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formal, Ray? I'm Penelope to all Europe and just plain Penny to my friends. But soft awhile. Pascoe?'
    'We spoke this morning.'
    'So! When a girl says come up and see me, you let no grass grow!'
    'It's an accident,' said Pascoe unchivalrously. 'But I'm glad to meet you.'
    'Join us, Penny?' said Crabtree.
    'Just for a moment.'
    She redistributed herself around a chair and smiled sweetly at Pascoe. She had a very sweet smile. Indeed, trapped in that flesh like a snowdrop in aspic, a small, pretty, girlish face seemed to be staring out.
    'Will you have a jar?' asked Crabtree.
    'Gin with,' said the woman.
    'It's my shout,' said Pascoe.
    'It's my patch,' said Crabtree, rising.
    'How's the case, Inspector?' asked Penny Latimer.
    'No case,' said Pascoe. 'People tell us things, we've got to look into them.'
    'And you've looked into Linda Abbott?'
    'Do you know her? Personally, I mean,' countered Pascoe.
    'Only as an actress. Socially I know nothing, which was why we struck our little bargain, just in case. How were her teeth?'
    'Complete.'
    'Don't sound so disappointed, dear. What now? Would you still like to see Gerry?'
    'I don't know. Not unless I really have to. But you never know.'
    'You could spend an interesting day on the set,' she said. 'Really. I mean it. Do you good.'
    'How?'
    'For a start, it'd bore you to tears. You might find it distasteful but you wouldn't find it illegal. And at the end of the day you might even agree that though it's not your way of earning a living, there's no reason why it shouldn't be somebody else's.'
    Pascoe downed his second half in one and said, 'You're very defensive.'
    'And I know it. You're bloody aggressive, and I don't think you do.'
    'I don't mean to be,' said Pascoe.
    'No. It's your job. Like one of your cars stopping some kid on a flash motor-bike. His licence is in order, but he's young, and he's wearing fancy gear, and he doesn't look humble, so he gets the full treatment. Finally, reluctantly, he gets sent on his way with a warning against breathing, and the Panda-car tracks him for the next ten miles.'
    'I grasp your analogy,' said Pascoe.
    'Chance'd be a fine thing,' she answered. Their gazes locked and after a moment they started to laugh.
    'Watch her,' said Crabtree plonking down a tray with a large gin, with whatever it was with, and another four halves. 'She'll have you starring in a remake of the Keystone Cops - naked.'
    'I doubt it,' said the woman. 'The Inspector don't approve of us beautiful people. Not like you, Ray. Ray recognizes that police and film people have a lot in common. They exist because of human nature, not in spite of it. But Ray has slain the beast, ambition, and now takes comfort in the arms of the beauty, philosophy. You should try it, Inspector.'
    'I'll bear it in mind,' was the smartest reply Pascoe could manage.
    'You do. And don't forget my invitation. Homeric's the company, Penelope's the name. I'll be weaving and watching for you, sailor. 'Bye, Ray. Thanks for the drink.'
    She rose and returned to her companions.
    'Interesting woman,' said Crabtree, regarding Pascoe with amusement.
    'Yes. Is she like that through choice or chance?'
    'Glandular, they tell me. Used to be a beauty. Now she has to live off eggs and spinach and no good it does her.'
    'Tough,' said Pascoe. 'Tell me, Ray, what's a joint like Homeric doing in a nice town like this?'
    Crabtree shrugged.
    'They have an office. They pay their rates. They give no offence. The only way that most people are going to know what their precise business is would be to see their films, or take part in one of them. Either way, you're not going to complain. Things have changed since I was a callow constable, but one thing I've learned in my low-trajectory meteoric career: if it's all right with top brass, it's all right with me.'
    'But why come here at all? What's wrong with the Big Smoke?'
    'Dear, dear,' said Crabtree. 'I bet you still think Soho's full of opium dens and sinister Orientals. Up here it's