by Dell Shannon
(Yes, of course, Kingman's note, and Mrs. Bragg emptying the basket.)
"The car was an awful nuisance. Of course it had to go too, and I thought if it was found near the station people would think he'd gone away on a train. That was stupid-I didn't think until I was almost there-I should have left it at the airport, much closer to the apartment, so much easier. I took along the smallest suitcase because I thought that would look to a cab driver as if I'd just got off a train-but then I realized I couldn't take a cab right at the station, in the light. You know," she simpered at him, "people always do look at me, and they'd be bound to remember. So I thought, something to put over my hair, and I put on a lot more make-up too, heavy eyebrows and so on, like that, as a disguise. And, oh, that suitcase was so heavy! I walked and walked, looking for some place I could get a scarf, something like that-but everything was going right for me that night, I found a place open-and you're lying when you say that man, and the driver too, knew I was acting a part! I always said I could do character work, though it's not necessary, of course-I am better, I admit that, at ingenue types. And when I did get back, such a time it took too, I put the note back on the door where it had been, and the key, and-I never thought anyone would find out, and what did it matter? But you were cleverer than I thought-I can't imagine how you came to find him… All the same, I don't think I mind, because I really believe this might be the great turning point for me, you know? Some really useful publicity-and of course a good new agent, someone young-"
"Maybe so, Miss Ferne," said Mendoza. "Thank you very much, I think that's all we'll ask of you right now. You can sign a typed statement later."
"Come on, dear," said the policewoman.
"Oh, may I go now? I must see about a lawyer, I suppose. Goodbye, Lieutenant." As she was led out the door she was saying again, to herself, "Someone young-with the youthful outlook-that's the main thing, the important thing-"
***
Hackett said angrily, wonderingly, "She never asked about Angel at all. Where she is, how she feels. And, my God, this is going to be tough on Angel… Even without a trial, if the lawyer persuades the Ferne not to try denying that confession-"
"She'll probably try," said Mendoza. "Claim the brutal police forced her to sign it. Rather odd business altogether, but then-as Madame Cara said to me-people are. And, speaking of cliches, that's one we always come back to in our business, don't we?-you look far enough, there's a woman at the bottom of every piece of mischief. For me, nada de eso, thanks. Too dangerous."
Hackett looked at him there, leaning back in his swiveled-around chair, looking out the window. Hackett said, "There's another one says the most accomplished and wary Casanova meets his downfall sooner or later and gets led to the slaughter. I'm just waiting for the day it happens to you-I'll be there to cheer on true love."
Mendoza swung around and laughed up at him. "A lot of people are waiting for that day, boy. You'll all wait a long, long time. Maybe forever."
" Cuanto apuestas, how much do you bet?" asked Hackett.
Mendoza looked interested at once. "At what odds, friend? If they're long enough- But what'd we make the terminus ad quem? Retiring age, maybe?"
"I was just talking," said Hackett hastily, "no bets. Not with you. Retiring age? My God, you'd get up out of your coffin to chase a pretty woman-"
"Probably," said Mendoza, "probably. But not so headlong that I'd run into the trap."
Hackett laughed a little shortly and went out. Mendoza looked after him and shook his head: a pity about Hackett, if he was really serious over this girl. However, these things happened. " Eso alla el ,” said Mendoza to himself, "his own business." But very probably he'd be of little use for a while until he recovered from temporary lunacy
…
At which point Sergeant Lake came in with a sheaf of new reports, and Mendoza sat up, demanded coffee, lit a cigarette, and began to go through them with interest. Always another job coming up, in this business.
This accidental poisoning, for instance, had it really been accidental? Sergeant Galeano thought not. Better hear what he had to say, and begin to think about it…
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