'Yes. I know him.'
A silver Volvo station wagon went slowly past us on the empty street, its headlights bright and silent.
'Tell me about him?'
'One of the girls tried to supplement her income,' Polly said, 'by putting the squeeze on Pud.'
'Threaten to tell his wife?'
'Worse. She rigged a Polaroid and got some pictures during the gig.'
'Which she threatened to show his wife.'
'And everybody else, I believe.'
'And?'
'And Delroy came down and explained the facts of life to her.'
'Which were?'
'I never asked.'
'Can I talk with her?'
Polly shrugged.
'If you can find her,' she said. 'Name's Jane Munroe.'
'You know where I should look?'
'No.'
'She doesn't work for you anymore?'
'No. I fired her before Delroy even talked to her.'
'He talk to you first?'
'Yes. He suggested I fire her, but I would have anyway. Nothing kills a good client list like some whore threatening to blab.'
'Is Jane still in town?'
'I'm not their mother,' Polly said. 'I manage their professional lives. I have no idea where Jane Munroe is, or if she's still using the name.'
'Was Delroy polite?'
'Very businesslike,' she said.
'He threaten you?'
'Didn't need to. As soon as I heard about the scam, I told him she'd be fired.'
A big yellow cat appeared and rubbed up against my leg. I reached down and scratched his ear. He stayed for a moment, then left me and jumped up onto the porch railing and sat looking out over the dark lawn.
'There anything else?'
'Like what?'
'Like something about the Clive family that I'd like to know, but am too dumb to ask?'
'Tedy said I could trust you,' she said.
'Tedy's right,' I said.
'How do you know Tedy? You gay?'
'I'm straight. I met him this afternoon, the way I've met you tonight.'
'I haven't had a lot of reason to trust straight men,' she said.
'You used to turn tricks?' I said.
'Sure. You think I bought a franchise?'
'Just being polite,' I said.
'A bunch of fat guys with hair on their back,' she said. 'Usually drunk, telling me they loved me. Telling me that they were going to give me the fuck of my life.'
She laughed. It was a very unpleasant sound in the soft Georgia night. The yellow cat turned his head and looked at her without emotion.
I waited.
'What a hoot!' she said.
'You're a lesbian,' I said.
'How'd you know?'
'I'm a professional detective,' I said.
'Sapp told you.'
