 |
 |
"I didn't exactly say that. It _was_ unlocked, though." "I'm sorry I was mean," she said, and pushed something under the blott Down the hall the radio still blared through the transom and the exagg "That's far too much," the little voice said. "Why, it might cost hund "George W. Hicks," I said. "It's in the register. Room 215. You just g The room showed signs of occupancy. There was a small radio on a night I opened the door beyond the kitchen and went through it with the gun "Next point," Christy French announced. "He don't have a driver's lice He winced. "All right. Blonde. White coat with some colored stitching "You don't have to," I said. "I just said it for you. I beg your pardo "The head still-photographer at the studio," I said. "Don't you know t Then I went towards the man on the bed. He had not moved during all th "Don't forget you're a lady," I said, and turned around and put my han It was still ringing as I reached the door. No use. I had to go back. "I'd take it all. So would the killer. Why leave fourteen dollars?" I opened the desk drawer and got out her money. I pushed it across the "I just didn't want you to lose your balance," I said. I hung up and staggered out into the fresh air. I went down the hill. The leading man was an amiable ham with a lot of charm, some of it tur He got up slowly, pretending to be groggier than he was. His hand fumb She fixed me with her pale blue eyes enlarged by the glasses. Her mout "But I tell you I have to see you." The voice didn't quite rise to a y "Are you sure you can remember?" Mavis Weld asked her in exactly the s "Room 332, Van Nuys Hotel. Knock two quick ones and two slow ones. Not Five minutes later the buzzer sounded on the outer door of the half-of "Don't forget you're a lady," I said, and turned around and put my han That stopped me for a moment, then I laughed. "You're a nice little li A voice I had heard before said sharply: "Shut up, you little bitch. I "Just one bell," I said. "Very slow. Tolling is the word, I believe." "Vince! The Doc!" he shouted angrily. He shook the receiver and threw "Come on, Alfred," the big man called sharply from outside the door. A "I've kissed better since," I said. To hell with her. To hell with all "You have a date? Is she beautiful? More beautiful than I am?" I had put my head on one side and was leaning forward. I was listening "If you have a proposition, state it. And I get called 'mister' until "Hey. Wait a minute, dope. It's nothing hot like you think. No ice. No Flack shook his head gloomily. "You don't even have to pass the desk t She stood up. "I hope mother won't think I've done wrong," she said, p The phone clicked in my ear. I hung up. For no reason a pencil rolled "Look," I said. "You're going to find this hard to believe. But I came "Yes. I am so sorry," she sighed. "That is, I think I am. Sometimes I "Go ahead," I said. "It would give me the greatest possible pleasure t The big man turned to me placidly. "Why do all these punks keep saying "Did it occur to you to ask the police about that?" He didn't bother to answer. He gave me a steady look which may or may "What about his habits? What does he do for fun— besides not smoking o "Are you sure you can remember?" Mavis Weld asked her in exactly the s She looked sharply down at my empty hands. Studio stills are usually a And then, for even less reason, I saw Orfamay Quest's face without the"I'll see it," I said. "Even if I have to get a hinge screwed to my ne "I didn't know you bothered to ask them their names," Mavis Weld said. "Like to get a line on one of the customers," I said. "Five bucks," I said. "I've got the address already. And don't haggle. "All right," I said. "I'll go down there and take a look. But you ough "So he must have followed her," I said. "He must have seen her dump th Flack took hold of the arms of his chair and squeezed. His voice came I said: "Neither can I. I may call you again. Don't get me wrong, Dr. Toad studied me carefully with narrow eyes. The junky got up and went