Lily, they are both dead now.”

“I don’t follow that. If you’re not superstitious—”

“I’m not. Only some men, for vague reasons, unknown reasons, some men have a way of concentrating disaster around themselves, and it might be that you—and you’ll admit there is nothing average about you—that you could easily—”

“I don’t get any of that crap, Smith. I’m a guy like any other guy who knows what he wants and does all he can to get it. I’ve had my share of kicks, sure, but I’m as careful as the next guy.” Catell sucked on his cigarette, hard. “Especially now,” he added, and tossed the butt to the floor.

“Uh, now?”

“Yeah, now. I’m no spring chicken, Smith. It’s time I made good and found something solid. I haven’t got time to horse around. One, two solid jobs and I’m off this racket. I got some playtime coming to me and I mean to have it.”

“Speaking of playtime, are you including Lily in all this?”

“I’ll tell you this much, Smith: She isn’t playtime. Let’s just leave it at that.”

“I’m sorry if this riles you, but, as I have said before, my only intent is—”

“Yeah, I know. Commercial.”

“And that’s why I cover all angles, Catell. Of course, I’m glad to see that you are serious-minded, and that your attitude is sober. But that’s why I’m wondering. Don’t you think Lily is a little young, uh, for you?”

Catell got up and went to the door without answering. Then he turned and said, “I’m forgetting you asked that, Smith. And remember, don’t pump me again. You and me, Smith, we don’t discuss Lily. Understand?”

Smith shrugged his heavy shoulders and turned the swivel chair the other way.

“Don’t forget your message,” he said to the opposite wall. “You’re supposed to call this Selma.”

Catell stepped through the door and slammed it behind him.

He took the Freeway to Hollywood and then cut over to Sunset. He turned on Vine, parked the car, and walked back to the corner.

The corner of Sunset and Vine was crowded with characters. Professional characters, unintentional characters, and the plain crazy variety. There was the guy who once had the bad luck of writing one hit song, and nothing since. There was the slob who had another deal on and he was bending somebody’s ear about how the deal was hot. A high-stacked blonde was wailing for the light to change, looking busy and detached in dark glasses. Tourists hustled around in pairs, all atwitter with free passes to a TV broadcast. Catell saw them line up like sheep in front of CBS, all looking very much alike with cameras, Hawaiian shirts, and health shoes.

With nothing else to do, Catell walked into an ice cream parlor and sat down. He ordered Pistachio Delight, which came in a clifflike arrangement and smelled like perfume. He hated ice cream, but the glass dish felt cold in his hands, and he held on to the bowl as if it could draw the waves of fever out of his bones. Catell felt sick.

From where he sat, the night didn’t look like night. An unnatural glare covered the street, making harsh black shadows. Catell lit a cigarette. After a few drags he pushed the butt into the wet mess in his ice cream dish, where the cliffs had turned into a soggy bog, and went outside.

Catell wasn’t the only one just standing around in the street, but he was the only one who wasn’t rushing. Another hour before he could see Lily.

He would have liked to see the Turtle. For a moment Catell forgot he was a hunted man and started to figure what to take to the Turtle during visiting hours tomorrow. That’s probably what they were waiting for. There were probably men watching the Turtle the way an angler concentrates on his hook, after a long day without a nibble.

Catell leaned against a wall and closed his eyes. Everything started to spin. He walked up and down the street like a very busy man, late for an appointment, or perhaps anxious to get there ahead of time, this being a really hot deal. It didn’t work. He couldn’t have cared less. He watched a young dish walk by, her high-heeled strut making highlights dance all over her. Just for the hell of it, he pushed himself away from the wall, turned toward the girl, and gave her the eye. She looked back so coldly that the whole vision of her turned ugly. But it wouldn’t have taken that much