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him. Kat was newer, and still wore the brittle mantle of New York over her heart. She had been a sportswear buyer there until she'd tired of the pressure and decided to move to San Francisco. She had landed the job at Lady J within a week of her arrival, and she felt as lucky to be there as Jessie did having her in the shop. She knew the business. Totally.
    The three women spent a half hour chatting over coffee while Katsuko showed Jessie some clippings of articles mentioning the boutique that had appeared in the papers. They had two new customers who had practically bought out the shop. And they talked easily of what Jessie had lined up for the fall. She wanted to set up a fashion show before she left for Carmel in October. Kat could get started on ideas for that.
    The shop was alive with her presence, and together they made a powerful threesome. All three had something to offer. It showed in the fact that the boutique hadn't suffered while she'd been gone. She couldn't afford to have it do that, and she wouldn't have tolerated it, either. Both of the girls knew that, and they cherished their jobs. She paid well, they got marvelous clothes at a discount, and she was a reasonable woman to work for, which was rare. Kat had worked for three bitches in a row in New York, and Zina had escaped a long line of horny men who wanted her to type, take shorthand, and screw, not necessarily in that order. Jessica expected long hours and hard work, but she put in the same herself, and often more. She had made Lady J a success, and she expected them to help her maintain it. It wasn't a difficult task. She infused fresh life into it every season, and her clientele loved it. Lady J was as solid as a rock. Just like Jessica herself, and everything around her.
    "And now, you two, I'd better dig through my mail. How bad is it?"
    "Not too bad. Zina answered the dingy stuff. The letters from Texas from women who were here in March and wonder if the little yellow turtleneck is still on sale. That kind of stuff ... she answered them all."
    "Zina, I love you."
    "At your service." She swept a deep curtsy and the bright green halter she wore over white trousers bobbed with the weight of her breasts. But the other two had stopped teasing her long ago. Each was content with herself, and all three had good reason to be.
    Jessie wandered into her small office three steps up in the back and looked around, pleased. Her plants were thriving, her mail was neatly divided and stacked, her bills had been paid. She saw at a glance that all was in order. Now all she had to do was sift through it. She was halfway through reading her mail when Zina appeared in the doorway, looking puzzled.
    "There's a man here to see you, Jessie. He says it's urgent." She looked almost worried. He was not one of their usual customers, and he hadn't come there to buy.
    "To see me? What about?"
    "He didn't say. But he asked me to give you his card." Zina extended the small rectangle of stiff white paper, and Jessie looked into her eyes.
    "Something wrong?" Zina shrugged ignorance and Jessie read the name: "William Houghton. Inspector. San Francisco Police." She didn't understand and looked back at Zina for clues. "Did anything happen while I was gone? Did we get robbed?" And Christ, wouldn't it be like them not to worry her at first, but wait and tell her an hour or two later!
    "No, Jessie. Honest. Nothing happened. I don't have any idea what this is about." The drawl sounded childish when Zina was worried.
    "Neither do I. Why don't your bring him in here? I'd better talk to him.
    William Houghton appeared, following Zina with some interest. The fit of her white slacks over her trim hips was in sharp contrast to the fullness in her halter. The inspector looked hungry.
    "Inspector Houghton?" Jessie stood to her full height, and Houghton seemed impressed. The three were an interesting group; Katsuko had not missed his thorough gaze either. "I'm Jessica Clarke."
    "I'd like to speak to you