RANSVESTIA

All the way to Fremont, Ellis did a slow burn as he thought of the sloppy way that Hamilton was conducting the investigation. Not that this was anything new or unusual. Bud Hamilton had a reputation for holding out on his various partners over the years but was equally notorious for piecing together a case with just a wisp of evidence.

Tommy Moore was nearly six feet tall, fairly broad across the shoulders and deeply suntanned. He flashed a perfect set of dazzling white teeth at the detectives as he met them at the door. His black hair was long over his ears, but not uncommon in length by the stan- dards of the day. His black eyes twinkled as he took them into his "den," a library stacked on every wall with leather bound books.

"Pauline Vane," Moore grinned as he rested in a high backed rocking chair, "has been very busy on the phone since you were there.'

"I figured as much," Hamilton's smile was balanced by Ellis' ferocious scowl. "You'll tell me about last night's party and about Yvonne Douglas." Han ilton's even voice anticipated a ready reply.

"Of course. I always co-operate fully with the police." Moore look- ed up at Ellis' sneer. "I think I can trust you to be discreet, Sergeant, but how about your friend? I myself care little now about my reputa- tion. My money is inherited and in trust; and I am quite retired from business now. But there were other persons here last night of some reputation about the city who could be hurt if it were known they were here. Yet they surely had nothing to do with the murder."

Before Ellis could reply, Hamilton answered. "Detective Ellis can be relied upon to be discreet, Mr. Moore. I doubt very much if he'll ever talk about this case to anyone at all.”

Moore looked at Ellis critically for a moment and then nodded abruptly. "Yes, I see," he said flatly. "Well, the party. It wasn't one of the best. Yvonne came in about eleven, alone, as I recall, talked briefly with Gail Warren, and spent the rest of the time with the Lucases. Looked like Yvonne and Jenny were getting along fine. Yvonne said good-night to me at about twelve-fifteen and I saw her, er, h-her," Moore glanced at Ellis, "leave with Pauline, that is, Ryan Lucas."

"Who is Gail Warren?" asked Hamilton.