Chapter 9 Summary

The next morning, Marlowe receives a call from Bernie Ohls, the lead investigator for the District Attorney and the man who gave Marlowe the lead on the Sternwood case. Ohls has called to tell Marlowe that one of the Sternwoods' cars is sitting in the water off of Lido pier with a body inside it. When Ohls offers to drive Marlowe up to the pier, Marlowe jumps at the chance to find out what is going on.

At the pier, Ohls and Marlowe learn that the person is not Regan, as Marlowe first thought it might be, but the Sternwoods' chauffeur, Owen Taylor. Interestingly, Owen was hit in the side of the head with a blunt object, which seems to make it a murder case. Unfortunately, there isn't much else to go on, so Ohls drives Marlowe back into the city.

Chapter 9 Analysis