that compelled Shayne’s interest.
He said, “Go right ahead,” and moved nearer the bench.
Eddie asked, “Is that the insulating stuff?” with genuine interest. “Gosh, you’ve got a big job cut out for you-wrapping all those pipes.”
“It’s not so bad. Something to keep me busy, and it’ll cut fuel bills down.”
Shayne noted the deep vibrance of his voice and decided that it could also become very tender, and persuasive.
After carefully ruling the asbestos, the chauffeur laid his pencil and rule down, picked up a short-stemmed pipe and a can of tobacco, turned to Shayne and asked, “What do you want to see me about?”
“This is Mr. Shayne,” Eddie said quickly, “and he’s a detective.” His tone warned the chauffeur. “Come to see about the necklace,” he added.
“I’m Neal Jordan, Mr. Shayne.” He snapped the tobacco can shut, set it on the bench and took a step forward to shake hands. His movements were slow and deliberate with no hint of insolence.
Shayne looked into a pair of dark blue intelligent eyes as he shook hands. Neal’s brows and lashes were black, and there was more strength than masculine beauty in the clean-cut features.
Shayne said, “You’d better run along, Eddie. I’ll talk to Jordan alone.”
Eddie hesitated, his face sullen. He muttered, “Okay. I suppose you want to check on my alibi.” Before he swaggered out he added, “Watch him, Neal. He’ll try to hang something on you.”
Neither man spoke until the outer door was closed. Neal Jordan lighted his pipe and said, “Unpleasant youngster, isn’t he?”
“I meet all kinds in my business.”
“There are a couple of boxes we can sit on,” Neal suggested, “or if you’d rather go to my rooms over the garage-”
“This is all right.” They moved back to a couple of packing cases and sat down facing each other.
Neal contemplated the glowing bowl of his pipe, looked up with a whimsical smile and said, “I suppose we’re all suspects, in a way.”
“In a way,” Shayne agreed. “How intimate were you with Katrin Moe?”
Neal moved his head slightly. “I don’t think any man was intimate with her. I couldn’t get to first base.” He smiled a wry smile of defeat.
“But you tried?”
“She was pretty,” he admitted. “But I never push in where I’m not wanted.”
“What is your opinion of her?”
“She was one of the most thoroughly nice girls I’ve ever known.”
“Did she ever mention suicide to you?”
“I don’t believe she ever discussed much of anything with anybody. She was quite reticent. The Nordic type.”
Shayne said, “You’re damned well educated for a chauffeur.”
Neal smiled. “Chauffeurs don’t necessarily have to be illiterate. I had two years of college.”
“Did you drive for Mrs. Lomax night before last?”
“Yes. To the meeting at the club and then to Baton Rouge afterward.”
“What time did you return home?”
“Yesterday afternoon.”
“I mean that night. I understand Mrs. Lomax came home to change.”
“Yes. And to pack a bag. The Baton Rouge trip came up unexpectedly, you see.” Neal considered for a moment. “It was shortly before midnight when we left. I suppose it took her half an hour to get ready. We were here between eleven and twelve that night.”
“And you didn’t know about the robbery until you came back yesterday?”
“No. Mr. Lomax didn’t bother to notify her because he thought nothing of great value had been taken, I suppose.”
“Did you know she left her necklace out of the safe?”
Neal looked at him in cool surprise. “How would I know? I’m just the chauffeur here.”
“But you did know she wore her necklace earlier that night?”
“Of course. That is, I didn’t think much about it. She often wore it when she would have shown better taste not to.”
“Did you talk to Katrin yesterday afternoon?”
“Yes. I drove her downtown.”
“And you didn’t see her after that?”
“Not until dinner time. This load of material had arrived and I was busy with it in the afternoon.” He indicated several rolls of insulating material on the bench. “Soon after dinner I drove Miss Clarice to the dance.”
“How long did she stay at the dance?”
“Why don’t you ask her?”
“I have.”
“Then I don’t see-”
Shayne made an impatient gesture.
“You can refuse to answer if you want. But the police will ask you later.”
Neal said, “I don’t want any trouble. Miss Clarice didn’t stay at the dance late. She wanted to find some excitement and she had me drive her to the Laurel Club.”
“What time?”
“About one-thirty.”
“Was that a customary procedure?”
“I’m willing to answer any pertinent questions,” Neal answered with cool deliberation, “but I don’t see that gossiping about my employer’s family will help you recover the necklace.”
“Did Clarice gamble? Lose much?”
“I don’t know. You forget I’m just the chauffeur. I don’t go in with her.”
“Then she had been to the Laurel Club before?”
“Yes.”
“Did you see anyone else there at the Club?”
“I suppose you mean Eddie. That must be what he meant when he said you were checking up on his alibi. Yes. I saw him leave about two-thirty. Miss Clarice came out immediately afterward and I drove her home.”
“And?” Shayne prompted.
“I went to bed,” Jordan said evenly. He tapped out his pipe on the side of the box.
“And this morning?”
“I was eating breakfast when I heard Mr. Lomax calling me. I knew Mrs. Brown had gone up to awaken Katrin. He was at the door of her room when I got there-and he asked if I could break it in. I smashed the upper panel and he reached in and turned the key.”
“Did you see the key on the inside before he reached in?”
“I don’t know that I actually saw the key in the lock. I know the door was locked. I know Mr. Lomax reached through the broken panel and unlocked it. Is that enough?”
“But he could have had the key in his hand-reached through and pretend to unlock it, and-”
Neal Jordan stood up abruptly. There was a dangerous glint in his clear blue eyes. “I don’t know what your game is, but I don’t like the hints you’re dropping. Sure, I suppose he could have done all that. But he didn’t. I was there and saw him.”
“You went into the room together,” Shayne went on.
“I ran in first and turned off the gas,” Neal corrected, “while Mr. Lomax waited just outside the doorway. I came back and waited until the room was cleared enough so we could breathe. Then we both went to the bed. We knew it was useless. She was dead.”
“And you didn’t see any suicide note?”
“No.”
“Could one possibly have been taken from the room before the police arrived?”
