Chapter 7 Summary

Lew Archer's next stop is the home of Joyce Hampshire, one of Laurel's old friends whom she sometimes stays with when fighting with Tom. As Lew enters the courtyard of Greenhouse Manor where Joyce lives, he passes a thin man dressed in a trench coat who turns quickly away from Archer. When Lew rings Joyce's doorbell, she immediately answers the door as if waiting for someone. Archer finds Joyce to be a nice-looking woman who appears to be missing something in her life.

Joyce tells Lew that Laurel was staying with her but that she left about a week ago and Joyce hasn't heard from her. Joyce suggests that Archer contact Laurel's grandmother, Sylvia Lennox. According to Joyce Laurel preferred to stay with her grandmother over her parents even though their houses are not far apart on Pacific Point. Lew asks Joyce about...