The Long Goodbye Page #3

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Blew his brains out

in a little godforsaken town in Mexico.

- He left a full confession.

- I'm reading it. Don't describe it to me too.

- I'm sorry, Marlowe.

- What are you sorry about?

- It's just another story to you.

- Sorry you're so stupid.

There you are sitting in the poky, taking

lumps for a friend, and he lets you down.

- That's my problem.

- Stupid, Marlowe.

- There's a layout on you. Pictures and all.

- Yeah, I see.

This is gonna do wonders for my trade.

Otatoclan? Never heard of that.

Why kill himself in Otatoclan?

He could have done it in Tijuana.

Man at the end of his rope. Never know

what the hell they're gonna do.

What happened to his body?

His wife's family didn't want any part of it.

For obvious reasons.

Doesn't have any family of his own.

So he's buried in Otatoclan.

Yeah, I get the picture. Case closed,

all zippered up like a big bag of sh*t.

Terry wasn't at the end of his rope.

The way he talked,

Sylvia wasn't dead then either.

- I don't believe he killed her or himself.

- Everybody else does.

Hi, Marlowe.

- Where's Herbie?

- He's in the can.

You practising for the hit parade?

Gotta learn this goddamn thing.

Thinks it'll beef up the lunch trade.

I don't see anybody waiting in line.

As cheap as I work, he cannot lose.

Marlowe! Haven't seen you around

for a few days.

- I've been out of town.

- Did you notice this?

- Got a new line of sandwiches in.

- You'll try anything, Herbie.

- How about lunch?

- Sandwiches? Never heard of them.

- I'll have a drink.

- What is it?

CC and ginger.

- You got any messages for me?

- I believe we've got a few over there.

As a matter of fact,

you'll find my phone bill in there too.

I wouldn't worry about that.

# There's a long goodbye

# And it happens every day

# When some passer-by

# Invites your eye

# To come her way

# Even as she smiles a quick hello...

Hello. This is Philip Marlowe.

Mrs Roger Wade?

Excuse me, you got a pencil?

You're Mrs Wade?

It depends on the nature of the case.

I don't do any divorce work.

I understand.

Have you tried filing

a missing persons report with the police?

I guess I could work it in.

When do you wanna meet?

That's OK with me.

You'd better give me your address.

The Malibu Colony.

Come on, Aster. I'm honking my horn.

You're supposed to get outta the way.

Want me to call a cop?

Yeah.

- Hi.

- Hello there. What can I do for you?

I have an appointment

with Mrs Roger Wade.

- What's her first name?

- Eileen.

- What's their address?

- Jimmy Stewart?

- Right. Go on in.

- Thanks.

Come in.

Mrs Wade?

It's OK. You're a nice dog. Mrs Wade!

Oh, sh*t. OK, I'll stand here.

Anything you say.

- Hello!

- Hello.

- Do come in.

- Your friend doesn't want me to.

In the kitchen, come on. Scoot!

- Will you forgive me while I make a call?

- Certainly.

Do sit down.

Dried apricot?

Hello? Could I speak to Mr Lernie, please?

Mr Lernie, this is Roger Wade's secretary.

I'm sorry. He's locked in his study writing

and I can't disturb him now.

But I'll see that he gets your message.

You'll probably hear from him

in the morning. Is that all right?

Yes. Yes, thank you, I will.

OK. Thank you very much. Goodbye.

That looks like

my Thanksgiving Day dinner.

Philip Marlowe.

You don't look like your picture.

- Thank you.

- I'm Eileen Wade.

You don't look like a secretary. And if Mr

Wade is in his library, you don't need me.

My husband is not in the study. When

he disappears, I try to cover up for him.

- Protecting his image you'd call it.

- He's done this sort of thing before?

Yes. My husband has a drinking problem.

Every so often he reaches a stage

when he feels he needs professional help.

So he goes someplace to dry out.

Is there some particular place

he likes to go?

Yes, but he's not there. I've checked

every single place I could think of.

Didn't he tell you where he was going?

No. We're usually not speaking

when he leaves.

- How long's he been gone?

- A week.

A week? Weren't you worried?

I mean, waiting a week before you call

somebody to find your husband.

What are you implying, Mr Marlowe?

I don't mean to be tactless, but it doesn't

look like you walked into a door.

No, as a matter of fact, I didn't.

I fell out of bed.

- I'm gonna need something to start on.

- You have. He's Roger Wade.

- Roger Wade. Big writer.

- He's a big man too.

Six foot five, weighs 220 pounds.

Once you've seen his face,

you'll never forget it.

- Sounds like some kind of monster.

- Only when he drinks.

- Would you like a drink?

- No, thank you.

- A cup of coffee?

- No. Let me get this straight.

This is different from some of the times

he behaves this way

but not different from all the times?

- That's right.

- Could you explain that to me?

I found this manuscript paper.

He started out writing something, and

then he starts rambling on and on and on.

"Dr V, Dr V, Dr V.

You must help me, Dr V."

Do you know a Dr V?

I looked in the phone book under Doctors.

I never knew there were so many Vs.

Could you find

my husband for me, please?

- Is Roger Wade his real name?

- Why?

If Roger Wade isn't his real name,

he might be using his real name.

Actually, he did change his name.

His publishers thought Billy Joe Smith

lacked something for the books he writes.

Roger Wade ain't exactly the ticket

for the kind of book he writes either.

His publishers are happy.

That's all that matters.

Probably Smith's the name that most of

Dr V's clients use. Is that a picture of him?

I see what you mean about his face. Does

he usually walk around in that costume?

We haven't talked about your fee.

I get 50 bucks a day and expenses.

Would you like an advance now?

I prefer an itemised accounting.

That way there's no misunderstanding.

- You'll be around if I have to call you?

- Sure. I'll be here.

The Lennoxes, Terry and Sylvia, used to

live up the beach, did you know them?

Slightly, like one knows

most people on the beach.

You put some ice on your bruise

and I'll go find your husband.

May I help you, please?

I'm looking for a patient

named Roger Wade.

- There's no one here with that name.

- He may not be using that name.

- Do you recognise this face?

- There's nobody that looks like that.

You look just like my Great Aunt Esther.

She passed on a couple of years ago.

- Is Dr Verringer around?

- Dr Verringer is out of town.

- In Phoenix.

- Phoenix, Arizona.

- May I ask who you are?

- Just some guy looking for Dr Verringer.

Those ladies are a lot of help.

Crazy ladies. It's OK with me.

611, 612, 613...

- Excuse me, I'm looking for...

- Shh.

...615, 616,

- 617, 618...

- It's OK with me, lady.

- Excuse me, I'm supposed to meet...

- Shh.

All I see is that old man's pants.

- I have this book for Roger Wade...

- Shh.

- Are you looking for someone?

- No, I'm gonna deliver this book.

- To whom are you delivering the book?

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