「themailboxbothersme,」isaid.「wherehesaystherewasamailboxonthestreetunderhiswindowandthehotelwaiterwasgoingtoholdhisletterupbeforehemailedit,soterrycouldseethatitwasmailed.」

somethinginendicott’seyeswenttosleep.「why?」heaskedindifferently.hepickedanotherofhisfilteredcigarettesoutofasquarebox.iheldmylighteracrossthedeskforhim.

「theywouldn’thaveoneinaplacelikeotatoclán,」isaid.

「goon.」

「ididn’tgetitatfirst.thenilookedtheplaceup.it’samerevillage.populationsaytenortwelvethousand.onestreetpartlypaved.thejefehasamodelafordasanofficialcar.thepostofficeisinthecornerofastore,thechanceria,thebutchershop.onehotel,acoupleofcantinas,nogoodroads,asmallairfield.there’shuntingaroundthereinthemountains—lotsofit.hencetheairfield.onlydecentwaytogetthere.」

「goon.iknowaboutthehunting.」

「sothere’samailboxonthestreet.likethere’saracecourseandadogtrackandagolfcourseandajaialaifrontónandparkwithacoloredfountainandabandstand.」

「thenhemadeamistake,」endicottsaidcoldly.「perhapsitwassomethingthatlookedlikeamailboxtohim—sayatrashreceptacle.」

istoodup.ireachedfortheletterandrefoldeditandputitbackinmypocket.

「atrashreceptacle,」isaid.「sure,that’sit.paintedwiththemexicancolors,green,white,red,andasignonitstenciledinlargeclearprint:keepourcityclean.inspanish,ofcourse.andlyingarounditsevenmangydogs.」

「don’tgetcute,marlowe.」

「sorryifiletmybrainsshow.anothersmallpointihavealreadyraisedwithrandystarr.howcomethelettergotmailedatall?accordingtotheletterthemethodwasprearranged.sosomebodytoldhimaboutthemailbox.sosomebodylied.sosomebodymailedtheletterwithfivegrandinitjustthesame.intriguing,don’tyouagree?」

hepuffedsmokeandwatcheditfloataway.

「what’syourconclusion—andwhyringstarrinonit?」

「starrandaheelnamedmenendez,nowremovedfromourmidst,werepalsofterry’sinthebritisharmy.theyarewronggeesinaway—ishouldsayinalmosteveryway—buttheystillhaveroomforpersonalprideandsoon.therewasacover-uphereengineeredforobviousreasons.therewasanothersortofcover-upinotatoclán,forentirelydifferentreasons.」

「what’syourconclusion?」heaskedmeagainandmuchmoresharply.

「what’syours?」

hedidn’tanswerme.soithankedhimforhistimeandleft.

hewasfrowningasiopenedthedoor,butithoughtitwasanhonestfrownofpuzzlement.ormaybehewastryingtorememberhowitlookedoutsidethehotelandwhethertherewasamailboxthere.

itwasanotherwheeltostartturning—nomore.itturnedforasolidmonthbeforeanythingcameup.

thenonacertainfridaymorningifoundastrangerwaitingformeinmyoffice.hewasawell-dressedmexicanorsuramericanoofsomesort.hesatbytheopenwindowsmokingabrowncigarettethatsmelledstrong.hewastallandveryslenderandveryelegant,withaneatdarkmustacheanddarkhair,ratherlongerthanwewearit,andafawn-coloredsuitofsomelooselywovenmaterial.heworethosegreensunglasses.hestooduppolitely.

「señormarlowe?」

「whatcanidoforyou?」

hehandedmeafoldedpaper.「unavisodepartedelseñorstarrenlasvegas,señor.hablaustedespañol?」

「yeah,butnotfast.englishwouldbebetter.」

「englishthen,」hesaid.「itisallthesametome.」

itookthepaperandreadit.「thisintroducesciscomaioranos,afriendofmine.ithinkhecanfixyouup.s.」

「let’sgoinside,señormaioranos,」isaid.

iheldthedooropenforhim.hesmelledofperfumeashewentby.hiseyebrowswereawfullydamneddaintytoo.butheprobablywasn’tasdaintyashelookedbecausetherewereknifescarsonbothsidesofhisface.