In the Best Families

Hammond, and we shook. He was a stocky middle-aged specimen in a bright blue shirt, a tan jacket, and grey slacks-a hell of a combination. I was wearing a mixed tweeds made by Fradic, with an off-white shirt and a maroon tie.

Til sit in my car, I told them, “to wait for Mr Leeds. With the livestock around loose like that.

She laughed. “Duke isn't loose, he's with me. He wouldn't have touched you. He would have stopped three paces off, springing distance, and waited for me. Don't you like dogs?

“It depends on the dog. You might as well ask if I like lemon pie. With a dog who thinks of space between him and me only in terms of springing distance, my attitude is strictly one of trepidant vigilance.

“My Lord. She blinked long lashes over dark blue eyes. “Do you always talk like that? The eyes went to Hammond. “Did you get that, Dana?

“I quite agree with him, Hammond declared, “as you know. I'm not afraid to say so, either, because it shows the lengths I'll go to, to be with you. When you opened his kennel and he leaped out I could feel my hair standing up.

“I know, Annabel Frey said scornfully. “Duke knows too. I guess I'd better put him in. She left us, speaking to the dog, who abandoned his pose and trotted to her, and they disappeared around a corner of the building. There was a similarity in the movements of the two, muscular and sure and quick, but sort of nervous and dainty.

“Now we can relax, I told Hammond.

“I just can't help it, he said, irritated. “I'm not strong for dogs anyhow, and with these… He shrugged. “I'd just as soon go for a walk with a tiger.

Soon Annabel rejoined us, with a crack about Hammond's hair. I suggested that if they had something to do I could wait for Leeds without any help, but she said no.

“We only came to see you, she stated impersonally. “That is, I did, and Mr

Hammond went to the length of coming along. Just to see you, even if you are

Archie Goodwin, I wouldn't cross the street; but I want to watch you work. So many things fall short of the build-up, I want to see if a famous detective does. I'm sceptical already. You look younger than you should, and you dress too well, and if you really thought that dog might jump you, you should have done something to-where did that come from? Hey!

Sometimes I fumble a little drawing from my armpit, but that time it had been slick and clean. I had the barrel pointed straight up. Hammond had made a noise and an involuntary backward jerk.