“Will I be seeing you again?” she asked.

“That the standard line you hand all the customers?”

She looked at me frankly and said, “Sure. What the hell did you think? That I want to marry you? If you’re a detective, be your age.”

“Thanks,” I told her. “You may see me again at that. In the meantime, I’m off.”

“Where?”

“Leg work. Lots of leg work. Chores. Damn details. I hate them, but you have to do them.”

She said, “I guess that’s life. For you and me and the other guy.”

“That the way it is with you?” I asked.

“Yes.”

“Why?”