Bertha said, “Donald, lover, why the hell didn’t you tell me where you were going when you left? After all, you’re supposed to be working for me, you know.”
“I was busy,” I said.
Alta jumped up and threw her arms around her father. “Oh, Dad,” she said, “I’m so happy!”
He held her off at arm’s length so that he could look at her. “Everything cleaned up all right?”
“Perfectly,” she said, and left a smear of lipstick on his cheek.
Bertha looked me over suspiciously.
Ashbury swung his eyes to look across at me. “Well, young man?” he asked.
“What?” I inquired.
“What’s the answer?”
“There isn’t any. I did the job I was supposed to do. It’s all finished, so far as that angle is concerned.”