norththroughcoldwatercanyonitbegantogethot.whenwetoppedtheriseandstartedtowinddowntowardsthesanfernandovalleyitwasbreathlessandblazing.ilookedsidewaysatspencer.hehadaveston,buttheheatdidn’tseemtobotherhim.hehadsomethingelsetobotherhimalotmore.helookedstraightaheadthroughthewindshieldandsaidnothing.thevalleyhadathicklayerofsmognuzzlingdownonit.fromaboveitlookedlikeagroundmistandthenwewereinitanditjerkedspenceroutofhissilence.

「mygod,ithoughtsoutherncaliforniahadaclimate,」hesaid.「whataretheydoing—burningoldtrucktires?」

「it’llbeallrightinidlevalley,」itoldhimsoothingly.「theygetanoceanbreezeinthere.」

「i’mgladtheygetsomethingbesidesdrunk,」hesaid.「fromwhati’veseenofthelocalcrowdintherichsuburbsithinkrogermadeatragicmistakeincomingoutheretolive.awriterneedsstimulation—andnotthekindtheybottle.there’snothingaroundherebutonegreatbigsuntannedhangover.i’mreferringtotheuppercrustpeopleofcourse.」

iturnedoffandsloweddownforthedustystretchtotheentranceofidlevalley,thenhitthepavingagainandinalittlewhiletheoceanbreezemadeitselffelt,driftingdownthroughthegapinthehillsatthefarendofthelake.highsprinklersrevolvedoverthebigsmoothlawnsandthewatermadeaswishingsoundasitlickedatthegrass.bythistimemostofthewell-heeledpeoplewereawaysomewhereelse.youcouldtellbytheshutteredlookofthehousesandthewaythegardener’struckwasparkedsmackinthemiddleofthedriveway.thenwereachedthewades’placeandiswungthroughthegatepostsandstoppedbehindeileen’sjaguar.spencergotoutandmarchedstolidlyacrosstheflagstonestotheporticoofthehouse.herangthebellandthedooropenedalmostatonce.candywasthereinthewhitejacketandthedarkgood-lookingfaceandthesharpblackeyes.everythingwasinorder.

spencerwentin.candygavemeabrieflookandnearlyshutthedoorinmyface.iwaitedandnothinghappened.ileanedonthebellandheardthechimes.thedoorswungwideandcandycameoutsnarling.

「beatit!turnblue.youwantaknifeinthebelly?」

「icametoseemrs.wade.」

「shedon’twantanypartofyou.」

「outofmyway,peasant.igotbusinesshere.」

「candy!」itwashervoice,anditwassharp.

hegavemeafinalscowlandbackedintothehouse.iwentinandshutthedoor.shewasstandingattheendofoneofthefacingdavenports,andspencerwasstandingbesideher.shelookedlikeamillion.shehadwhiteslackson,veryhigh-waisted,andawhitesportshirtwithhalfsleeves,andalilac-coloredhandkerchiefbuddingfromthepocketoverherleftbreast.

「candyisgettingratherdictatoriallately,」shesaidtospencer.「it’ssogoodtoseeyou,howard.andsoniceofyoutocomeallthisway.ididn’trealizeyouwerebringingsomeonewithyou.」

「marlowedrovemeout,」spencersaid.「alsohewantedtoseeyou.」

「ican’timaginewhy,」shesaidcoolly.finallyshelookedatme,butnotasifnotseeingmeforaweekhadleftanemptinessinherlife.「well?」

「it’sgoingtotakealittletime,」isaid.

shesatdownslowly.isatdownontheotherdavenport.spencerwasfrowning.hetookhisglassesoffandpolishedthem.thatgavehimachancetofrownmorenaturally.thenhesatontheotherendofthedavenportfromme.

「iwassureyouwouldcomeintimeforlunch,」shetoldhim,smiling.

「nottoday,thanks.」

「no?well,ofcourseifyouaretoobusy.thenyoujustwanttoseethatscript.」

「ifimay.」

「ofcourse.candy!oh,he’sgone.it’sonthedeskinroger’sstudy.i’llgetit.」

spencerstoodup.「mayigetit?」

withoutwaitingforananswerhestartedacrosstheroom.tenfeetbehindherhestoppedandgavemeastrainedlook.thenhewenton.ijustsatthereandwaiteduntilherheadcamearoundandhereyesgavemeacoolimpersonalstare.

「whatwasityouwantedtoseemeabout?」sheaskedcurtly.

「thisandthat.iseeyouarewearingthatpendantagain.」

「ioftenwearit.itwasgiventomebyaverydearfriendalongtimeago.」

「yeah.youtoldme.it’sabritishmilitarybadgeofsomesort,isn’tit?」

shehelditoutattheendofthethinchain.「it’sajeweler’sreproductionofone.smallerthantheoriginalandingoldandenamel.」

spencercamebackacrosstheroomandsatdownagainandputathickpileofyellowpaperonthecornerofthecocktailtableinfrontofhim.heglancedatitidly,thenhiseyeswerewatchingeileen.

「couldilookatitalittlecloser?」iaskedher.

shepulledthechainarounduntilshecouldunfastentheclasp.shehandedthependanttome,orrathershedroppeditinmyhand.thenshefoldedherhandsinherlapandjustlookedcurious.「whyareyousointerested?it’sthebadgeofaregimentcalledtheartistsrifles,aterritorialregiment.themanwhogaveittomewaslostsoonafterwards.atandalsnesinnorway,inthespringofthatterribleyear—1940.」shesmiledandmadeabriefgesturewithonehand.「hewasinlovewithme.」

「eileenwasinlondonallthroughtheblitz,」spencersaidinanemptyvoice.「shecouldn’tgetaway.」

webothignoredspencer.「andyouwereinlovewithhim,」isaid.

shelookeddownandthenraisedherheadandourglanceslocked.「itwasalongtimeago,」shesaid.「andtherewasawar.strangethingshappen.」

「therewasalittlemoretoitthanthat,mrs.wade.iguessyouforgethowmuchyouopenedupabouthim.‘thewildmysteriousimprobablekindoflovethatnevercomesbutonce.’i’mquotingyou.inawayyou’restillinlovewithhim.it’sdarnniceofmetohavethesameinitials.isupposethathadsomethingtodowithyourpickingmeout.」

「hisnamewasnothinglikeyours,」shesaidcoldly.「andheisdead,dead,dead.」

iheldthegoldandenamelpendantouttospencer.hetookitreluctantly.「i’veseenitbefore,」hemuttered.

「checkmeonthedesign,」isaid.「itconsistsofabroaddaggerinwhiteenamelwithagoldedge.thedaggerpointsdownwardsandtheflatofthebladecrossesinfrontofapairofupward-curlingpaleblueenamelwings.thenitcrossesinbackofascroll.onthescrollarethewords:whodareswins.」

「thatseemstobecorrect,」hesaid.「whatmakesitimportant?」

「shesaysit’sabadgeoftheartistsrifles,aterritorialoutfit.shesaysitwasgiventoherbyamanwhowasinthatoutfitandwaslostinthenorwegiancampaignwiththebritisharmyinthespringof1940atandalsnes.」

ihadtheirattention.spencerwatchedmesteadily.iwasn’ttalkingtothebirdsandheknewit.eileenknewittoo.hertawnyeyebrowswerecrimpedinapuzzledfrownwhichcouldhavebeengenuine.itwasalsounfriendly.

「thisisasleevebadge,」isaid.「itcameintoexistencebecausetheartistsriflesweremadeoverorattachedorsecondedorwhateverthecorrecttermisintoaspecialairserviceoutfit.theyhadoriginallybeenaterritorialregimentofinfantry.thisbadgedidn’tevenexistuntil1947.thereforenobodygaveittomrs.wadein1940.also,noartistsrifleswerelandedatandalsnesinnorwayin1940.sherwoodforestersandleicestershires,yes.bothterritorial.artistsrifles,no.amibeingnasty?」

spencerputthependantdownonthecoffeetableandpusheditslowlyacrossuntilitwasinfrontofeileen.hesaidnothing.

「doyouthinkiwouldn’tknow?」eileenaskedmecontemptuously.

「doyouthinkthebritishwarofficewouldn’tknow?」iaskedherrightback.

「obviouslytheremustbesomemistake,」spencersaidmildly.

iswungaroundandgavehimahardstare.「that’sonewayofputtingit.」

「anotherwayofputtingitisthatiamaliar,」eileensaidicily.「ineverknewanyonenamedpaulmarston,neverlovedhimorheme.henevergavemeareproductionofhisregimentalbadge,hewasnevermissinginaction,heneverexisted.iboughtthisbadgemyselfinashopinnewyorkwheretheyspecializeinimportedbritishluxuries,thingslikeleathergoods,hand-madebrogues,regimentalandschooltiesandcricketblazers,knickknackswithcoatsofarmsonthemandsoon.wouldanexplanationlikethatsatisfyyou,mr.marlowe?」

「thelastpartwould.notthefirst.nodoubtsomebodytoldyouitwasanartistsriflesbadgeandforgottomentionwhatkind,ordidn’tknow.butyoudidknowpaulmarstonandhedidserveinthatoutfit,andhewasmissinginactioninnorway.butitdidn’thappenin1940,mrs.wade.ithappenedin1942andhewasinthecommandosthen,anditwasn’tatandalsnes,butonalittleislandoffthecoastwherethecommandoboyspulledafastraid.」

「iseenoneedtobesohostileaboutit,」spencersaidinanexecutivesortofvoice.hewasfoolingwiththeyellowsheetsinfrontofhimnow.ididn’tknowwhetherhewastryingtostoogeformeorwasjustsore.hepickedupaslabofyellowscriptandweigheditonhishand.

「yougoingtobuythatstuffbythepound?」iaskedhim.

helookedstartled,thenhesmiledasmalldifficultsmile.

「eileenhadaprettyroughtimeinlondon,」hesaid.「thingsgetconfusedinone’smemory.」

itookafoldedpaperoutofmypocket.「sure,」isaid.「likewhoyougotmarriedto.thisisacertifiedcopyofamarriagecertificate.theoriginalcamefromcaxtonhallregistryoffice.thedateofthemarriageisaugust1942.thepartiesnamedarepauledwardmarstonandeileenvictoriasampsell.inasensemrs.wadeisright.therewasnosuchpersonaspauledwardmarston.itwasafakenamebecauseinthearmyyouhavetogetpermissiontogetmarried.themanfakedanidentity.inthearmyhehadanothername.ihavehiswholearmyhistory.it’sawondertomethatpeopleneverseemtorealizethatallyouhavetodoisask.」

spencerwasveryquietnow.heleanedbackandstared.butnotatme.hestaredateileen.shelookedbackathimwithoneofthosefainthalfdeprecatory,halfseductivesmileswomenaresogoodat.

「buthewasdead,howard.longbeforeimetroger.whatcoulditpossiblymatter?rogerknewallaboutit.ineverstoppedusingmyunmarriedname.inthecircumstancesihadto.itwasonmypassport.thenafterhewaskilledinaction—」shestoppedanddrewaslowbreathandletherhandfallslowlyandsoftlytoherknee.「allfinished,alldonefor,alllost.」

「you’resurerogerknew?」heaskedherslowly.

「heknewsomething,」isaid.「thenamepaulmarstonhadameaningforhim.iaskedhimonceandhegotafunnylookinhiseyes.buthedidn’ttellmewhy.」

sheignoredthatandspoketospencer.

「why,ofcourserogerknewallaboutit.」nowshewassmilingatspencerpatientlyasifhewasbeingalittleslowonthetake.thetrickstheyhave.

「thenwhylieaboutthedates?」spenceraskeddryly.「whysaythemanwaslostin1940whenhewaslostin1942?whywearabadgethathecouldn’thavegivenyouandmakeapointofsayingthathedidgiveittoyou?」

「perhapsiwaslostinadream,」shesaidsoftly.「oranightmare,moreaccurately.alotofmyfriendswerekilledinthebombing.whenyousaidgoodnightinthosedaysyoutriednottomakeitsoundlikegoodbye.butthat’swhatitoftenwas.andwhenyousaidgoodbyetoasoldier—itwasworse.it’salwaysthekindandgentleonesthatgetkilled.」

hedidn’tsayanything.ididn’tsayanything.shelookeddownatthependantlyingonthetableinfrontofher.shepickeditupandfittedittothechainaroundherneckagainandleanedbackcomposedly.

「iknowihaven’tanyrighttocross-examineyou,eileen,」spencersaidslowly.「let’sforgetit.marlowemadeabigthingoutofthebadgeandthemarriagecertificateandsoon.justforamomentiguesshehadmewondering.」

「mr.marlowe,」shetoldhimquietly,「makesabigthingoutoftrifles.butwhenitcomestoareallybigthing—likesavingaman’slife—heisoutbythelakewatchingasillyspeedboat.」

「andyouneversawpaulmarstonagain,」isaid.

「howcouldiwhenhewasdead?」

「youdidn’tknowhewasdead.therewasnoreportofhisdeathfromtheredcross.hemighthavebeentakenprisoner.」

sheshudderedsuddenly.「inoctober1942,」shesaidslowly,「hitlerissuedanorderthatallcommandoprisonersweretobeturnedovertothegestapo.ithinkweallknowwhatthatmeant.tortureandanamelessdeathinsomegestapodungeon.」sheshudderedagain.thensheblazedatme:「you’reahorribleman.youwantmetolivethatoveragain,topunishmeforatriviallie.supposesomeoneyoulovedhadbeencaughtbythosepeopleandyouknewwhathadhappened,whatmusthavehappenedtohimorher?isitsostrangethatitriedtobuildanotherkindofmemory—evenafalseone?」

「ineedadrink,」spencersaid.「ineedadrinkbadly.mayihaveone?」

sheclappedherhandsandcandydriftedupfromnowhereashealwaysdid.hebowedtospencer.

「whatyouliketodrink,señorspencer?」

「straightscotch,andplentyofit,」spencersaid.

candywentoverinthecornerandpulledthebaroutfromthewall.hegotabottleuponitandpouredastiffjoltintoaglass.hecamebackandsetitdowninfrontofspencer.hestartedtoleaveagain.

「perhaps,candy,」eileensaidquietly,「mr.marlowewouldlikeadrinktoo.」

hestoppedandlookedather,hisfacedarkandstubborn.

「no,thanks,」isaid.「nodrinkforme.」

candymadeasnortingsoundandwalkedoff.therewasanothersilence.spencerputdownhalfofhisdrink.helitacigarette.hespoketomewithoutlookingatme.

「i’msuremrs.wadeorcandycoulddrivemebacktobeverlyhills.oricangetacab.itakeityou’vesaidyourpiece.」

irefoldedthecertifiedcopyofthemarriagelicense.iputitbackinmypocket.

「surethat’sthewayyouwantit?」iaskedhim.

「that’sthewayeverybodywantsit.」

「good.」istoodup.「iguessiwasafooltotrytoplayitthisway.beingabigtimepublisherandhavingthebrainstogowithit—ifittakesany—youmighthaveassumedididn’tcomeoutherejusttoplaytheheavy.ididn’treviveancienthistoryorspendmyownmoneytogetthefactsjusttotwistthemaroundsomebody’sneck.ididn’tinvestigatepaulmarstonbecausethegestapomurderedhim,becausemrs.wadewaswearingthewrongbadge,becauseshegotmixeduponherdates,becauseshemarriedhiminoneofthosequickiewartimemarriages.whenistartedinvestigatinghimididn’tknowanyofthosethings.alliknewwashisname.nowhowdoyousupposeiknewthat?」

「nodoubtsomebodytoldyou,」spencersaidcurtly.

「correct,mr.spencer.somebodywhoknewhiminnewyorkafterthewarandlateronsawhimouthereinchasen’swithhiswife.」

「marstonisaprettycommonname,」spencersaid,andsippedhiswhiskey.heturnedhisheadsidewaysandhisrighteyeliddroopedafractionofaninch.soisatdownagain.「evenpaulmarstonscouldhardlybeunique.therearenineteenhowardspencersinthegreaternewyorkareatelephonedirectories,forinstance.andfourofthemarejustplainhowardspencerwithnomiddleinitial.」

「yeah.howmanypaulmarstonswouldyousayhadhadonesideoftheirfacessmashedbyadelayed-actionmortarshellandshowedthescarsandmarksoftheplasticsurgerythatrepairedthedamage?」

spencer’smouthfellopen.hemadesomekindofheavybreathingsound.hegotoutahandkerchiefandtappedhistempleswithit.

「howmanypaulmarstonswouldyousayhadsavedthelivesofacoupleoftoughgamblersnamedmendymenendezandrandystarronthatsameoccasion?they’restillaround,they’vegotgoodmemories.theycantalkwhenitsuitsthem.whyhamitupanymore,spencer?paulmarstonandterrylennoxwerethesameman.itcanbeprovedbeyondanyshadowofadoubt.」

ididn’texpectanyonetojumpsixfeetintotheairandscreamandnobodydid.butthereisakindofsilencethatisalmostasloudasashout.ihadit.ihaditallaroundme,thickandhard.inthekitchenicouldhearwaterrun.outsideontheroadicouldhearthedullthumpofafoldednewspaperhitthedriveway,thenthelightinaccuratewhistlingofaboywheelingawayonhisbicycle.

ifeltatinystingonthebackofmyneck.ijerkedawayfromitandswungaround.candywasstandingtherewithhisknifeinhishand.hisdarkfacewaswoodenbuttherewassomethinginhiseyesihadn’tseenbefore.