Red Harvest - Chapter 17

XVII: Reno

She took me into her living room, backed away from me, revolved, and asked me how I liked the new dress. I said I liked it. She explained that the color was rose beige and that the dinguses on the side were something or other, winding up:

“And you really think I look good in it?”

“You always look good,” I said. “Lew Yard and Pete the Finn went calling on old Elihu this afternoon.”

She made a face at me and said:

“You don’t give a damn about my dress. What did they do there?”

“A powwow, I suppose.”

She looked at me through her lashes and asked:

“Don’t you really know where Max is?”

Then I did. There was no use admitting I hadn’t known all along. I said: