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scare him to lay off you."
      "Don't be a dope," I said. "I was the sucker who passed out. Ask baby-face over there. She'll tell you. Better still, get that bottle of brandy in the next room; it's full of shut-eye medicine."
      "What brandy?" Flaggerty demanded.
      One of the cops went into the bedroom. He came back after a moment or so.
      "No brandy," he said.
      There wouldn't be," I said, shrugging. "Well, ask her. She'll tell you."
      "I don't need to ask her!" Flaggerty roared. "The hotel telephone operator has a record of a call made by you at two o clock this morning. We've traced that call to Herrick's residence. Ten minutes after the call Herrick arrived here. He asked the reception clerk for your room number, and the bell-hop brought him up to this room. How do you like that?"
      "Very cosy." I said.
      "You and Herrick talked. You were drunk and vicious. You're a killer, Cain. You don't think twice about killing. You're as mad as a mad dog! Herrick wouldn't scare, so you hit him with your gun. You were so goddamned drunk you forgot all about him the moment you'd done it. And I'll tell you why. You wanted that floozie. She was in bed waiting for you, wasn't she?"
      I laughed at him. "Ask her. She's my witness." I look at Miss Wonderly. "Listen, baby, last night you said you were for me. Well, here's your chance. You're the only one who can bust this frame wide open. I'm relying on you. They've got me in a sweet jam. There's nothing I can do about it. But if you have the guts, you can tell the truth, and that'll put me in the clear. We had a swell time together. We can still have a swell time together. Only you've got to be on my side. Now tell them."
      "Wait," Killeano said, starting to his feet. His expression was a nice blend of suspicion and doubtful friendliness. He gave the idea that in spite of wanting to help me, he was gradually being persuaded that I was as guilty as hell. It was a nice act. He crossed the room and stood over Miss Wonderly. "Your word in a court of law hasn't much value. You're in a jam yourself. If Cain didn't kill Herrick, then you must have killed him. I'll tell you why. The door was lo cked on the inside! So don't lie. Maybe Cain was nice to you, but you've got to tell the truth because you just can't afford to lie."
      I saw then that they had taken care of everything. If Miss Wonderly said I had passed out, then they'd hang the murder on her. They wouldn't care so long as they hung it on someone.
      "Okay, baby," I said. "Lie if you want to. He's right. They've been a little too smart for us."
      "I'm not talking," she said, and began to cry.
      That was right up Flaggerty's street. He grabbed hold of her arm and yanked her out of her chair. "You'll talk, you floozie!" he bawled, and shook her so her head snapped back.
      I'd left my chair and reached him before the two cops could move.
      I spun him around and hit him in the mouth. It was a sweet punch, and I felt my knuckles grate on his teeth. He went over backwards, spitting blood. It did me a power of good.
      Then the cops jumped me, and one of them bounced a nightstick across my head.
      I came round as Flaggerty was sitting up. I had a bump on my head, but he had lost a couple of teeth.
      Killeano sorted us out.
      After a while the atmosphere quietened down, but Flaggerty was still too groggy to continue questioning. Killeano took over. He stood in front of Miss Wonderly, his short fat legs astride.
      "Unless you tell us what happened you'll be arrested," he said to her.
      "What does it matter?" I said, rubbing my head. "Why do it the hard way? Tell 'em you passed out, and know nothing about it. They've got all the witnesses they want."
    One of the coppers slapped me across the mouth.
    "Shaddap," he said.
    "That's going to be too bad for you," I said, and the look in my eyes made him edge away.
      Miss Wonderly looked at Killeano and then at me. She was pale, but there was a