«I'll have a little coffee, ma'am, if it's not too much trouble,» he said, dutifully writing down the address and the sketchy facts he knew already. He could not be too careful on this call, for the Barrett money was Establishment money. John Barrett owned most of this valley at one time, before he subdivided it up and sold it for development, and Manners had heard estimates in the millions of his worth in real estate. He was dead now, over a year ago from a sudden heart attack. Popular jokes held that he died struggling under the weight of a bag full of his money, but that was not something for the record.

«Certainly, men … Lucy, would you mind putting a little coffee in the percolator for these gentlemen.»

«No, ma'am … I'd be delighted,» she said as if she did not mean it at all, and left the room. Officer Manners sneaked a quick look at the backside of that gorgeous blonde's body under those see-thrus and, if anything, it was even nicer than the front! High, tight cheeks that rubbed together when she walked … Man, what she'd be like in the sack! He was sorry now that he had asked for coffee, because it robbed him of any more sideways looks at the younger Barrett woman. Not that the older one was any hag; Kate Barrett had that aura of well-preserved beauty common to most rich women. The kind of cold, translucent good- looks that comes with thrice-weekly trips to the Georgetown salons.

«Won't you gentlemen sit down?» the older red-haired woman inquired. «I'm sure you two could use a breather, what with all the crime we've been having lately in Valley Farms. Isn't it just awful? I mean, it must be all those …» She seemed to be about to say something but she smiled stiffly in Officer Jackson's direction and bit her tongue. «What I mean to say is, all those dope addicts and all from the city. I've heard they come out five and six to a car, like going to a picnic!»