rc.theladyinthelake-第38节

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　　〃She　holds　the　fort　in　this　office　and　holds　his　hand　out　of　office　hours。　She's　no　office　cutie；　though。　She　has　brains　and　style。〃
　　〃This　situation　is　going　to　use　all　she　has；〃　Dógarmo　said。　He　drove　down　to　Wilshire　and　we　turned　east　again。
　　Twenty…five　minutes　brought　us　to　the　Bryson　Tower；　a　white　stucco　palace　with　fretted　lanterns　in　the　forecourt　and　tall　date　palms。　The　entrance　was　in　an　L；　up　marble　steps；　through　a　Moorish　archway；　and　over　a　lobby　that　was　too　big　and　a　carpet　that　was　too　blue。　Blue　All　Baba　oil　jars　were　dotted　around；　big　enough　to　keep　tigers　in。　There　was　a　desk　and　a　night　clerk　with　one　of　those　mustaches　that　get　stuck　under　your　fingernail。
　　Degarmo　lunged　past　the　desk　towards　an　open　elevator　beside　which　a　tired　old　man　sat　on　a　stool　waiting　for　a　customer。　The　clerk　snapped　at　Degarmo's　back　like　a　terrier。
　　〃One　moment；　please。　Whom　did　you　wish　to　see？〃　Degarmo　spun　on　his　heel　and　looked　at　me　wonderingly。　〃Did　he　say　'whom'？〃
　　〃Yeah；　but　don't　hit　him；〃　I　said。　〃There　is　such　a　word。〃　Degarmo　licked　his　lips。　〃I　knew　there　was；〃　he　said。　〃I　often　wondered　where　they　kept　it。　Look；　buddy；〃　he　said　to　the　clerk；　〃we　want　up　to　seven…sixteen。　Any　objection？〃
　　〃Certainly　I　have；〃　the　clerk　said　coldly。　〃We　don't　anflounce　guests　at〃　he　lifted　his　arm　and　turned　it　neatly　to　look　at　the　narrow　oblong　watch　on　the　inside　of　his　wrist〃at　twenty…three　minutes　past　four　in　the　morning。〃
　　〃That's　what　I　thought；〃　Degarmo　said。　〃So　I　wasn't　going　to　bother　you。　You　get　the　idea？〃　He　took　his　shield　out　of　his　pocket　and　held　it　so　that　the　light　glinted　on　the　gold　and　the　blue　enameL　〃I'm　a　police　lieutenant。〃　The　clerk　shrugged。　〃Very　well。　I　hope　there　isn't　going　to　be　any　trouble。　I'd　better　announce　you　then。　What　names？〃
　　〃Lieutenant　Degarmo　and　Mr。　Marlowe。〃
　　〃Apartment　716。　That　will　be　Miss　Fromsett。　One　moment。〃　He　went　behind　a　glass　screen　and　we　heard　him　talking　on　the　phone　after　a　longish　pause。　He　came　back　and　nodded。
　　〃Miss　Fromsett　is　in。　She　will　receive　you。〃
　　〃That's　certainly　a　load　off　my　mind；〃　Degarmo　said。　〃And　don't　bother　to　call　your　house　peeper　and　send　him　up　to　the　scatter。　I'm　allergic　to　house　peepers。〃　The　clerk　gave　a　small　cold　smile　and　we　got　into　the　elevator。
　　The　seventh　floor　was　cool　and　quiet。　The　corridor　seemed　a　mile　long。　We　came　at　last　to　a　door　with　716　on　it　in　gilt　numbers　in　a　circle　of　gilt　leaves。　There　was　an　ivory　button　beside　the　door。　Degarmo　pushed　it　and　chimes　rang　inside　the　door　and　it　was　opened。
　　Miss　Fromsett　wore　a　quilted　blue　robe　over　her　pajamas。　On　her　feet　were　small　tufted　slippers　with　high　heels。　Her　dark　hair　was　fluffed　out　engagingly　and　the　cold　cream　had　been　wiped　from　her　face　and　just　enough　makeup　applied。
　　We　went　past　her　into　a　rather　narrow　room　with　several　handsome　oval　mirrors　and　gray　period　furniture　upholstered　in　blue　damask。　It　didn't　look　like　apartment　house　furniture。　She　sat　down　on　a　slender　love　seat　and　leaned　back　and　waited　calmly　for　somebody　to　say　something。
　　I　said：　〃This　is　Lieutenant　Degarmo　of　the　Bay　City　police。　We're　looking　for　Kingsley。　He's　not　at　his　house。　We　thought　you　might　be　able　to　give　us　an　idea　where　to　find　him。〃　She　spoke　to　me　without　looking　at　me。　〃Is　it　that　urgent？〃
　　〃Yes。　Something　has　happened。〃
　　〃What　has　happened？〃　Degarmo　said　bluntly：　〃We　just　want　to　know　where　Kingsley　is；　sister。　We　don't　have　time　to　build　up　a　scene。〃　The　girl　looked　at　him　with　a　plete　absence　of　expression。　She　looked　back　at　me　and　said：　〃I　think　you　had　better　tell　me；　Mr。　Marlowe。〃
　　〃I　went　down　there　with　the　money；〃　I　said。　〃I　met　her　as　arranged。　I　went　to　her　apartment　to　talk　to　her。　While　there　I　was　slugged　by　a　man　who　was　hidden　behind　a　curtain。　I　didn't　see　the　man。　When　I　came　out　of　it　she　had　been　murdered。〃
　　〃Murdered？〃　I　said：　〃Murdered。〃　She　closed　her　fine　eyes　and　the　corners　of　her　lovely　mouth　drew　in。　Then　she　stood　up　with　a　quick　shrug　and　went　over　to　a　small；　marble…topped　table　with　spindly　legs。　She　took　a　cigarette　out　of　a　small　embossed　silver　box　and　lit　it；　staring　emptily　down　at　the　table。　The　match　in　her　hand　was　waved　more　and　more　slowly　until　it　stopped；　still　burning；　and　she　dropped　it　into　a　tray。　She　turned　and　put　her　back　to　the　table。
　　〃I　suppose　I　ought　to　scream　or　something；〃　she　said。　〃I　don't　seem　to　have　any　feeling　about　it　at　all。〃　Degarmo　said：　〃We　don't　feel　so　interested　in　your　feelings　right　now。　What　we　want　to　know　is　where　Kingsley　is。　You　can　tell　us　or　not　tell　us。　Either　way　you　can　skip　the　attitudes。　Just　make　your　mind　up。〃　She　said　to　me　quietly：　〃The　lieutenant　here　is　a　Bay　City　officer？〃　I　nodded。　She　turned　at　him　slowly；　with　a　lovely　contemptuous　dignity。　〃In　that　case；〃　she　said；　〃he　has　no　more　right　in　my　apartment　than　any　other　loud…mouthed　bum　that　might　try　to　toss　his　weight　around。〃　Degarmo　looked　at　her　bleakly。　He　grinned　and　walked　across　the　room　and　stretched　his　long　legs　from　a　deep　downy　chair。　He　waved　his　hand　at　me。
　　〃Okay；　you　work　on　her。　I　can　get　all　the　co…operation　I　need　from　the　L。A。　boys；　but　by　the　time　I　had　things　explained　to　them；　it　would　be　a　week　from　next　Tuesday。〃　I　said：　〃Miss　Fromsett；　if　you　know　where　he　is；　or　where　he　started　to　go；　please　teli　us。　You　can　understand　that　he　has　to　be　found。〃　She　said　calmly：　〃Why？〃　Degarmo　put　his　head　back　and　laughed。　〃This　babe　is　good；〃　he　said。　〃Maybe　she　thinks　we　should　keep　it　a　secret　from　him　that　his　wife　has　been　knocked　off。〃
　　〃She's　better　than　you　think；〃　I　told　him。　His　face　sobered　and　he　bit　his　thumb。　He　looked　her　up　and　down　insolently。
　　She　said：　〃Is　it　just　because　he　has　to　be　told？〃　I　took　the　yellow　and　green　scarf　out　of　my　pocket　and　shook　it　out　loose　and　held　it　in　front　of　her。
　　〃This　was　found　in　the　apartment　where　she　was　murdered。　I　think　you　have　seen　it。〃　She　looked　at　the　scarf　and　she　looked　at　me；　and　in　neither　of　the　glances　was　there　any　meaning。　She　said：　〃You　ask　for　a　great　deal　of　confidence；　Mr。　Marlowe。　Considering　that　you　haven't　been　such　a　very　smart　detective　after　all。〃
　　〃I　ask　for　it；〃　I　said；　〃and　I　expect　to　get　it。　And　how　smart　I've　been　is　something　you　don't　really　know　anything　about。〃
　　〃This　is　cute；〃　Degarmo　put　in。　〃You　two　make　a　nice　team。　All　you　need　is　acrobats　to　follow　you。　But　right　now　〃　She　cut　through　his　voice　as　if　he　didn't　exist。　〃How　was　she　murdered？〃
　　〃She　was　strangled　and　stripped　naked　and　scratched　up。〃
　　〃Derry　wouldn't　have　done　anything　like　that；〃　she　said　quietly。
　　Degarmo　made　a　noise　with　his　lips。　〃Nobody　ever　knows　what　anybody　else　will　do；　sister。　A　cop　knows　that　much。〃　She　still　didn't　look　at　him。　In　the　same　level　tone　she　asked：　〃Do　you　want　to　know　where　we　went　after　we　left　your　apartment　and　whether　he　brought　me　home…things　like　that？〃
　　〃Because　if　he　did；　he　wouldn't　have　had　time　to　go　down　to　the　beach　and　kill　her？　Is　that　it？〃　I　said；　〃That's　a　good　part　of　it。〃
　　〃He　didn't　bring　me　home；〃　she　said　slowly。　〃I　took　a　taxi　on　Hollywood　Boulevard；　not　more　than　five　minutes　after　we　left　your　place。　I　didn't　see　him　again。　I　supposed　he　went　home。〃　Degarmo　said：　〃Usually　the　bim　tries　to　give　her　boy　friend　a　bit　more　alibi　than　that。　But　it　takes　all　kinds；　don't　it？〃　Miss　Fromsett　said　to　me：　〃He　wanted　to　bring　me　home；　but　it　was　a　long　way　out　of　his　way　and　we　were　both　tired。　The　reason　I　was　telling　you　this　is　because　I　know　it　doesn't　matter　in　the　least。　If　I　thought　it　did；　I　wouldn't　tell　you。〃
　　〃So　he　did　have　time；〃　I　said。
　　She　shook　her　head。　〃I　don't　know。　I　don't　know　how　much　time　was　needed。　I　don't　know　how　he　could　have　known　where　to　go。　Not　from　me；　not　from　her　through　me。　She　didn't　tell　me。〃　Her　dark　eyes　were　on　mine；　searching；　probing。　〃Is　this　the　kind　of　confidence　you　ask　for？〃　I　folded　the　scarf　up　and　put　it　back　in　my　pocket。　〃We　want　to　know　where　he　is　now。〃
　　〃I　can't　tell　you　because　I　have　no　idea。〃　Her　eyes　had　followed　the　scarf　down　to　my　pocket。　They　stayed　there。　〃You　say　you　were　slugged。　You　mean　knocked　unconscious？〃
　　〃Yes。　By　somebody　who　was　hidden　out　behind　a　curtain。　We　still　fall　for　it。　She　pulled　a　gun　on　me　and　I　was　busy　trying　to　take　it　away　from　her。　There's　no　doubt　she　shot　Lavery。〃　Degarmo　stood　up　suddenly：　〃You're　making　yourself　a　nice　smooth　scene；　fellow；〃　he　growled。　〃But　you're　not　getting　anywhere。　Let's　blow。〃　I　said：　〃Wait　a　minute。　I'm　not　finished。　Suppose　he　had　something　on　his　mind；　Miss　Fromsett　something　that　was　eating　pretty　deep　into　him。　That　was　how　he　looked　tonight。　Suppose　he　knew　more　about　all　this　than　we　realized…or　than　I　realized…and　knew　things　were　ing　to　a　head。　He　would　want　to　go　somewhere　quietly　and　try　to　figure　out　what　to　do。　Don't　you　think　he　might？〃　I　stopped　and　waited；　looking　sideways　at　Degarmo's　impatience。　After　a　moment　the　girl　said　tonelessly：　〃He　wouldn't　run　away　or　hide；　because　it　wasn't　anything　he　could　run　away　or　hide　from。　But　he　might　want　a　time　to　himself　to　think。〃
　　〃In　a　strange　place；　in　a　hotel；〃　I　said；　thinking　of　the　story　that　had　b