Lady in the Lake

When Maddie arrives at work, two detectives are waiting to speak to her. Workers who investigated the power outage at the fountain have discovered a woman’s corpse. Maddie lies, claiming she discarded the submission letter prompting her call. Detectives will only reveal that deteriorated remains belong to a Black woman. Later, Senior Editor Marshall summons Maddie, with her letter from “Bob Jones,” to his office. City Editor Harper suggests the body is likely that of the missing woman who worked for Shell Gordon at the Flamingo, indicating that there is no story. The Star’s attorney notes that Maddie is “the woman who tricked Stephen Corwin” (135), and Marshall observes that this story marks the second time Maddie has found herself involved in a homicide investigation.

Maddie encounters Edna Sperry, a respected career columnist, and asks for advice. Edna cites research, preparedness, and assertiveness as essential. Maddie soon realizes that she won’t be able to charm Edna into facilitating her advancement: “my first mistake was trying to get a woman to help me. I do better with men. I always do better with men” (138).

Ferdie is not surprised that the editors at the Star are not interested in Cleo’s murder. He claims that Cleo was promiscuous and deflects Maddie’s question about their familiarity by telling Maddie that not all Black people in Baltimore know one another.