I gave her one of the ten-dollar bills, thinking this case was costing me plenty. I seemed to be spending the entire morning giving my money away.
She folded the bill and hid it in her brassiere as I said a Scotch would adequately meet the case.
She wasn’t niggardly about it. She gave me the bottle and glass and told me to help myself.
‘Give me a second to get my coffee.’
By the time she was back I was two drinks ahead of her.
She set a tray on the table near her and flopped on the settee, showing me a pair of long, slender legs that might have given me ideas if my head wasn’t already full of ideas of a different kind. Seeing the direction of my studied stare, she flicked the wrap into place and raised her eyebrows.
‘What are you: a private dick or something?’
‘Something like that. Not quite, but it’ll do.’
‘I knew it. As soon as I saw you, I knew you weren’t the usual prowler. You’ve got nice eyes. Sure you wouldn’t like a little fun?’
I started to make a courteous speech, but she stopped me with a wave of her hand and a wide, friendly grin.