonthesauce.butit’sthesameguyallright.youcouldn’tverywellmistakehim.outhereisawhiminchasen’sonenightwithhiswife.iwaswithaclient.theclientknewthem.can’ttellyoutheclient’sname,i’mafraid.”

“iunderstand.it’snotveryimportantnow,iguess.whatwashisfirstname?”

“waitaminutewhileibitemythumb.ohyeah,paul.paulmarston.andtherewasonethingmore,ifitinterestsyou.hewaswearingabritisharmyservicebadge.theirversionoftherupturedduck.”

“isee.whathappenedtohim?”

“idon’tknow.icamewest.nexttimeisawhimhewasheretoo—marriedtoharlanpotter’ssomewhatwilddaughter.butyouknowallthat.”

“they’rebothdeadnow.butthanksfortellingme.”

“notatall.gladtohelp.doesitmeananythingtoyou?”

“notathing,”isaid,andiwasaliar.“ineveraskedhimabouthimself.hetoldmeoncehehadbeenbroughtupinanorphanage.isn’titjustpossibleyoumadeamistake?”

“withthatwhitehairandthatscarredface,brother?notachance.iwon’tsayineverforgetaface,butnotthatone.”

“didheseeyou?”

“ifhedid,hedidn’tleton.hardlyexpecthimtointhecircumstances.anyhowhemightnothaverememberedme.likeisaid,hewasalwaysprettywelllitbackinnewyork.”