He caught her wrists. She brought up her knee, trying for his groin. He pulled away and she tried again and came close, then made another try. This time it was closer and he let go of her wrists. She let out a low rattling sound, like a snake, and came at him with fingernails and teeth. This dame is really outta control, he thought. You’re gonna hafta—

Her teeth missed his hand. Her fingernails missed his face, almost found his throat. She backed away and came in again and he let her have it, a very short stiff right that caught her high on the jaw, just under the ear. She sagged, her eyes closed. Before she hit the floor, he moved fast and grabbed her around the middle. He saw she was out.

He lifted her in his arms and carried her to the sofa. It won’t show, he thought, looking at her jaw where he’d hit her. You didn’t really hurt her. You measured it and you can see it wasn’t an overdose of knuckles. You know it won’t show, and there ain’t no damage. But even so, it’s a pity. You hadda do it, though. What else could you do?

The East Indian girl was standing at his side, looking down worriedly at the platinum blonde sleeping on the sofa. The girl said, “Is terrible thing.”

“She’ll be all right.”

“Is really a terrible thing.” The girl was getting ready to weep again.

Corey turned and looked at her. “She sure put it on you with that poker.” “What hurts is not that.

What hurts is name she calls me. She calls me thief. In front of you. Now why she do that?”

“I’m wondering.”

“I work here long time. Almost two year. Never anything like this. This is something I no understand.”

Corey gazed past the girl. His eyes narrowed and he murmured, “What started it?”

“Was not about perfume.”

“I know that.”

“Before you came in, was no talk about perfume. Was just that she gets upset about something. Walks up and down and makes noises like she is speaking to herself. Is very upset. Never see her like that before. Is nervous sometimes, but never like that. And then she jumps at me.”

“For what?”

“For nothing.”

“She said you went out last night.”

“Just to go for a walk. I no can sleep and I go out for a walk. To get some air. Only to get some air. But she says I no tell truth. And then she hits me in mouth.”

“So what it amounts to,” Corey said, “something happened that caused her to flip and she took it out on you.”