Design for Dying by Renee Patrick

Ruby Carroll collection. “So these clothes are ours, too.”
    â€œYes, Mr. Groff,” Edith said. “From films that had recently finished shooting.”
    â€œBut now they’re back. Problem solved. Terrific.” Groff, I couldn’t help noticing, did not look at Edith as he spoke. He nodded at the two women, who took off toward the clothes as if they’d heard a starter’s pistol. “I drafted a few wardrobe girls to start tidying up.”
    One of the women snatched the bag of jewelry while the other lunged at the burgundy suit. Edith looked on in dismay. “Surely there’s no need to move so quickly.”
    Groff kept his words clipped and his tone arctic. “What there’s no need to do is extend police involvement in a studio matter resolved to Paramount’s satisfaction. Are other clothes missing?”
    Edith watched the first girl distribute the articles from the jewelry bag into drawers with all deliberate speed. “None I can account for, no.”
    â€œWas anything of consequence in the clothes?”
    Behind her glasses, Edith’s eyes flicked to Morrow. He discreetly tapped the breast pocket where he’d slipped the puzzle piece. “That’s not for me to say.”
    â€œPrecisely. And we’ve identified the responsible party. What was his name? The photographer?”
    â€œKenneth Nolan.” Edith and Morrow said it simultaneously. Edith took a step back, deferring to him.
    â€œMy partner is talking to him now.”
    â€œYour partner cut him loose, and I handled the rest. Nolan is no longer in the employ of Paramount Pictures.”
    â€œDid he confess?” Morrow asked.
    â€œDoes it matter? The studio’s role in this sad affair is at an end. We have our property back, the culprits no longer work here. You’re free to concentrate on more important matters. You should know, Gene, I put a call in to Chief Davis this morning, telling him how impressed Mr. Zukor was by your diligence and discretion. We haven’t seen headlines screaming ‘Alley Angel Plays Devil at Paramount.’ That hasn’t gone unappreciated.”
    Morrow grimaced, passing it off as a grin. “It’s why I do the job.”
    â€œIn the unlikely event you do require additional cooperation, contact me direct. No need for you to waste time going through our Wardrobe Department.” He couldn’t even bring himself to pronounce Edith’s name. She’d undermined Groff’s authority by summoning Morrow herself. It wasn’t only the jewelry he was putting in its proper place.
    Edith would have none of it. “Given that poor young girl’s murder, Mr. Groff, I’m happy to assist—”
    Groff was already making for the exit. “If you’ll excuse me, I’ve got other fires to put out.” An awkward silence followed in his wake, broken only by the clatter of hangers as the wardrobe women undid Ruby’s crime.
    Morrow finally chuckled. “I almost have to admire that guy. Bet anything I hear from one of Chief Davis’s glad-handers, strongly suggesting I keep Paramount out of the limelight. I should track down Hansen before he starts pestering Claudette Colbert. Can I give you a ride somewhere, Miss Frost?”
    â€œHome, I suppose. I can’t face customers just yet. Maybe after lunch.”
    â€œNonsense,” Edith said. “If you’re expected at work, you’ve got to go.”
    As I said my farewell to her, she pressed a piece of paper into my palm. On it she’d written the information that had been on the puzzle piece: 12/11, 7:30 .
    â€œJust in case,” Edith said.
    â€œJust in case what?”
    Her owlish eyes blinked at me. “Well, I don’t know.”
    â€œOh, right,” I said. “Just in case.”

 
    11
    I WAS HALFWAY up the stairs to my apartment when Mrs. Quigley’s voice boomed out of her perpetually half-open door.