Happy Birth Day to The Long Goodbye

[Robin Landseadel]

	She spoke while I was still looking at it. "I have no idea who Dr.
	V. is. We don't know any doctor with a name beginning that
	way. I  suppose he is the one who has that place where Roger
	was the last time."

	"When the cowpoke brought him home? Your husband didn't
	mention any names at all-even place names?"

	She shook her head. "Nothing. I've looked in the directory. 		There  
are dozens of doctors of one sort or another whose
	names begin with V. Also, it may not be his surname."

	"Quite likely he's not even a doctor," I  said. "That brings up the
	question of ready cash. A legitimate man would take a check,
	but a quack wouldn't. It might turn into evidence. And a guy like
	that wouldn't be cheap. Room and board at his house would
	come high. Not to mention the needle."

	She looked puzzled. "The needle?"

	"All the shady ones use dope on their clients. Easiest way to
	handle them. Knock them out for ten or twelve hours and when
	they come out of it, they're good boys. But using narcotics
	without a license can get you room and board with Uncle Sam.
	And that comes very high indeed."
	"The Long Goodbye", 107