worked too hard. That caushes strain.”
“Yes,” Judith said amiably. “And strain can lead to
many things. To help him cope, of course.”
“Cope!” Morris’s arm shot out, striking a calla lily
in a tall black vase. “Oops!” He giggled and put a hand
over his mouth. “Mushn’t drink this too fast. Had a lot
of champagne upstairs.” He jabbed at the ceiling with
a pudgy finger.
“Yes, to cope,” Judith said patiently. “People cope in
many ways. Sometimes those ways aren’t healthy.”
Sadly, Morris shook his head. “True, too true. Like
Bruno. Not healthy. Don’t blame him. Too much
presshure. Not all his fault. Blame Big Daddy Dumas.”
Judith was taken aback. “Big Daddy Dumas? Who’s
that?”
Morris giggled some more and shook a finger at Judith. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”
“Yes,” Judith said seriously, “I would.”
At the desk by the bar, the phone rang. Charles
picked it up. He appeared to be taking a reservation.
“Phone,” Morris said. “Musht phone the studio.” He
patted himself down, apparently searching for his cell.
“Hunh. Musht have left it upstairs. Here I go.” He
picked up what remained of his Bottle Rocket and
staggered off to the iron staircase.
Judith was on his heels. “But, Morris,” she said urgently, “you can tell me about Big Daddy Dumas. I’m
nobody, remember?”
On the second step, Morris turned around. “Doeshn’t
matter. Big Daddy’s dead. Ta-ta.” Clinging to the iron
rail, he wobbled up the stairs.
Judith returned to the bar, took another sip of fine
Scotch, and considered her next move. She was still in
a quandary when Bill came through the main entrance.
“Hi, Bill,” she said, waving from the bar stool. “You
aren’t really Big Daddy Dumas by any chance, are
you?”
Bill stared at Judith. “Why do you ask?”
Judith stared back at him. “Do you know who I’m
talking about?”
“Of course,” he replied. “Dumas is a famous psychological case study from about twenty years ago.
Where did you hear the name?”
Quickly, Judith explained. “So what do you know
about this Dumas?”
Bill looked pained. “Dumas was a black gang lord
in L.A. He was involved in drugs and prostitution. He
was atypical because he didn’t allow his hookers to
