Lady in the Lake

Maddie presents her theory to Bob Bauer over lunch. Cleo Sherwood’s murder was orchestrated by Shell Gordon because Cleo had been carrying on an affair with Ezekiel Taylor. Bob finds Maddie’s efforts amusing, just like the detectives at homicide, who chuckled at Maddie’s suggestion of a motive. Even if the Star covered elections in the Fourth District, Maddie’s accusations could never be published, as they would constitute libel.

Feeling defeated, Maddie takes a walk after their lunch, slipping into memories of the one brief reprisal of her teenage affair. At 19, early in her marriage, Maddie became distressed as she and Milton failed to conceive a child. She became certain that if she did not have a child, she would have failed to fulfill her purpose in life. When a friend mentions that they saw a portrait that looks like her for sale, Maddie knows the portrait is by Allan Durst Sr., as her affair with the artist unfolded in tandem with the portrait’s creation. Maddie convinces the gallerist to give her Allan Sr.’s address. Maddie claims to be traveling to New York to attend a play, but instead waits outside Allan Sr.’s home. His wife is out of town.