'What Hghtsr
'Well, like I told the police, there was always a light in the hall downstairs. And I can see that, kinda dim, through the glass in the front doors. I can't tell from where I was, whether the study's got a light or not. I can only see the hght upstairs.'
'What light upstairs?'
'Nathaniel's room.'
'Which was that?'
'Front and to the right when you're facing like I was. I could see him plain.'
'You mean, he was up and around?'
'Sure he was. He was painting a picture.'
'When could you see Nathaniel. Before or after Mc-Cauley got there?'
'Both,' said Delevan. 'I told you, I was swinging and enjoying the night. Fact, I was thinking about Nathaniel Bartee and me. There he had the big house, the money behind him. But I was thinking I'd rather be free and swinging out there in the hammock with practically nothing to my name but the clothes I had on—than I'd be Nathaniel who wants to paint pictures and has to do it in the night when the house i.s sleeping and the old man can't catch him.'
'How long were you watching Nathaniel?'
'Oh, a long time. He had on some kind of funny shirt. He's standing up in front of this picture. I'm smoking—oh, two or tluee cigarettes. Then, I hear the bus. I put my cigarette out. I can hear McCauley on the road after a while, but I can't see him yet, account of the trees, so I don't botlier looking. I'm watching Nathaniel.
'So, as I say, McCauley goes inside. Few minutes later, the Hght goes on in the old man's room.'
'Where is that?'
'Front. On the left. Old lady turned it on. Nathaniel heard something when the hght went up. He stopped p^int-ing.
'Now, wait a minute. You are telling me that you had your eyes on Natlianiel for quite some time before McCauley got tliere, up to and after the hghts went on in the old man's room?'
'Yup. That's what I'm telhng you.'
'You told the police this?'
'I did. Listen, I was Nathaniel's alibi. He never left that painting 'til—oh, I'd say quite a while after the Hghts were on in the old man's room. Then he heard something, because he takes off that crazy shirt, quick, and gets into his bathrobe. Then, I can't see him no more.
'Then the hghts go on downstairs, front right. And lights start popping all over the house. Well, I don't know what's going on. I just He there. The pohce showed up, maybe fifteen minutes later.'
'What did you do?'
'I went and talked to them.'
Johnny looked at him with respect. 'I see. You went and told all that you knew?' 'Right.'
'You heard no quarreling, no voices?' 'Didn't. Couldn't have.'
'Why didn't they call you at the trial, I wonder?^ 'Listen, nobody was trying to prove Nathaniel did anything,' Delevan said. 'They didn't need me to say that McCauley walked into that house.'
'Could she had been dead when he walked in?' 'How could she been? Nathaniel was painting his picture. He didn't hit her. The old man didn't hit her. I saw him getting up out of his bed before the old lady pulls the shade. The cook and the maid, they're sleeping downstairs in the back wing. Why would they hit her? McCauley was the only one who woulda hit her.' 'And you heard no car?'
'I told you I heard plenty cars. Loud at night. Up and down the roads.'
'Somebody could have got into the house at the back, on foot, without you seeing?'
'You're pushing,'' Delevan said, 'Sure. They could, all right.'
'Do you think it's possible that the boy, Dick, might have got into the house at the back?'
'Mister,' said Delevan patiently, 'it's possible. A whole platoon coulda got in at the back. Anything's possible.' 'You think it was McCauley?'
Delevan shrugged. 'It wasn't Nathaniel. That I know. He was a sad kind of guy.' Delevan frowned. ''Well, see, it was pretty quiet. Now, I'd have heard a window breaking—not that one broke. I'd have heard a screen being cut-not that one was cut. One thing I might not have heard. That's somebody with a key, sneaking in at the back door. But this is nothing.'
'Nothing,' agreed Johnny. 'Can you tell me exactly how long it was between McCauley's entering the house and the hghts going up?'
'Few minutes,' Delevan shrugged. 'I was swinging and thinking. And time, you know—unless you go by the watch-it don't always seem to take the same time for a certain time to go by.' Delevan kept frowning.
Johnny perceived that there was doubt. But doubt wasn't enough.
He went back to his motel in Hestia. Tried to call Grimes. No answer. Tried Copeland. He meant to beg tlie lawyer to come down. Nan would talk to him, alone. But neither of Copeland's phones answered.
I need help, thought Johnny in panic. She's going to marry a killer and I can't stop itl I am the la^t one who can stop it!
