“youaretired,amigo,”hesaidsoftly.“ifixyouadrink,no?”

“bourbonontherocks,thanks,”isaid.

“depronto,señor.”

hesnappedtheknifeshut,droppeditintothesidepocketofhiswhitejacketandwentsoftlyaway.

thenatlastilookedateileen.shesatleaningforward,herhandsclaspedtightly.thedownwardtiltofherfacehidherexpressionifshehadany.andwhenshespokehervoicehadthelucidemptinessofthatmechanicalvoiceonthetelephonethattellsyouthetimeandifyoukeeponlistening,whichpeopledon’tbecausetheyhavenoreasonto,itwillkeepontellingyouthepassingsecondsforever,withouttheslightestchangeofinflection.

“isawhimonce,howard.justonce.ididn’tspeaktohimatall.norhetome.hewasterriblychanged.hishairwaswhiteandhisface—itwasn’tquitethesameface.butofcourseiknewhim,andofcourseheknewme.welookedateachother.thatwasall.thenhewasgoneoutoftheroomandthenextdayhewasgonefromherhouse.itwasatthelorings’isawhim—andher.oneafternoonlate.youwerethere,howard.androgerwasthere.isupposeyousawhimtoo.”

“wewereintroduced,”spencersaid.“iknewwhohewasmarriedto.”

“lindaloringtoldmehejustdisappeared.hegavenoreason.therewasnoquarrel.thenafterawhilethatwomanporcedhim.andstilllateriheardshefoundhimagain.hewasdownandout.andtheyweremarriedagain.heavenknowswhy.isupposehehadnomoneyanditdidn’tmattertohimanymore.heknewthatiwasmarriedtoroger.wewerelosttoeachother.”

“why?”spencerasked.

candyputmydrinkinfrontofmewithoutaword.helookedatspencerandspencershookhishead.candydriftedaway.nobodypaidanyattentiontohim.hewaslikethepropmaninachineseplay,thefellowthatmovesthingsaroundonthestageandtheactorsandaudiencealikebehaveasifhewasn’tthere.

“why?”sherepeated.“oh,youwouldn’tunderstand.whatwehadwaslost.itcouldneverberecovered.thegestapodidn’tgethimafterall.theremusthavebeensomedecentnaziswhodidn’tobeyhitler’sorderaboutthecommandos.sohesurvived,hecameback.iusedtopretendtomyselfthatiwouldfindhimagain,butashehadbeen,eagerandyoungandunspoiled.buttofindhimmarriedtothatredheadedwhore—thatwasdisgusting.ialreadyknewaboutherandroger.ihavenodoubtpauldidtoo.sodidlindaloring,whoisabitofatrampherself,butnotcompletelyso.theyallareinthatset.youaskmewhyididn’tleaverogerandgobacktopaul.afterhehadbeeninherarmsandrogerhadbeeninthosesamewillingarms?nothankyou.ineedalittlemoreinspirationthanthat.rogericouldforgive.hedrank,hedidn’tknowwhathewasdoing.heworriedabouthisworkandhehatedhimselfbecausehewasjustamercenaryhack.hewasaweakman,unreconciled,frustrated,butunderstandable.hewasjustahusband.paulwaseithermuchmoreorhewasnothing.intheendhewasnothing.”

itookaswigofmydrink.spencerhadfinishedhis.hewasscratchingatthematerialofthedavenport.hehadforgottenthepileofpaperinfrontofhim,theunfinishednoveloftheverymuchfinishedpopularauthor.

“iwouldn’tsayhewasnothing,”isaid.

sheliftedhereyesandlookedatmevaguelyanddroppedthemagain.

“lessthannothing,”shesaid,withanewnoteofsarcasminhervoice.“heknewwhatshewas,hemarriedher.thenbecauseshewaswhatheknewshewas,hekilledher.andthenranawayandkilledhimself.”

“hedidn’tkillher,”isaid,“andyouknowit.”

shecameuprightwithasmoothmotionandstaredatmeblankly.spencerletoutanoiseofsomekind.

“rogerkilledher,”isaid,“andyoualsoknowthat.”

“didhetellyou?”sheaskedquietly.

“hedidn’thaveto.hedidgivemeacoupleofhints.hewouldhavetoldmeorsomeoneintime.itwastearinghimtopiecesnotto.”

sheshookherheadslightly.“no,mr.marlowe.thatwasnotwhyhewastearinghimselftopieces.rogerdidn’tknowhehadkilledher.hehadblackedoutcompletely.heknewsomethingwaswrongandhetriedtobringittothesurface,buthecouldn’t.theshockhaddestroyedhismemoryofit.perhapsitwouldhavecomebackandperhapsinthelastmomentsofhislifeitdidcomeback.butnotuntilthen.notuntilthen.”

spencersaidinasortofgrowl:“thatsortofthingjustdoesn’thappen,eileen.”

“ohyes,itdoes,”isaid.“iknowoftwowell-establishedinstances.onewasablackoutdrunkwhokilledawomanhepickedupinabar.hestrangledherwithascarfshewaswearingfastenedwithafancyclasp.shewenthomewithhimandwhatwentonthenisnotknownexceptthatshegotdeadandwhenthelawcaughtupwithhimhewaswearingthefancyclasponhisowntieandhedidn’thavethefaintestideawherehegotit.”

“never?”spencerasked.“orjustatthetime?”

“heneveradmittedit.andhe’snotaroundanymoretobeasked.theygassedhim.theothercasewasaheadwound.hewaslivingwitharichpervert,thekindthatcollectsfirsteditionsanddoesfancycookingandhasaveryexpensivesecretlibrarybehindapanelinthewall.thetwoofthemhadafight.theyfoughtalloverthehouse,fromroomtoroom,theplacewasashamblesandtherichguyeventuallygotthelowscore.thekiller,whentheycaughthim,haddozensofbruisesonhimandabrokenfinger.allheknewforsurewasthathehadaheadacheandhecouldn’tfindhiswaybacktopasadena.hekeptcirclingaroundandstoppingtoaskdirectionsatthesameservicestation.theguyattheservicestationdecidedhewasnutsandcalledthecops.nexttimearoundtheywerewaitingforhim.”

“idon’tbelievethataboutroger,”spencersaid.“hewasnomorepsychothaniam.”

“heblackedoutwhenhewasdrunk,”isaid.

“iwasthere.isawhimdoit,”eileensaidcalmly.

igrinnedatspencer.itwassomekindofgrin,notthecheerykindprobably,buticouldfeelmyfacedoingitsbest.

“she’sgoingtotellusaboutit,”itoldhim.“justlisten.she’sgoingtotellus.shecan’thelpherselfnow.”

“yes,thatistrue,”shesaidgravely.“therearethingsnoonelikestotellaboutanenemy,muchlessaboutone’sownhusband.andifihavetotellthempubliclyonawitnessstand,youarenotgoingtoenjoyit,howard.yourfine,talented,eversopopularandlucrativeauthorisgoingtolookprettycheap.sexyasallgetout,wasn’the?onpaper,thatis.andhowthepoorfooltriedtoliveuptoit!allthatwomanwastohimwasatrophy.ispiedonthem.ishouldbeashamedofthat.onehastosaythesethings.iamashamedofnothing.isawthewholenastyscene.theguesthousesheusedforheramourshappenstobeanicesecludedaffairwithitsowngarageandentranceonasidestreet,adeadend,shadedbybigtrees.thetimecame,asitmusttopeoplelikeroger,whenhewasnolongerasatisfactorylover.justalittletoodrunk.hetriedtoleavebutshecameoutafterhimscreamingandstarknaked,wavingsomekindofsmallstatuette.sheusedlanguageofadepthoffilthanddepravityicouldn’tattempttodescribe.thenshetriedtohithimwiththestatuette.youarebothmenandyoumustknowthatnothingshocksamanquitesomuchastohearasupposedlyrefinedwomanusethelanguageofthegutterandthepublicurinal.hewasdrunk,hehadhadsuddenspellsofviolence,andhehadonethen.hetorethestatuetteoutofherhand.youcanguesstherest.”

“theremusthavebeenalotofblood,”isaid.

“blood?”shelaughedbitterly.“youshouldhaveseenhimwhenhegothome.wheniranformycartogetawayhewasjuststandingtherelookingdownather.thenhebentandpickedherupinhisarmsandcarriedherintotheguesthouse.iknewthenthattheshockhadpartiallysoberedhim.hegothomeinaboutanhour.hewasveryquiet.itshookhimwhenhesawmewaiting.buthewasn’tdrunkthen.hewasdazed.therewasbloodonhisface,onhishair,alloverthefrontofhiscoat.igothimintothelavatoryoffthestudyandgothimstrippedandcleanedoffenoughtogethimupstairsintotheshower.iputhimtobed.igotanoldsuitcaseandwentdownstairsandgatheredupthebloodyclothesandputtheminthesuitcase.icleanedthebasinandthefloorandthenitookawettoweloutandmadesurehiscarwasclean.iputitawayandgotmineout.idrovetothechatsworthreservoirandyoucanguesswhatididwiththesuitcasefullofbloodyclothesandtowels.”

shestopped.spencerwasscratchingatthepalmofhislefthand.shegavehimaquickglanceandwenton.

“whileiwasawayhegotupanddrankalotofwhiskey.andthenextmorninghedidn’trememberasinglething.thatis,hedidn’tsayawordaboutitorbehaveasifhehadanythingonhismindbutahangover.andisaidnothing.”

“hemusthavemissedtheclothes,”isaid.

shenodded.“ithinkhedideventually—buthedidn’tsayso.everythingseemedtohappenatonceaboutthattime.thepaperswerefullofit,thenpaulwasmissing,andthenhewasdeadinmexico.howwasitoknowthatwouldhappen?rogerwasmyhusband.hehaddoneanawfulthing,butshewasanawfulwoman.andhehadn’tknownwhathewasdoing.thenalmostassuddenlyasitbeganthepapersdroppedit.linda’sfathermusthavehadsomethingtodowiththat.rogerreadthepapers,ofcourse,andhemadejustthesortofcommentsonewouldexpectfromaninnocentbystanderwhohadjusthappenedtoknowthepeopleinvolved.”

“weren’tyouafraid?”spenceraskedherquietly.

“iwassickwithfear,howard.ifheremembered,hewouldprobablykillme.hewasagoodactor—mostwritersare—andperhapshealreadyknewandwasjustwaitingforachance.buticouldn’tbesure.hemight—justmight—haveforgottenthewholethingpermanently.andpaulwasdead.”

“ifhenevermentionedtheclothesthatyouhaddumpedinthereservoir,thatprovedhesuspectedsomething,”isaid.“andremember,inthatstuffheleftinthetypewritertheothertime—thetimeheshotthegunoffupstairsandifoundyoutryingtogetitawayfromhim—hesaidagoodmanhaddiedforhim.”

“hesaidthat?”hereyeswidenedjusttherightamount.

“hewroteit—onthetypewriter.idestroyedit,heaskedmeto.isupposedyouhadalreadyseenit.”

“ineverreadanythinghewroteinhisstudy.”

“youreadthenoteheleftthetimeverringertookhimaway.youevendugsomethingoutofthewastebasket.”

“thatwasdifferent,”shesaidcoolly.“iwaslookingforacluetowherehemighthavegone.”

“okay,”isaid,andleanedback.“isthereanymore?”

sheshookherheadslowly,withadeepsadness.“isupposenot.attheverylast,theafternoonhekilledhimself,hemayhaveremembered.we’llneverknow.dowewanttoknow?”

spencerclearedhisthroat.“whatwasmarlowesupposedtodoinallthis?itwasyourideatogethimhere.youtalkedmeintothat,youknow.”

“iwasterriblyafraid.iwasafraidofrogerandiwasafraidforhim.mr.marlowewaspaul’sfriend,almostthelastpersontoseehimwhoknewhim.paulmighthavetoldhimsomething.ihadtobesure.ifhewasdangerous,iwantedhimonmyside.ifhefoundoutthetruth,theremightstillbesomewaytosaveroger.”

suddenlyandfornoreasonthaticouldsee,spencergottough.heleanedforwardandpushedhisjawout.

“letmegetthisstraight,eileen.herewasaprivatedetectivewhowasalreadyinbadwiththepolice.they’dhadhiminjail.hewassupposedtohavehelpedpaul—icallhimthatbecauseyoudo—jumpthecountrytomexico.that’safelony,ifpaulwasamurderer.soifhefoundoutthetruthandcouldclearhimself,hewouldjustsitonhishandsanddonothing.wasthatyouridea?”

“iwasafraid,howard.can’tyouunderstandthat?iwaslivinginthehousewithamurdererwhomightbeamaniac.iwasalonewithhimalargepartofthetime.”

“iunderstandthat,”spencersaid,stilltough.“butmarlowedidn’ttakeiton,andyouwerestillalone.thenrogerfiredthegunoffandforaweekafterthatyouwerealone.thenrogerkilledhimselfandveryconvenientlyitwasmarlowewhowasalonethattime.”

“thatistrue,”shesaid.“whatofit?couldihelpit?”

“allright,”spencersaid.“isitjustpossibleyouthoughtmarlowemightfindthetruthandwiththebackgroundofthegungoingoffoncealready,justkindofhandittorogerandsaysomethinglike,‘look,oldman,you’reamurdererandiknowitandyourwifeknowsit.she’safinewoman.shehassufferedenough.nottomentionsylvialennox’shusband.whynotdothedecentthingandpullthetriggerandeverybodywillassumeitwasjustacaseoftoomuchwilddrinking?soi’llstrolldownbythelakeandsmokeacigarette,oldman.goodluckandgoodbye.oh,here’sthegun.it’sloadedandit’sallyours.”

“you’regettinghorrible,howard.ididn’tthinkanythingofthesort.”

“youtoldthedeputymarlowehadkilledroger.whatwasthatsupposedtomean?”

shelookedatmebriefly,almostshyly.“iwasverywrongtosaythat.ididn’tknowwhatiwassaying.”

“maybeyouthoughtmarlowehadshothim,”spencersuggestedcalmly.

hereyesnarrowed.“ohno,howard.why?whywouldhedothat?that’sanabominablesuggestion.”

“why?”spencerwantedtoknow.“what’sabominableaboutit?thepolicehadthesameidea.andcandygavethemamotive.hesaidmarlowewasinyourroomfortwohoursthenightrogershotaholeinhisceiling—afterrogerhadbeenputtosleepwithpills.”

sheflushedtotherootsofherhair.shestaredathimdumbly.

“andyoudidn’thaveanyclotheson,”spencersaidbrutally.“that’swhatcandytoldthem.”

“butattheinquest—”shebegantosayinashatteredkindofvoice.spencercutheroff.

“thepolicedidn’tbelievecandy.sohedidn’ttellitattheinquest.”

“oh.”itwasasighofrelief.

“also,”spencerwentoncoldly,“thepolicesuspectedyou.theystilldo.alltheyneedisamotive.lookstomeliketheymightbeabletoputonetogethernow.”

shewasonherfeet.“ithinkyouhadbothbetterleavemyhouse,”shesaidangrily.“thesoonerthebetter.”

“well,didyouordidn’tyou?”spenceraskedcalmly,notmovingexcepttoreachforhisglassandfinditempty.

“didiordidn’tiwhat?”

“shootroger?”

shewasstandingtherestaringathim.theflushhadgone.herfacewaswhiteandtightandangry.

“i’mjustgivingyouthesortofthingyou’dgetincourt.”

“iwasout.ihadforgottenmykeys.ihadtoringtogetintothehouse.hewasdeadwhenigothome.allthatisknown.whathasgotintoyou,forgod’ssake?”

hetookahandkerchiefoutandwipedhislips.“eileen,i’vestayedinthishousetwentytimes.i’veneverknownthatfrontdoortobelockedduringthedaytime.idon’tsayyoushothim.ijustaskedyou.anddon’ttellmeitwasimpossible.thewaythingsworkedoutitwaseasy.”

“ishotmyownhusband?”sheaskedslowlyandwonderingly.

“assuming,”spencersaidinthesameindifferentvoice,“thathewasyourhusband.youhadanotherwhenyoumarriedhim.”

“thankyou,howard.thankyouverymuch.roger’slastbook,hisswansong,isthereinfrontofyou.takeitandgo.andithinkyouhadbettercallthepoliceandtellthemwhatyouthink.itwillbeacharmingendingtoourfriendship.mostcharming.goodbye,howard.iamverytiredandihaveaheadache.i’mgoingtomyroomandliedown.asformr.marlowe—andisupposeheputyouuptoallthis—icanonlysaytohimthatifhedidn’tkillrogerinaliteralsense,hecertainlydrovehimtohisdeath.”

sheturnedtowalkaway.isaidsharply:“mrs.wade,justamoment.let’sfinishthejob.nosenseinbeingbitter.wearealltryingtodotherightthing.thatsuitcaseyouthrewintothechatsworthreservoir—wasitheavy?”

sheturnedandstaredatme.“itwasanoldone,isaid.yes,itwasveryheavy.”

“howdidyougetitoverthehighwirefencearoundthereservoir?”

“what?thefence?”shemadeahelplessgesture.“isupposeinemergenciesonehasanabnormalstrengthtodowhathastobedone.somehoworotherididit.that’sall.”

“thereisn’tanyfence,”isaid.

“isn’tanyfence?”sherepeateditdully,asifitdidn’tmeananything.”

“andtherewasnobloodonroger’sclothes.andsylvialennoxwasn’tkilledoutsidetheguesthouse,butinsideitonthebed.andtherewaspracticallynoblood,becauseshewasalreadydead—shotdeadwithagun—andwhenthestatuettewasusedtobeatherfacetoapulp,itwasbeatingadeadwoman.andthedead,mrs.wade,bleedverylittle.”

shecurledherlipatmecontemptuously.“isupposeyouwerethere,”shesaidscornfully.

thenshewentawayfromus.

wewatchedhergo.shewentupthestairsslowly,movingwithcalmelegance.shedisappearedintoherroomandthedoorclosedsoftlybutfirmlybehindher.silence.

“whatwasthataboutthewirefence?”spenceraskedmevaguely.hewasmovinghisheadbackandforth.hewasflushedandsweating.hewastakingitgamelybutitwasn’teasyforhimtotake.

“justagag,”isaid.“i’veneverbeencloseenoughtothechatsworthreservoirtoknowwhatitlookslike.maybeithasafencearoundit,maybenot.”

“isee,”hesaidunhappily.“butthepointisshedidn’tknoweither.”

“ofcoursenot.shekilledbothofthem.”