Scenarios

rather than in the office safe, which had been broken into a few days ago.

Wolf was already looking overwhelmed by the crowd down below. I donned my fuzzy Santa Claus hat and went to try to put him at ease.

'WOLF' Kerry said, 'Doesn't the pier look nice? So festive.'

'Yeah,' I said. 'Festive.'

'Look at all the different displays. Some are really clever.'

I looked. 'At least they don't have some poor jerk dressed up in a Santa Claus suit.'

'I suppose that's a reference to the Christmas Charity Benefit. You're never going to let me forget that, are you?'

'Ho, ho, ho.'

She poked me in the ribs. 'Don't be grumpy.'

'I'm not grumpy.'

'If you're going to be grumpy…'

I said again, grumpily, that I wasn't grumpy. It was the truth. What I was was ill at ease. Parties of any kind have that effect on me. Large groups of people, no matter how festive the occasion, make me feel claustrophobic; I don't mix well, I'm not good at small talk even with people I know. Kerry keeps trying to socialize me and it keeps not working. The quiet of home and hearth is what I prefer, particularly during the Christmas season. The one other time I'd let her talk me into attending a Yuletide party, the infamous Gala Christmas Charity Benefit a few years back, had been an unmitigated disaster. And only partly because I'd allowed myself to be stuffed into a Santa Claus suit, with little kiddies to make dents on my knees and share with me their innermost, toy-laden desires.

'Let's make a donation,' Kerry said.

She'd hauled me into the midst of the Pier 24-1/2 party and we were now stopped in front of a red, white and blue barrel in the center of the concrete floor. Propped up in front was a sign: HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS. Season of Sharing Fund. Be Generous!

Kerry put a folded twenty-dollar bill into the barrel. I took a five out of my wallet.

'For heaven's sake,' she said, 'don't be a Scrooge. Read the sign.'

I said, 'Be generous, Mr. Spade.'

'What's that?'

'Never mind.' I exchanged the five for two twenties and slotted them into the barrel.

'That's better. Oh, here's Sharon.'

McCone came bustling up. The furred Santa Claus cap she wore over her black hair made my scalp itch. She hugged Kerry, waved some green plant stuff over my head, and then kissed me-on the mouth.

'Hey,' I said, 'I'm a married man. And you're young enough to be my daughter.'

'Don't mind him,' Kerry said. 'He's in one of his grumpy moods.'

'I am not grumpy!'

McCone said, 'Well, whatever you are, I'm glad you're here. Both of you.'

'Where's Ripinsky?' I asked her. Hy Ripinsky was her significant other and a fellow P.I.

'He had to fly down to RKI headquarters in San Diego. Urgent business. But he'll be back in time for us to spend Christmas together.'

She and Kerry proceeded to jabber about how festive the pier looked, how innovative the displays were, particularly McCone Investigations' galactic theme, how all the businesses here were hoping to raise at least five thousand dollars for the homeless. It never ceases to amaze me how adaptable women are. Put two of them together, even a pair of strangers, into any social situation and they're not only immediately comfortable with each other and their surroundings, they never seem at a loss for words.

While they were chattering, I looked around some more. What galactic theme? I thought.

Pretty soon Kerry paused long enough to suggest I go and get us something to drink. 'I'd like white wine,' she said. 'Sharon?'

'The same.'

So I waded through the partygoers to the bar. The noise level in there, enhanced by a loud-speakered version of 'Deck the Halls,' was such that I had to raise my voice to a near-shout to put in my order. Two white wines, nothing more. My brain gets fuzzy enough at parties as it is.

Somebody came up and tapped my arm while I was waiting. McCone's office manager, Ted Smalley, and his bookseller partner, Neal Osborn, both of them wearing red stocking caps with tassels. Neal said, 'Great party, isn't it? Didn't Ted do a terrific job of coordinating the decorations and displays?'

'Terrific,' I said. 'Great, uh, galactic theme, Ted.' He beamed at me. 'Everyone cooperated beautifully.' Neal ordered for the two of them. When he was done he said to Ted, 'Shall we tell him now or wait until later?'

'Now. I can't wait to see his face.'

'Do you want to do the honors or shall I?'

'You go ahead. It was your idea.'

'No, it was your idea. The surprise itself was mine. Mine and Sharon's.'

I said, 'What're you two talking about?'

'You'll find out,' Neal said, 'if you go upstairs to Sharon's office. There's something on her desk for you.'

'A present? Why would you get me a present?'

'For all your help on the Patterson case,' Ted said. 'Do you still have the spare key Sharon gave you?'

I didn't know what to say, except 'yes' and 'thanks.' I'm not used to getting presents from anyone other than Kerry and my assistant, Tamara Corbin.

'Don't open it up there,' Neal said. 'Bring it down so we can all watch.'

Oh, boy. Being the center of attention is something I like about as much as parties. Even so, I felt touched and pleased.

I delivered the glasses of wine, told Kerry where I was going-Sharon grinned when I mentioned the present- and then went upstairs. As I approached McCone's private office, I had the spare key in my hand. But I didn't need it. The door was closed but not locked.

That in itself didn't make me suspicious, but what I saw when I opened the door and walked in set off alarm bells in my head. A man spun around from in front of Sharon's desk-a blond man who didn't work for McCone Investigations, who gave me a frightened-deer look and seemed to teeter briefly on the edge of panic. Then he got a grip on himself, put on a weak smile. He was familiar-I'd seen him around the pier before. An employee of one of the other firms, the architects on the opposite catwalk. His name was Kennett or Bennett.

'You startled me,' he said. 'What're you doing here?'

'I'll ask you the same question.'

'Sharon asked me to get something for her. If you'll excuse me..

He edged past where I stood, not making eye contact, one hand squeezed into the pocket of a pair of very tight leather pants. In other circumstances, or if he'd lingered a few more seconds, I would've restrained him; but I hesitated just long enough for him to get past me and out the door.

I followed as he hurried along the catwalk, close to the garland-festooned railing, his hand still in his pocket. Only fifty feet separated us when he reached the stairs; I had a clear look at him all the way down, but then the Model T Ford display cut off my view and the party swirl swallowed him.

I clambered down until I could once more see all of the pier floor. It was no more than fifteen seconds before I picked him out again. He stopped near some kind of trophy on a pedestal and joined a small group of people, making a gesture with the hand that had been in his pocket. Sharon McCone wasn't one of the group.

I spotted her nearby and made straight for her myself, keeping my eye on Leather Pants all the way.

McCone

I was standing with Ted and Neal when Wolf came hurrying up, a frown darkening his rugged Italian features. He wasn't carrying his present.

'How could he not find the package?' Ted said. 'It's right in the middle of your desk.'

Something told me the frown had nothing to do with being unable to locate a package. Quickly I moved to meet him.

'Did you send somebody up to your office besides me?' He was looking past me at something or