Chapters 17-20 Summary

At the opening of Chapter 17, Marlowe is poking around Jessie Florian's house. The front door is unlocked so Marlowe lets himself inside. Jessie Florian is in bed. She is passed out after having too much to drink. Marlowe wakes the woman to ask her more questions about Moose Malloy and Little Velma. Jessie says Velma died of a chest cold in Dalhart, Texas. Jessie pulls a small gun on Marlowe. Lindsay Marriott is Jessie's former employer. Marlowe stops in to visit with Nulty. Moose Malloy has escaped the police and Nulty does not see him being caught anytime soon. Before leaving the police station, Marlowe receives a telephone call from Mrs. Grayle's butler asking the detective to stop by as soon as possible.

In Chapter 18, Marlowe arrives at the Grayle's Bay City estate to talk about the stolen jade necklace. Anne...