Ransvestia

Buchanan gave a small shrug. "We've always turned a blind eye to this place," he began apologetically. "They help Allen County's economy, and they've kept very much out of sight." He had been busy searching through his pockets, and finally he took out a notebook. He flicked it open with practised ease, using just one large thumb. He held the notebook in one hand like it was a postage stamp. "The murdered guy was know as Darlene Draper. He was stabbed in the back, directly through the heart." He passed a photograph of a buxom, brunette girl, in s skimpy stage costume, to Hamilton. "The body was taken on to Tremayne, but the autopsy reports are here," He indicated a door back at the far end of the spacious bar. "The one yesterday was a woman. I mean a real woman. A Mrs. Betty Ewell. She was stabbed in the back too."

"Husband?" asked Bud Hamilton.

There was a hesitation, and a grimace, before Buchanan answered. "Kind of. Registered here as Christine Ewell, but also known as Robert J. on his driving license. He was very cut up about the whole thing." In the background, Hamilton saw Kim Winter flinch at Buchanan's unfortunate pun.

"And where is the Ewell woman's body now?" Bud asked quietly.

"Should be in the coroner's office in Tremayne by now," said Buchanan. "The doc said he would call when he had something."

Hamilton nodded. Being this late into an inquiry and having to start from scratch was going to be tough. "Show me where they were murdered," he spoke directly to Buchanan. 'Johnny' stayed with Kim Winter as Buchanan led Hamilton between rows of tables to a door marked, 'Staff Only.' In the passageway beyond, numbered doors gave off on either side. "Dressing rooms for the performers," said Buchanan before Bud could ask.

At the T-intersection, Frank Buchanan indicated along the left- hand hallway. "That leads to the stage and to the Cabaret room, behind the barroom we were in. Got a good view of the lake, too. This Draper belonged to group called the Conway Sisters, if you can believe that." He turned down the passageway to the right. "Kim Winter found Draper's body in this small room at the end." He opened a door marked, 'Keep Out.' The small, dusty room was obviously a