"She pats him on his cute little butt, he leaves, she goes to Arnie's. Soon after, Sal shows up, Blondie's smiling at him like it's true love. One drink and she's bugging him to leave, he doesn't even finish his beer, what a limp onion. So maybe he found out she was cheatin' and got mad, huh? That's what you're thinking, right?"

Calling out to the young waitress behind the counter. "Guess what, Rosie, I'm a big-time detective now."

Rosie said, "How much they payin' you, Dorrie?"

Milo said, "How young was this other guy?"

"A lot younger than her--what was she forty, forty-five?"

"Thirty-eight."

"I'da pegged her as older."

"What about him?"

"Twenties--twenty-two, twenty-three."

"Not younger?"

"That's not young enough?"

"Could he have been a high school student?"

"To me he looked twenties," she said, "but who knows? He dressed like one of those preppies. Nice buttondown shirt, khaki pants--but tennis shoes, kind of nerdy. Pen protector in the pocket--that I remember 'cause I thought it was real nerdy. But he didn't look like a nerd, too cute. More like a surfer--the peroxide hair." Grinning. "Real tight butt. I'd think he could do better than her but guys want one thing. Give it to 'em and they're burgers on the griddle."

"Hot?" said Milo.

"Hot and sizzly and bad for your heart."

"Let's talk about Sal's money schemes."

Doris said, "Who listened--okay, here's one I remember because it was so stupid. I'm enjoying my drink before work, Sal comes in, sits at the other end of the bar, pretends he's not gonna talk to me, has a beer and gives out this big sigh. All of a sudden, he's next to me. Pretends to make small talk, then: 'Would you believe this, Dorrie, I just got a huge commission check for some tubas'--he sells instruments, or so he claims, I never saw him do nothing but sit and drink. I say congratulations. He says, 'Problem is it won't clear for a week, I got a pile of bills, do me a little favor, I'll make it worth your while.'"

Milo said, "Lemme guess: You deposit the check in your account, he withdraws some of the money and pays you interest. If the check bounces, you're saddled with the charges."

"Guess you're a big-time detective, too."

"How much money we talking about, Doris?"

"Two thousand and some change, he said he'd give me a hundred for my trouble. Like I'd do it. Too good to be true always is."

"Why would he try to scam someone at a place he frequented?"

"Why don't you ask him?" she said. "Far as I know no one at Arnie's ever says yes to his b.s."

"He tries that kind of thing regularly?"