"You have never been nastier," he assured me expansively. "It must be that dame with the striped hair who was sitting at ringside. She had a high-tone way of screaming for your blood that was very smart box office. Maybe I should step out and give her a couple of free ducats."
I told Leo he needn't bother. "I don't think Panda wants any free ducats," I said.
He looked surprised. "You mean you are acquainted with this piebald babe, Freddy?"
"She came with me," I admitted glumly. "She's a Ph.D. and she lives in Santa Monica."
"Freddy," he murmured, shaking his head in honest admiration, "sometimes I think you are a much smarter boy than I always figured. What an act your girl put on tonight!"
"She wasn't acting, Leo," I said. "She really hates me."
"Freddy," he groaned, still shaking his head, "sometimes I think maybe you are a much stupider boy than I always figured. You drive this girl up Route One-o-one tonight and tomorrow your body will no doubt wash up on the rocks at Redondo."
I wasn't so sure he wasn't right. I wasn't so sure Panda wasn't prowling around the parking area now, a fire ax in each hand.
As it turned out she was sitting quietly in my car. "You unspeakable beast!" she greeted me when I climbed in. It was the most restrained statement she had made all evening.