Shallow Graves

building that the agency was located inside. The outside door was unlocked, however, and the mailboxes in the foyer showed a listing for both the agency and a “LINDQVIST, E.“ on the next floor. I pressed the button by the agency name, and the inner door buzzed long enough to let me pass through it. I climbed stairs, one office suite to a floor, until I reached the fourth level and a yellow six-panel with brass knob that had the agency name on a brass plate. I knocked and a male voice said to come in.
    As I swung the door inward, I saw a man about my age and height in blue jeans, turtleneck, and a corduroy Norfolk jacket. He was good-looking in a college professor way, but with a weak chin and shaggy hair, as though he’d told the barber to give him a Beatles look, then said, what the hell, take off another two inches. The hair seemed black and silver, but more like each strand was half each color. He used a telephone receiver to beckon me into the reception area while his free hand reached for a loose-leaf binder on a shelf behind a desk.
    The man was saying, “Right, Kyle. Trunks, athletic wear... Half day guaranteed at a thousand... No, plus agency fee. Any problem if it runs over?... Over half a day, what do you think?... Good, good... No, no your legs are fine. You get a chance, you might work on the upper body a little... No, generally it’s fine, Kyle, you’re in great shape, but for this one... Right, right, a swimwear catalog, not just a department store—what?... No, no tanner than you are now. Right, right.“
    I assumed I was watching George Yulin in action. I decided to wait until he got off the phone. The reception area had a love seat and two barrel chairs in complementary colors. I tried the love seat. On the beige walls were enlarged photos, all black and white, matted but not framed. A couple of advertisements were in stand-up cutouts, backed by cardboard. Most of the models shown were female, but three were male. One of the men flexed the kind of physique I might have had in college if I’d been eating complex carbohydrates instead of drinking them.
    Behind the guy on the phone was a restored brick wall and some leafy plants. He fingered one of the leaves and seemed close to finishing the call when a female voice said, “Can I help you?“
    I half turned and stood up. She was in the doorway to what looked like the front office. About five five without the two-inch heels, the woman had lush brown hair drawn back and down her neck. Maybe thirty-five, her face was a notch to the handsome side of pretty, with a perfect smile. The shoulders were a little broad for the body, and her breasts inside a turquoise dress were no more prominent than the pockets on a lumberjack’s shirt.
    “Are you Ms. Lindquist?“
    “Lind-qvist,“ coming down on the “v,“ but still beaming the smile.
    “Sorry. My name’s John Cuddy. I wonder if I could talk with you for a while.“
    “About what?“
    “I’m representing Empire Insurance on the claim you have on one of your models.“
    “The claim—Oh.“ The smile faded. “You mean Mau Tim, don’t you.“
    Lindqvist pronounced it “Mahow Tim,“ just like Harry Mullen had. As I said “Yes,“ the man on the phone said, “Kyle... Kyle I have to hang up now,“ and put the receiver down.
    He said, “Mau Tim’s death was a terrible shock to all of us.“
    “Mr. Yulin?“
    “Yes. Yes, George Yulin.“
    He came around the desk as Lindqvist came a step further into the reception area. I shook hands with him, then with Lindqvist.
    Yulin said, “I have to admit. I’m impressed with your service.“
    “I’m sorry?“
    “Coming to deal with us only a week after I made the call, I mean.“
    “I’m a private investigator, Mr. Yulin. I’m looking into Ms. Dani’s death as part of processing your claim.“
    A different tone came into Lindqvist’s voice. “I thought the police said she was killed by a burglar?“
    “A policy this size, we do an independent investigation.“
    Lindqvist moved her tongue around inside her mouth. “Should we be calling our lawyers, Mr. Cuddy?“
    “That’s not up to me. I’m just here to ask you some questions, help the people I work for process your claim.“
    Yulin said, “What can there be to process? We had a policy for half a million dollars on the girl. She died, you pay, correct?“
    “The company decides that after they get my report.“
    The telephone began bleating like a sheep. Then another line