On our way out, she told Trixy to wait until she got back. Trixy looked doleful, but neither of us paid any attention.

I hurried Paula along the corridor.

‘Hey!’

Martha Bendix’s sergeant-major voice hit me at the back of my neck.

I looked over my shoulder.

‘Can’t wait: I’m in a hurry.’

‘That party of yours: Souki. Just heard. No skeleton. First-rate man. Been with Marshland ten

years,’ Martha bellowed. ‘When do I get my money?’

‘You’ll get it,’ I shouted back and crowded Paula into the elevator.

‘That woman would win a hog-calling contest,’ Paula said tartly as the elevator hurtled down to the ground floor.