said, looking Lily up and down.

“I bet,” Catell said. He waved to the bartender.

“Me too, lovin’ cup. Scotch.” Selma looked at Catell as if he and she were the only people at the table. She put her chin in her hands and moved one shoulder. The strap of her evening dress slid down.

“Your thing slid down, Miss—Mrs.—”

“Just Selma, dear. Just call me Selma.”

There was an ugly scratch in Selma’s voice when she talked to Lily. Lily looked as she always did.

While they were waiting for the drinks, there was a moment of silence, the kind of silence that everybody hopes no one will break, but somebody has to.

Then Selma laughed. “Well, Tony, tell me about yourself. You been doing any good? Uh, pardon me, dear, I don’t mean you.” Selma gave Lily an indulgent smile.

“Selma.” Catell’s voice pressed out with a hiss. “Selma, I want you to get one thing straight. Leave the kid alone. In fact, leave her out completely. She’s done nothing to you, and you, sister, mean nothing to me. So get off my back, Selma. Just stay off my back.”

Before there was an answer the drinks came and Selma lifted her glass. Then she put the glass down without putting it to her lips.

“Don’t get me wrong, Tony dear.” She kept her eyes down. “I don’t mind what you did with the chippie. Now that you and me are back together again.” Then she tossed down the drink.

Lily was watching Catell with a puzzled look. His hands were shaking. She stretched her hand out, slowly, trying to touch Catell. Selma turned on her with hate in her eyes.

“Don’t you try and wheedle him, you slut. And don’t you forget for a minute that your kind—”

That’s when Catell hit her.

He did it so fast that nobody saw it clearly, and there was nothing to show for it but a slow red welt on Selma’s cheek.

She stared at him open-mouthed. Lily, eyes wide, had started to get up when Selma’s expression changed. With a soft, tired voice she said, “Don’t be upset, dear. He’s like that. Perhaps you haven’t found that out. You would if you stayed with him, Lily. He has crazy ways of getting his kicks. Why, I remember once he woke me up at four in the morning and asked me—”

“Selma, either you stop or you’ll regret it for the rest of your life.”

There was something in Catell’s voice that reached the woman. She swallowed and patted her hair. “Buy me another drink, Tony?”

“No. And now you listen to me. All you and I ever were to each other was a dance and a drink and a jump. That’s all. I’ve asked you once to stay off my back. This time I’m telling you. Keep out of our way and nothing will happen to you. Cross me and you’ll regret it. So remember what I say and act your age. That’s all I’ve got to say to you, Selma, and I’m not going to say it again.” Catell took a deep breath and sat back in his chair. “Now if you still want that drink, I’ll get you one.”

“Yes, Tony, thanks.”

With the unpredictability of a lush, Selma’s attitude had turned helpless and soft. When the drink came, she sipped at it, throwing shy glances at Lily and Catell, never raising her head.

“Tony,” Lily said, “I’m on. My number’s up.”

“Don’t say that!” His voice was a shout.

“I’m sorry, darling. I mean—”

“I know what you mean. I’m the one that’s sorry. Selma, finish your drink. You’re leaving too.”

“Yes, Tony.” Selma got up, trying to move with a contrite grace. She stepped close to Catell and looked at him through her lashes. “Lovin’ cup,” she said with a voice suddenly hard, “I’m not through with you yet.”

She turned and left.

While Lily did her number, Catell sat hunched at the table, stirring the ashes in the ashtray with a dead match. He knew for sure that Selma was not through with him.

Chapter Sixteen

When the sun came up, Catell was still in the mountains. He had pushed the powerful car all night, trying to get to Pasadena early. It was five in the morning, still time to get to Smith’s before noon.

Catell opened the thermos on the seat beside him and drank some of the hot black coffee. He put the stopper back in the bottle and lit a cigarette. He was satisfied with the week he’d spent at the resort.

The place was isolated, with only one telephone line coming