Show of Evil

'And how long does - did - it take to get to work every day?'

'Thirty minutes or so. Depends on the traffic.'

'You drive then?'

'Yes.'

'How long did you work for Mr Delaney?'

'Seventeen years.'

'And you were his personal secretary?'

'Executive secretary was my title,' she said proudly.

'And how long did you hold that position?'

'Nine years.'

'In that position, did you have occasion or occasions to go to Mr Delaney's apartment in the Lofts Apartments on Astor Street?'

'Yes.'

'Frequently?'

'Yes. He liked to work there, away from the bustle of the office. I frequently took files, letters to sign, or took dictation over there.'

'And did you have a key to that apartment?'

Venable started to object to the question, then thought better of it and kept quiet.

'Yes.'

'Where is that key now?'

'I, uh, it's on my keyring with my other keys.'

'And where are they?'

'The police took them when they arrested me.'

'So the police have the key now?'

'Yes.'

'Now, Mrs Stoddard, I want to ask you about the gun. You do own a gun, do you not?'

'Yes.'

'What calibre?'

'It's a .38.'

'Make?'

'Smith and Weston.'

'You mean Smith and Wesson?'

'I guess. Yes.'

'Where did you acquire this gun?'

'The Sergeant York gun store on Wabash.'

'Do you recall when you purchased it?'

'It was about a month ago. I don't remember the exact day.'

'How much did you pay for the gun in question?'

'One hundred and thirty-five dollars.'

'Why did you buy a gun?'

'For protection.'

'Did you carry this gun with you all the time?'

Pause. 'Yes.'

'You seem uncertain, Mrs Stoddard.'

'I was. I was trying to remember if I ever left it home. I don't think I did.'

'Where did you carry it?'

'I just told you, everywhere.'

'No, I mean, where did you keep the gun when you were carrying it?'

'In my handbag.'