I finished my drink and stood up. ‘Where can I reach you?’
‘245 Monte Verde Avenue. It’s a little green-painted shack on the left-hand side as you go up. I live alone.’
While I was writing the address down, she went on, ‘This will take some money, won’t it?’
‘I told Perelli I’d be glad to help him any time, and it’d be on the house. That still goes.’
‘Thanks.’
‘Forget it. I owe him a stab in the belly. Now look. I’m going down to Police Headquarters right away. There’s not much I can do until I find out just how much they have on him. I might even have a word with him if I’m lucky.’
‘You mean they’ll let you talk to him?’
‘I don’t know. The Homicide Lieutenant is a friend of mine. He might swing it.’
Just for a second the hardness went out of her eyes, and the red-painted mouth trembled.
‘Give him my love,’ she said.