The Lady in the Lake

Marlowe stops in a hotel to freshen up and eat. When he returns to his parked car, a woman named Birdie Keppel is in it. She introduces herself as a reporter for the “Puma Point Banner” (51) as well as a hairdresser. He offers her a ride and they talk about the corpse. Marlowe doesn’t think Chess is a murderer and says he isn’t investigating his case. Birdie tells Marlowe about a policeman from Los Angeles looking for a woman named Mildred Haviland, who looks like Muriel Chess. Later, the reader learns that Mildred and Muriel are the same person. However, Birdie didn’t see the policeman’s badge; he only said his name was De Soto. Later, the reader learns that De Soto is an alias for Degarmo. Marlowe drops Birdie off, and she assures him that she is a better hairdresser than an interviewer.

Marlowe calls Kingsley to update him about Bill and Muriel Chess. Kingsley says Muriel and Crystal were friends, but he’s never heard of Mildred Haviland. As he leaves the phone booth, Marlowe has to walk around a deer that blocks the sidewalk. He also passes by Patton’s office as he walks around the area.