He bought a ticket at the box office for the Sunday matinee. After that he turned toward Downtown and soon pulled up to the place in the Village where he had fought the three men. He parked diagonally behind a car at the curb and looked around. There was no police tape up, and he saw no other evidence of this being any type of crime scene. Maybe Stamos had been telling the truth. He next drove farther south to the Cowl Building and stopped in front. He could see the security guard through the glass. But Detective Foster did. This time her smile made me want to propose living together or maybe even tying the knot. Something was going on here. Despite the superficial flattery of her seeming interest, she struck me as far too intelligent for teases. Those eyes were as shrewd and knowing as they were lovely. She wanted something from me. I dont care what nomenclature you use. I just want results. Hi, Paul, Mason said. How was La Jolla? Vincent Colton returned to the courtroom and said,Mr. Alder will be right up. Cowl was on the floor screaming bloody murder, with Shotgun Number Two lying pretty much on top of him. Her smile faded.I forgot to ask you before. Why were the police here yesterday morning? It was early but I got woken up when I heard them knock on the door, and then I saw the police lights outside. You know my room faces the street. I... Imsure it didnt. Mr. Mason, you can pin your whole defence on cross-examining those ballistic experts. They just cant make that theory stand up. That’snot the fatal gun. Yes, while you were probably screwing Speers. I know you two were lusting after each other. THE SUNSET HUSH HAD SETTLED LIKE A MANTLE OVER THE still water as Mason, Della Street, and Paul Drake walked out over the echoing planks, studying the forest of stubby masts which from time to time swayed gently in the little swells made by the passing of an occasional speedboat. You have proof of that? I nodded.It looks that way. I dont go to funerals, I said. Mason slipped his arm around Della Streets waist. Dining, dancing and relaxing, Paul. At this stage were hiring you to do the work. Look, I saw guys shot up, blown up, and cut up right in front of me. Im not taking my own life because a Wall Street firm busts my chops. Because he wants the eight hundred grand and change, Dino offered. So then what did you do?.