Chapters 39 through 45 Summary

Bernie Ohls comes to Marlowe's office and the two of them speculate on what might have happened to Roger Wade. Ohls says he knows there's something not right about the situation but can't decide what. He suggests that Eileen entered the house, saw Roger passed out, waited for the speedboat, shot him, went outside and rang the doorbell to summon Marlowe. They both realize that the timing is too coincidental to make that a positive theory.

He then gets a call from Howard Spencer who asks for details. He asks if Marlowe knows where Eileen is and he says Spencer should just call her up. Spencer says he doubts Eileen will be accepting a call and Marlowe says she answered the coroner's questions during the inquest "without batting an eye."

As soon as Marlowe hangs up with Spencer, he calls Sewell...