I said, “I didn’t look. I’ll take these pictures, report to Mrs. Cool, and get in touch with Sally Durke. You’d better give me your telephone number so I can call you as soon as I have something to report.”

Sandra said, “One thing, Mr. Lam. I want to know exactly when the papers are going to be served.”

“I’ll report to Mrs. Cool as soon as I’ve made the service,” I said.

“That isn’t what I want. I want to know about an hour before you serve the papers.”

“Why?”

“I have reasons.”

“What are they?”

“I think Bleatie may be planning to double-cross me.”

“Orders,” I said, “come through Mrs. Cool. You’ll have to get in touch with her.”

“Will you wait?” she asked.

“I’ll stop by the office to report,” I said.

“All right. Here, take my telephone number, and you, Alma, take my car and go with him. You can drive him around. It’ll save time—you’ll need a car, Mr. Lam, if you’re going to be shadowing this girl. I have an extra one you might just as well take. Do you drive?”

I looked at Alma. “I’d prefer a driver.”

“You’ll drive him, Alma? Do. There’s a good girl.”

Alma said, “I’ll do anything I can to help. You know that, Sandra.”

She walked across to the dressing table, patted her hair, powdered her face, and tilted back her head to apply lipstick. A stretch of her neck was visible above the high collar. I thought at first the reflected light from the mirror was throwing splotches of shadow on it. Then I saw they were dark spots—bruises.

Sandra Birks said quickly, “Well, let’s go in the other room and let Alma dress.”

“I don’t want to dress,” Alma Hunter said.

“I’ll buy you a drink, Mr. Lam,” Sandra Birks invited.

“No, thanks. I don’t drink when I’m working.”

“My, what a moral young man,” she exclaimed, and her voice was mocking. “You have no vices.”

“I’m working for you,” I pointed out. “It’s costing you money.”

“Yes, that’s right. I suppose you’re to be commended.” Her voice didn’t sound as though she really thought so.

“Your brother,” I reminded her, “wanted to have that sedative the doctor left.”

“Oh, he can wait—the big baby—tell me, what did he say about me?” Her manner was teasing, coquettish. She was very much aware that she was a woman. “What did he say about Archie?”

Alma whirled away from the mirror to watch me with warning eyes.