‘I’m trying to find out something about a Filipino named Toa Souki; Serena Dedrick’s chauffeur. She engaged him in New York, and I’m wondering if your New York office handled the job.’
Martha looked insulted.
‘My good man! I’ll have you know we don’t handle coloured people. You’re not sticking your nose into that case, are you’
I said I was sticking my nose into that case.
‘How can I get a line on Souki?’
Martha scratched her head with the paper-knife while she thought.
‘I suppose I could find out for you,’ she said, a little grudge-ingly. ‘Syd Silver runs the biggest colour agency in New York. He’s a friend of mine, the dirty little rat! I’ll ask him. If his boils aren’t bothering him, he might find out for you. Anything in it for him?’
‘A hundred bucks.’
Martha’s eyes popped.
‘Why, for a hundred bucks that guy would drown his mother in a quart of beer.’