Change all our computer passwords, he said. One of them came back to the rear booth that Murfin and I had chosen, flicked his napkin at our table, and said,Were outa the lamb stew. Della Street said with some asperity,I suppose if you were getting married, and just as the wedding march was starting you got an idea about a case, youd be off for the courtroom. Go ahead, Chief, Ive got my pencil all ready. What are the questions? Sam said you came to the lobby to tell him and that he called the police. MASON FOUND DELLA STREET WAITING IN THE PRIVATE office. Showalter lay on his back, his right hand still holding the gun hed used to take his own life. There was such a mixture of blood and bone and tissue on the floor behind him I wondered if it could ever be cleansed away. So now Im a spurned lover? You should write novels. But do you have proof of that? she said. And where is the dog now? What does that have to do with it? Colton asked. Just tell me what you told Sally. To the assembled, he said,Some of you may have heard the dirty rumor that the love of my life and I are getting a divorce. Speaking for both of us, I can tell you thats a filthy lie! No. I think I did it very cleverly, Mr. Mason. He started talking about what you did at that directors meeting, and I told him that if I ever got in trouble Id most certainly ask for you. Go get em. Fred is waiting for you at the curb; you dont have to sneak in and out of the house anymore. She hung his platinum pass around his neck, too. So they wont throw you out. Oh, Mrs. Spanner, Im sorry. I looked up the faculty at Caltech but didnt see a Tapshaw listed. So I just left a message on the department receptionists voice mail for Professor Tapshaw. Late last night or very, very early this morning. It seems she had on her same clothes from yesterday. I guess they can tell from the condition of the body how long shed been dead, she added, turning pale. Ill do my best. But even as I spoke the words I knew I should have played Papa Bear. Sounded confident, even certain. Youre going to be fine. And we’re going to get that recorder.’ Mason put everything he had into paddling across the dark stretch of water. The speedboat made a complete circle, but by the time the searchlight had a clean sweep over open water, Mason had gained the far side of the yacht, checked the progress of the canoe, and swung in to the protecting shadows of the yachts hull. As the speedboat made another wide circle, Mason slipped under the bow of the yacht and came back on the starboard side. Watching his - opportunity, he rounded the stern and paddled swiftly to another good-sized yacht which had enough freeboard to offer them complete protection. Mason said, That would be a pretty good indication the murderer had gone that way, Della. Where is Larkins house? Dino asked, as they got out of the car..