'Absolutely,' I said. 'In fact I'm thinking about doubling it.'
'What is the usual rate?' Susan said.
'Zip,' Hawk said.
Susan looked at Hawk and then at me. She drank some Riesling, and shook her head and spoke in a funny voice.
'All the biracial pairs in all the world,' she said, 'and I end up with you guys.'
'That's the best Bogart impression I've ever heard by a woman,' I said.
A man wearing a Greek fisherman's hat walked by with a mongrel dog on a leash. Pearl dashed to the fence and barked ferociously. The mongrel growled and pulled on his leash. The man looked annoyed. He glanced up at us sitting on the porch.
'Cute,' Hawk said, 'isn't she?'
The man stared at Hawk for a moment and then nodded enthusiastically.
'She's very cute,' he said and moved his dog briskly along. Pearl glared after them, still barking, until they turned the corner. Then she padded back up onto the porch and sat and waited to be patted. Susan patted her.
'And how many women have you heard do Bogie?' Susan said.
I thought about it for a moment. 'Zip,' I said.
Susan stood. Pearl moved over near Hawk, who patted her.
'I think I'll get us more to drink,' Susan said.
We watched her go.
'I love that woman,' Hawk said.
'Me too.'
32
A dele McCallister's secretary was a sturdy gray-haired woman in a dark dress.
'Ms. McCallister is expecting you,' she said and ushered me into the big corner office.
I t was all a corner office was supposed to be. Leather couch, entertainment console, a large map of the world marked with colorful tacks. There was a round conference table by the window, and an oriental rug on the floor, a wet bar, and at the back wall of the office, facing the door, and dominating all before it, a long table with elegant legs, which served as a desk. Behind it was Adele, wearing a low-necked pink suit with a short skirt. She had pearls around her neck.
'Pearls go great with the suit,' I said.
She smiled.
'I'm working on demure,' she said. I smiled back.
'You might have to work harder,' I said.
'Good,' she said.
There were original oils on the two inside walls, a couple of which were pretty good.
'Coffee?' she said. 'Water? A drink?'
'Coffee.'
'Let's have it at the conference table,' she said. 'Get a better view of the Burger King.'
I don't know quite how she knew, but the sturdy secretary appeared almost as soon as we sat, bearing a silver service with a carafe of coffee and cream, sugar, and Equal.
A dele said, 'Thank you, Dotty. Hold my calls, please.' Dotty set the tray down, smiled at her boss, and went out. Adele poured us each coffee, into white china mugs, and offered me cream in a silver pitcher. Her mug had 'Legs' written on it. It went with the rest of the elegant service like pearls went with a hot pink suit.
'So,' Adele said. 'Business or pleasure.'
'I'm still trying to find out what happened to Trent Rowley,' I said. 'I was hoping you'd help.'
'I'd love to help you,' she said.
The way she talked, everything sounded like it would lead to sex.
'Tell me about Trent,' I said.
'Trent,' she said and leaned back with her elbows resting on the arms of her chair. She drank some of her coffee, holding the cup in both hands. 'Trent, Trent, Trent.'
I waited.
'You were at Chatham,' she said.
'I was.'
