Bad Business

7

"Here's the deal," I said to Elmer. "You stay with Ellen Eisen, and let me know if she meets my guy, and I'll see what I can find out about who's watching Mrs. Rowley."

"Whadda you care who's watching Mrs. Rowley?"

"It's characterological," I said.

"Sure it is," Elmer said. "I'll buy in if I get something out of it."

"I'll owe you," I said.

"If finding out gets you any money," Elmer said, "half of it's mine."

"You bet," I said.

"Can I trust you," Elmor Said.

"You bet," I said.

He looked at me for a time without saying anything. His little dark eyes were slightly oval, as if, maybe, a long way back, one of the O'Neills had been Asian. Finally he nodded to himself slowly.

"Yeah," he said. "Your word is good."

"How do you know that?" I said.

"I know," Elmer said. "I'll keep in touch."

He got up and went toward the door. He walked with a little swagger. He would have walked with a big swagger had he been larger. Pearl the Wonder Dog II stood up on the office sofa and stared at Elmer as he walked past. She didn't bristle, but she didn't wag her tail either.

"Fucking dog don't like me," he said.

"She's just cautious," I said. "She hasn't been with us very long."

"He some kinda Doberman?"

"She's a German shorthaired pointer," I said.

"Same thing," Elmer said.

I walked over and sat on the couch beside Pearl, and she stretched up her neck to give me a lap.

"Now's your chance," I said. "Make a break for it."

A fter Elmer made his escape, Pearl and I sat on the couch for a while until I was sure Elmer hadn't hurt her feelings. Then I took her to Susan's house. Susan was seeing patients on the first floor. Pearl ran up the stairs to the second floor where Susan lived. When I opened the door she raced into Susan's bedroom, jumped on the bed, clamped onto one of the pillows, and subdued it ferociously. Her self-esteem seemed intact. I gave her a cookie, made sure there was water, left a note on the front hall table for Susan, and went to Manchester.