The Lady in the Lake

Marlowe returns to the Gillerlain Company and meets with Fromsett. She says she met Mr. and Mrs. Almore at one of Lavery’s parties. Marlowe tells her that Almore called the cops when Marlowe first went to Lavery’s place, and that the cop asked him if he was working for Mrs. Florence Almore’s parents. Fromsett tells Marlowe about an altercation between Florence and a man named Brownwell. Fromsett also reveals that the night Florence died, she had been drugged by her husband after getting into trouble at a gambling establishment. Brownwell was arrested for drunk driving before he could talk to the private detective Florence’s parents hired. When Fromsett tries to end the conversation, Marlowe pulls out the handkerchief with her initials on it.

Fromsett strongly dislikes the perfume on the handkerchief but admits that it belongs to her. She claims to have lost it at Lavery’s apartment a while ago. Marlowe tells her that Lavery is dead. She shudders and bends her cigarette before making her face expressionless. Fromsett admits that she once loved Lavery but is no longer in love with him. She also asserts that she didn’t kill him. Marlowe thinks the police are going to suspect that Crystal killed Lavery, but he thinks that Almore had something to do with it. Fromsett agrees with this latter theory. She agrees to find information about Florence’s parents for Marlowe.

Marlowe replaces the gun and calls the police in Lavery’s apartment. Two cops arrive and question Marlowe. He maintains his innocence and says he’ll wait for the homicide detectives.

Degarmo and Captain Webber arrive at Lavery’s apartment and examine the body. Marlowe mentions that they are friends with Almore, and Degarmo’s expression goes blank. One of the uniformed cops, Eddie, jokes about how they hid the Almore case “in the back of the shelf” (117) or, in other words, buried it. Eddie also talks about how Lavery found Florence’s body. Webber calls the coroner, Ed Garland, then questions Marlowe. After seeing Marlowe’s license, Webber says private detectives cause trouble and warns Marlowe that he won’t allow any trouble in Bay City. Degarmo says the murderer is probably a woman and suggests that the police should work with Marlowe. Marlowe tells them he came to question Lavery as part of his investigation of a case for Kingsley.

When Marlowe mentions Little Fawn Lake, Degarmo briefly pauses his writing. Webber doesn’t want to investigate Florence’s death, only Lavery’s. Marlowe admits that he has evidence that Crystal has been in Lavery’s apartment, and Degarmo speculates that she killed Lavery. Other officers and the coroner arrive. Marlowe asks Degarmo whether Almore killed Florence and was able to get the cops to cover it up. Degarmo slaps Marlowe. Degarmo tells Marlowe to repeat what he said, Marlowe does, and Degarmo slaps Marlowe again. Then, Degarmo threatens to harm Marlowe if he interferes in the case.

Marlowe goes to his office in Hollywood and starts drinking from a bottle he keeps there. He receives a letter from Adrienne Fromsett that includes the name and address of Florence’s parents. Marlowe cleans up a little in his office before heading out.

Marlowe goes to the residence of Eustace Grayson, Florence’s father, and Lettie Grayson, her mother. Marlowe asks them about Lavery, but they don’t want to talk about their daughter’s death. They become interested in talking when Marlowe mentions that Degarmo asked if Marlowe was the private detective Grayson hired. The couple reveals the name of the detective they did hire, Talley. They suspect Florence was killed because she disliked Almore’s business practice of giving sedatives to patients when other doctors would have them committed. Marlowe wonders if Lavery was blackmailing Almore, and Eustace thinks this is a possibility. He also thinks that Talley was framed for drunk driving. Lettie gives Marlowe the address for Talley’s wife.

Marlowe tells the Graysons that Lavery is dead. Eustace suspects that Almore killed Florence to hide his extramarital affair with a nurse, and that Almore also killed Lavery. After Mr. and Mrs. Grayson pursued legal action, the gambling establishment that Florence visited the night that she died, “Condy’s place” (133), was closed. The nurse that Almore had an affair with was named Mildred Haviland, Lettie believes. Eustace offers Marlowe money to prove Almore is a murderer.

Marlowe visits George Talley’s wife. She thinks he is a bill collector. When he asks about the Graysons, she says she is sick and wants to be left alone. He offers her money, but she still isn’t interested in talking to him. She threatens to scream if he doesn’t leave her alone, and he leaves his card in the door.