short black skirt. There were two cocktail glasses on the low table in front of her, empty except for the dregs of some creamy-coloured drink. She looked happy enough about it. âHi, Dodge,â she said. She had an American accent. A real one as far as I could tell from two words.
âLindy.â
âWhoâs your friend?â She looked up at me through her false eyelashes.
âNick Sharman. Heâs a private dick.â
At the word âdickâ she raised her eyebrows. She couldnât have been more obvious if sheâd had âhornyâ tattooed on her forehead. âHi, Nick.â
âHi, Lindy.â
âWhat can I do for you guys?â
âNick wants to ask you some questions.â
âSure, Iâve got nothing else to do except put another coat of varnish on my nails.â And she moved languorously on the cushion of the sofa. The way she said it and the way she moved I suddenly realised I liked her. Few Americans, and as far as I could see even fewer people in the rock business, could appreciate irony. âSit down, do,â she said. âSam, get my guests some drinks.â
I was beginning to like her more and more. I sat on the sofa opposite and I could see quite clearly up her skirt and that she was wearing red pants. Very small red pants. She knew I could see, and I knew she knew, and it seemed to suit us both just fine.
âWhatâll you have, gents?â asked Sam. I wondered if the guys from Premiere Security had to go on a bartending course before they qualified for their jobs.
âGin and tonic,â I said. Lomax looked daggers at me. I ignored him.
âBeer,â he said.
âGet me another Brandy Alexander, Sam honey, will you?â said Lindy.
He went over to the bar and started rattling bottles.
âWeâve just been to see your husband,â I said.
âGreat,â she replied without any real show of enthusiasm.
âHeâll be home tomorrow.â
âGreat.â Ditto.
âYouâre not pleased?â
âSure. Itâll be good to have Trash back. Then heâs in the studio for a month, or rehearsing, or on tour. Fine. I see lots of him.â
âYou could be with him now.â
âWho the hell are you to tell me where I can or canât be?â she said angrily, and closed her legs and pulled her skirt down. Which did nothing to improve the view.
Sam brought over the drinks. He gave me a mournful look as he gave me mine. I tasted it. It was fine. âThanks,â I said to his retreating back. âWho was here when your husband snorted the smack?â I asked Lindy.
She thought for a moment. âTrash, me, Pandora and his two little friends, Chick and Seltza.â
I lifted my eyebrows again.
âRoadies,â she said. âWe were partying.â
âAnyone else?â
âSeltzaâs old lady. His English old lady. Whatâs her name, Dodge?â
âPatty,â said Lomax.
âAnd Chick had a chick with him.â She smiled a ghost of a smile. âAnd Trashâs dealer came by.â
âDoes he have a name?â I asked.
Lindy looked at Lomax who nodded. âSandy,â she said. âBut Iâm sure he didnâtâ¦â
âSomeone did,â I said to her. âAnyone else?â
âSweetheart.â
âWho?â
âSweetheart. Sheâs a PR person with On Line.â
I looked at Lomax. âTheyâre our PR company over here,â he explained.
âAnd Turdo dropped by,â said Lindy.
âWho?â I said.
âTurdo,â said Lomax. âAnother roadie.â
âSounds delightful,â I said.
Lomax and Lindy didnât comment.
âWas that it?â I asked.
âI think so,â said Lindy.
âIâd like to talk to them,â I said to Lomax.
âSure. Anytime you like.â
âAnd this guy Sandy â how do I get hold of