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The hotel itself was a two-story affair, a curious testament to thirties architecture, art deco Spanish, complete with turrets, sensuously rounded corners, and walls of block glass I approached the office by way of a covered walk, the air chilled by deep shade unrelieved by sunlight At close range, the building’s stucco exterior showed bulging cracks that snaked up froed to the color of cinnas blended dankly with the ses, so the soil, and I wondered if, later, drums of poisonous wastes would be excavated fro a set of steep wooden stairs that cut up along the hill behind the hotel There were gazebos at intervals, each sheltering a hot tub sunk into a wooden platforically placed to shield the bathers from public view Each alcove had a na procedure in the office down below I passed "Serenity," "Meditation," "Sunset," and "Peace," uncomfortably aware of how similar the names were to the "sleep rooms" in certain funeral homes of my acquaintance Two of the tubs were empty, littered with fallen leaves One had an opaque plastic cover lying on the surface of the water like a skin I picked ain, thankful that I wasn’t in the h glass doors into the reception area The lobby see, but it still had the feel of a YWCA in need of funds The floors were a esting a recent swabbing with a wet mop From the far reaches of the interior, I could hear the hollow echoes of an indoor pool where a woman with a German accent called out authoritatively, "Kick! Resist! Kick! Resist!" Her co that called toof water buffalo

"May I help you?"

The receptionist had e-boned, one of those woured" depart stores She must have been in her late forties, hite-blond hair, white lashes, and pale, unblee, and the shoes she ere the prison-matron-lace-up sort

I handed herfor soht remember Jean Timberlake"

She kept her eyes pinned on my face, her expression blank "You’ll want to talk to my husband, Dr Dunne Unfortunately, he’s away"

"Can you tell me when he’s expected back?"

"I’m not certain If you leave a number, I can have him call when he returns"

We locked eyes Hers were the stony gray of winter skies before snow "What about you?" I said "Did you know the girl yourself?"

There was a pause Then, carefully, "I kneho she was"

"I understand she orking here at the ti we should discuss" -she glanced down at the card-"Miss Millhone"

"Is there some problem?"

"If you’ll tell et in touch"

"Room twenty-two at the Ocean Street Motel in-"

"I knohere it is I’m sure he’ll call if he has time"

"Wonderful That on’t have to bother about subpoenas" I was bluffing, of course, and she uessed as much, but I did enjoy the pale wash of color that suffused her cheeks "I’ll check back if I don’t hear froain that I remembered the owners mentioned in the brochure I’d seen Dr and Mrs Joseph Dunne had bought the hotel the sa back around to the main street of Floral Beach and parked my car out in front of Pearl’s Pool Hall Weekday business hours were listed as 11:00 AM to 2:00 AM The door stood open Last night’s air tuish breeze that sarettes The interior was stuffy, slightly warht of Daisy at the back door, hauling out a ave me a noncommittal look, but I sensed that her mood was dark I took a seat at the bar I was the only customer at that hour Eht before The floors had been swept and I could see peanut shells and cigarette butts in a heap near the brooed into the dustpan propped nearby The back door banged shut and Daisy reappeared, wiping her hands on the toweling she’d tucked in her belt She approached warily, her gaze not quitemine "How’s the detective work?"