“I think you can help me.”

“Do what?”

“Clean up a case I’m working on.”

“Oh, that! ” she said.

I tapped the ashes off my cigarette.

“All right,” she said abruptly, “when do we start?”

“When can you get packed?”

“I’m packed. I didn’t bring anything with me. There wasn’t time for that.”

“Not even a suitcase?”

“Just a little bag.”