around for an elevator and saw none, and started to climb stairs.
Three flights up a door stood open, and there waiting was Delia Devlin.
I told her hello, friendly but not profuse. She nodded, not so friendly, hugged the wall to let me pass, shut the door, and went by me to lead the way through an arch into a living room. I sent my eyes around with an expression of comradely interest. The chairs and couch were attractive and cool in summer slips. There were shelves of books. The windows were on the street, and there were three doors besides the arch, two of them standing open and one not quite closed.
She sat and invited me to. I cant imagine, she said in a louder voice than seemed necessary, in spite of the street noises from the open windows, what you want to ask me thats so mysterious.
Sitting, I regarded her. Only one corner lamp was on, and in the dim light she wasnt at all bad looking. With smaller ears she would have been a worthy specimen, with no glare on her.
Its not mysterious, I protested. As I said on the phone, its private and confidential, thats all. Mr. Wolfe felt it would be an imposition to ask you to come to his office again, so he sent me. Miss Berk is out, is she'
Yes, she went to a show with a friend. Guys and Dolls.
Fine. Its a good show. This really is confidential, Miss Devlin. So were alone'
Certainly we are. What is it, anyhow'
There were three things wrong. First, I had a hunch, and my batting average on hunches is high. Second, she was talking too loud. Third, her telling me where Carol Berk was, even naming the show, was off key.
The reason its so confidential, I said, is simply that you ought to decide for yourself what you want to do. I doubt if I you realize what lengths other people may go to to help you decide. You say were alone, but it wouldnt surprise me a bit -
I sprang up, marched across to the door that wasnt quite closed, thinking it the most likely, and jerked it open. Behind me a little smothered shriek came from Delia Devlin. In front of me, backed up against closet shelves piled with cartons and I miscellany, was Carol Berk. One look at her satisfied me on one point - what her eyes were like when something happened that really aroused her.
I stepped back. Delia Devlin was at my elbow, jabbering. I gripped her arm hard enough to hurt a little and addressed Carol Berk as she emerged from the closet.
My God, do I look like that big a sap'Maybe your sidewise glance isnt as keen as you think -
Delia was yapping at me. You get out! Get out!
Carol stopped her. Let him stay, Delia. She was calm and contemptuous. Hes only a crummy little stooge, trying to slip one over for his boss. Ill be back in an hour or so.
She moved. Delia, protesting, caught her arm, but she pulled loose and left through one of the open doors. There were sounds from the adjoining room, then she appeared again, with a thing on her head and a jacket and handbag, and passed through to the foyer. The outer door opened and then closed. I crossed to a window and stuck my head out and in a minute saw her emerge to the sidewalk and turn west.
I went back to my chair and sat. The open closet door was unsightly, and I got up and closed it and then sat again. Just forget it, I said cheerfully. The closet was a bum idea anyhow; she would have stifled in there. Sit down and relax while I try to slip one over for my boss.
She stood. Im not interested in anything you have to say.
Then you shouldnt have let me in. Certainly you shouldnt have stuck Miss Berk in that closet. Lets get it over with. I merely want to find out whether you have any use for ten thousand dollars.
She gawked. Whether I what'
Sit down and Ill tell you.
She went to a chair and sat, and I shifted position to be more comfortable facing her. First I want to tell you a couple of things about murder investigations. In -
Ive heard all I want to about murder.
I know you have, but thats one of the things. When you get involved in one its not a
Three flights up a door stood open, and there waiting was Delia Devlin.
I told her hello, friendly but not profuse. She nodded, not so friendly, hugged the wall to let me pass, shut the door, and went by me to lead the way through an arch into a living room. I sent my eyes around with an expression of comradely interest. The chairs and couch were attractive and cool in summer slips. There were shelves of books. The windows were on the street, and there were three doors besides the arch, two of them standing open and one not quite closed.
She sat and invited me to. I cant imagine, she said in a louder voice than seemed necessary, in spite of the street noises from the open windows, what you want to ask me thats so mysterious.
Sitting, I regarded her. Only one corner lamp was on, and in the dim light she wasnt at all bad looking. With smaller ears she would have been a worthy specimen, with no glare on her.
Its not mysterious, I protested. As I said on the phone, its private and confidential, thats all. Mr. Wolfe felt it would be an imposition to ask you to come to his office again, so he sent me. Miss Berk is out, is she'
Yes, she went to a show with a friend. Guys and Dolls.
Fine. Its a good show. This really is confidential, Miss Devlin. So were alone'
Certainly we are. What is it, anyhow'
There were three things wrong. First, I had a hunch, and my batting average on hunches is high. Second, she was talking too loud. Third, her telling me where Carol Berk was, even naming the show, was off key.
The reason its so confidential, I said, is simply that you ought to decide for yourself what you want to do. I doubt if I you realize what lengths other people may go to to help you decide. You say were alone, but it wouldnt surprise me a bit -
I sprang up, marched across to the door that wasnt quite closed, thinking it the most likely, and jerked it open. Behind me a little smothered shriek came from Delia Devlin. In front of me, backed up against closet shelves piled with cartons and I miscellany, was Carol Berk. One look at her satisfied me on one point - what her eyes were like when something happened that really aroused her.
I stepped back. Delia Devlin was at my elbow, jabbering. I gripped her arm hard enough to hurt a little and addressed Carol Berk as she emerged from the closet.
My God, do I look like that big a sap'Maybe your sidewise glance isnt as keen as you think -
Delia was yapping at me. You get out! Get out!
Carol stopped her. Let him stay, Delia. She was calm and contemptuous. Hes only a crummy little stooge, trying to slip one over for his boss. Ill be back in an hour or so.
She moved. Delia, protesting, caught her arm, but she pulled loose and left through one of the open doors. There were sounds from the adjoining room, then she appeared again, with a thing on her head and a jacket and handbag, and passed through to the foyer. The outer door opened and then closed. I crossed to a window and stuck my head out and in a minute saw her emerge to the sidewalk and turn west.
I went back to my chair and sat. The open closet door was unsightly, and I got up and closed it and then sat again. Just forget it, I said cheerfully. The closet was a bum idea anyhow; she would have stifled in there. Sit down and relax while I try to slip one over for my boss.
She stood. Im not interested in anything you have to say.
Then you shouldnt have let me in. Certainly you shouldnt have stuck Miss Berk in that closet. Lets get it over with. I merely want to find out whether you have any use for ten thousand dollars.
She gawked. Whether I what'
Sit down and Ill tell you.
She went to a chair and sat, and I shifted position to be more comfortable facing her. First I want to tell you a couple of things about murder investigations. In -
Ive heard all I want to about murder.
I know you have, but thats one of the things. When you get involved in one its not a
Similar Books
Until It's You
C.B. Salem
Kalila
Rosemary Nixon
Identical
Ellen Hopkins
Flight from the Dark
Joe Dever
Between Two Worlds
Zainab Salbi
Sinful
Carolyn Faulkner
Your Backyard Is Wild
Jeff Corwin
Find a Victim
Ross MacDonald
Attack of the Amazons
Gilbert L. Morris