He said, “Good-looking girl, black but lightish. I figured her for a wannabe actress.”

“Because of her looks.”

“That and she had a way about her.”

“What way was that, Jack?”

“Vivacious,” said Weathers. “Theatrically vivacious.”

“Like she was playing a role.”

“This town, everyone plays a role. What I’m getting at is everything was just a little bit exaggerated.” He studied Milo. “You’re kind of central-casting yourself.”

“So you figured Simone for a wannabe.”

“But she had the right credentials for the child-care job. Experience, letters of reference.”

“From who?”

“Previous employers.”

“How about some names?”

“Don’t recall,” said Weathers.

“How about checking the file?”

“No file.” Weathers colored. “We turn everything over regularly.”

“Paper buildup.”

Floyd Banfer rubbed one leg against the other.

Jack Weathers said, “Exactly.”

“Okay,” said Milo, “but when she applied you must’ve called her references. Any memories of who they were and what they told you?”

“Nah, I’ve got so many applications, nothing stands out.”

“Business is good.”

“Can be,” said Weathers. “All I can tell you is she checked out.”

“Wannabe actress,” said Milo. “Guess you see a lot of that.”

“I go in assuming the real agenda is advancing their careers. Or so they believe.”

Milo said, “Doesn’t work that way?”

“Works against them.”

“Why’s that?”

“Because once someone’s seen as being in a service position they tend to be … always seen that way.”

“They’re viewed as inferior?”

“Not inferior,” said Weathers. “Different.”

“Donny Rader started off as a golf caddie and houseboy for a producer.”

“That’s the official story.”

“Not true?”

Weathers sneered. “I don’t know what’s true, what’s not. I don’t know anyone’s narrative.”

Floyd Banfer said, “It’s all a matter of information control. We hear what they want us to hear.”

“Stars,” said Milo.

“Anyone in power.”

I said, “So you have no problem hiring wannabes.”

Jack Weathers said, “Not if they learn their proper place and do the damn job.”

“Did Simone Chambord learn?”

“Never heard about problems.”

“Far as you know, she’s still working for Premadonny.”

“I’d assume.”

“What else do you remember about her?”

“Good-looking,” said Weathers. “Extremely attractive. In that fresh way. Great figure … she could carry on a conversation, said she loved kids, showed me a child-development book she was reading.”

“She was hired as a nanny.”

“No,” said Weathers. “As a child-care assistant.”

“What’s the difference?”

“Pay scale, for starts. When the client insists on an official nanny, we hire British girls who take formal training at one of the schools they have over there. They’ve got the book learning but some of them can be a little uptight. Some clients like that. Others want something more relaxed.”

“Prema Moon and Donny Rader have a relaxed attitude.”

“I’d assume.”

“How many other people have you sent to them?”

“Couldn’t say,” said Weathers.

Milo said, “Wild guess.”