Milbers got to his feet, bowed, and extended his hand. “It was a pleasure to have met you, Mrs. Cool.”
Bertha clasped her pudgy, competent fingers around Milbers’s long, tapering hand. “All right,” she said, and then added grimly, “Better luck next time.”
When Milbers had left the office Bertha strode out to the outer office, and slammed the cheque down on Elsie’s Brand’s desk. “Put a P.S. on that letter to Donald, Elsie. Tell him that so far I’ve broken even in the damn case. Twenty-five dollars paid out. Twenty-five dollars taken in. Thank God, I’m holding my own.”
Chapter XIII
1942 AUG 29
VALLEJO, CALIFORNIA
(DAY LETTER COLLECT)
BERTHA COOL, CONFIDENTIAL INVESTIGATIONS
DREXEL BUILDING
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA