“Nothing yet,” Elsie Brand said.
The tall man moved toward Bertha Cool. “Mrs. Bertha Cool, I take it.”
Bertha, chunky and capable, looked up at the languid humour in the tall man’s eyes and said, “All right, go ahead and take it.”
The tall man flushed. “I didn’t mean it that way Mrs. Cool. I was merely using a colloquial expression. I’m from the Intermutual Indemnity Company.”
“What’s your name?” Bertha asked.
“Mr. P. L. Fosdick,” he said, rolling the name over his tongue as though he were reciting something very pleasant. His well-manicured hand went to his vest pocket, producing a card case which snapped open and automatically extended a card. Bowing slightly, Fosdick handed this card to Bertha Cool.
Bertha took the card, looked at it, rubbed her thumbnail over the embossed lettering in a gesture of quick, financial appraisal, and said, “All right, what do you want?”
Fosdick said, “You have been investigating an accident case, Mrs. Cool, advertising for witnesses in fact. My company naturally views this activity with some concern.”
“Why?”
“It looks as though you were preparing to file a suit.”