Tense Revision 2.

The man in front of me was tall and strong, with thin black hair. He …………………………….
(sit) in an expensive chair behind an expensive desk and …………………………..(look) at me
with cold, grey eyes. He …………………………..(not have) time to smile.

“OK. Marlowe,” he said. “You ………………………….(be) a private detective. One of the best
in Los Angeles, I hear. I ………………………….(have) a job for you. I ………………………..(want)
you to find my wife. …………………………..(you/can/do) that?”

I …………………………..(be) a private detective for a long time. I ……………………(find) many

wives and husbands in all these years. That’s an easy job for me but this man
………………………….(not want) to give much information about her. He only said he
……………………….(have) an important position in the government and he …………………………..
(not want) ……………………(have) any trouble because of his wife’s disappearance.

“Well, tell me a bit about your wife.”

“She sometimes …………………………….(do) stupid things and ……………………(have) very

dangerous friends.”

He gave me a drink and told me the story. “I ………………………..(have) a house in the

mountains near Puma Point. My wife Crystal ………………………….(go) there last May. There
………………………(be) an important dinner here on June 12th and she ………………………..(not
come) back for it.”

“What ………………………………….(you/do) about it? Marlowe asked

“Nothing. She ……………………….(send) me a letter. Look, here it is” he said

El Paso , 14th June

I’m leaving you and going to Mexico. I’m going to marry Chris Lavery.

Goodbye and good luck.

Crystal