Part 229 (1/2)

She smoked, and smiled.

She knew how to get the money, but she'd have to be clever, very clever.

The drug made her feel smart. It was time to pull out her ace in the

hole.

Scrounging through her dresser, she found a box of stationery. It was

pretty, rainbow-colored paper with her name across the top. She admired

it for a time, then took another hit from the pipe before searching for

a pen, muttering to herself A little insurance, she thought as she began

to write. Of course, she'd have to tear her name off the top. She

wasn't a fool.

She wrote like a child, slowly, her tongue caught between her teeth as

she formed the letters. When she'd finished she was so pleased with her

neatness, she forgot about the letterhead. There were stamps inside the

box. She hummed as she attached three of them. They looked so pretty,

she added another, then studied her craftsmans.h.i.+p. For a time she

puzzled over the address, then began to write again.

Kesselring, Police Detective

Los Angeles, California

U.S.A.

After some thought, she added ”Urgent!” in the corner and underlined it.

She took it downstairs with her, thinking she would find some clever

hiding place. On a detour into the kitchen, she ate an entire carton of

ice cream, shoveling it into her mouth with a serving spoon. Spotting

the envelope, she began to mutter.

”Stupid girl,” she mumbled, thinking of her last maid. ”Can't even post

a d.a.m.n letter. Going to sack her.” Indignant, she waddled out, and with