“before we begin,” jonathon smiled at m mandragore, “ do you mind if i ask what your qualifications are - or if you have any?”
m mandragore seemed to take no offense at jonathon’s blunt question. “i have some experience working for investigators in the city - doing what you what you might call legwork. i don’t have any kind of license, if that’s what you mean.”
“i see.”
“i don’t advertise myself as a detective or as having any police experience. i just try to find things out for people.”
“yes, that seems perfectly legal. in this state, anyway, maybe not in new york or chicago or paris.”
“we are not in new york or chicago or paris.”
“no, well, as i indicated earlier, my name is jonathon jones and i am in fact an accredited attorney, a member of the bar. do you have a first name, miss mandragore?”
“maria.”
“maria.” jonathon was comfortable addressing all women by their first names, whether they were young or old, good-looking or otherwise, white or colored, or rich or poor. he had never, praise the lord, had occasion to come before a female judge, but if he ever did, he would be prepared to call her by her first name.
“well, maria,” jonathon continued, “is there any reason a body should hire you, rather than - than somebody else?”
“i work cheap.”
jonathon almost laughed out loud. “that’s very good. it just so happens that my client is very specifically looking for someone who will work cheap.”
“then maybe we can do business.”
“maybe.” jonathon leaned back in the chair, in no hurry now. “tell me, do you have any assistants?”
“no, there is just me. that’s one reason i am so cheap. and i don’t charge expenses, mr jones, just a flat fee once we agree on it.”
jonathon nodded. “”but you must have a car?”
“oh, sure. and i feed it better than i feed myself. how else am i going to get around and find anything out? out here in the country.”
“do you work long hours, maria? you look a little peaked, if you don’t mind my saying so.”
“nothing a good steak dinner wouldn’t cure, if you want to buy me one.”
“ha, ha, very good.” jonathon looked around the little office. “yes, i’ll buy you a steak dinner, maria, that sounds like an excellent idea. and we can see if we can get down to business while we feed our pretty faces. i know just the place, out on 53. nothing too fancy, just good hearty fare.”
“that sounds good to me, mr jones.”
“i walked over here, so i propose we go over in your well fed car, if that suits you.”
“just let me get my hat and coat.”
maria got up and took a shabby coat and a beret from a rack beside the door. jonathon was relieved to see she was wearing shoes.
“this investigation,” jonathon told maria as they went down the stairs, “involves an old murder case. ever worked on a murder case before?”
“once or twice.”
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