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“With the cleaning?”
“In the closet.”
“No, it isn’t. I looked.”
About to speak, Willie tightened her lips and scowled at the coffee. Karl had walked in.
“Good evening, madam.” He went to the sink for a glass of water.
“Did you set those traps?” asked Shirley.
“No rats.”
“Did you set them?”
“I set them, of course, but the attic is clean.”
“Tell me, how was the movie, Karl?”
“Exciting.” His back, like his face, was a resolute blank.
Shirley s started from the kitchen, humming a song made famous by the Beatles. But then she turned. Just one more shot!
“Did you have any trouble getting the traps, Karl?”
“No; no trouble.”
“At six in the morning?”
“All-night market.”
Jesus!

Shirley took a long and luxurious bath, and when she went to the closet in her bedroom for her robe, she discovered Stephanie’s missing dress. It lay crumpled in a heap on the floor of the closet.
Shirley picked it up. What’s it doing in here?
The tags were still on it. For a moment, Shirley thought back. Then remembered that the day that she’d purchased the dress, she had also bought two or three items for herself. Must’ve put ‘em all together. Shirley carried the dress into Stephanie’s bedroom, put it on a hanger and slipped it on the rack. She glanced at Stephanie’s wardrobe.