Search Server 2008 Express Integration with WSS 3.0

I am setting up an environment for an intranet using WSS (Windows SharePoint Services) 3.0. The trap receives an environment configured to work with MS Search Server 2008 Express.

Here's the environment I would like to set up:

A: web server; Win Server 2003 SP2; WSS 3.0 SP2; IIS 6.0; .NET 3.5 SP1

B: Search Server; Win Server 2003 SP2; WSS 3.0 SP2; IIS 6.0; .NET 3.5 SP1; Search Server 2008 Express

C: Database server; Win Server 2003 SP2; SQL Server 2000 SP3 - Admin db, Content db, Config db, Search db

The question is if it is possible to use 3 servers like above, or if search server (B) should be combined with (A), since we are using the free version of Search Server version. The documentation from MS is not clear anyway. I can attack this problem with trial and error, but I probably won't.

The bigger question is: What is the best fit for a WSS / Search Server installation?