”Your usual bang-up job,“ Belson said.
”Maybe you should follow me around on this one,“ I said. ”Learn as you go.“
”For God’s sake,“ Jill said. ”Don’t you people realize what happened? That was meant for me. He thought Babe was me.“
”Who thought that?“ Belson said.
”There’s a man,“ Jill said. ”He’s been threatening me, saying terrible things. Now he’s done this. He thought Babe was me.“
”What’s his name?“ Belson said.
”I don’t know. That’s what he’s supposed to find out.“ Jill jerked her head at me. ”Only he hasn’t found out anything, and now he’s tried to kill me.“
”Spenser?“
”No, no. The man.“ Sandy Salzman came into the office wearing a down parka and moon boots. He went straight to Jill Joyce.
”Jill, honey, are you okay?“
”Better than Babe Loftus,“ I said.
”Oh my God, Babe,“ Salzman said. ”What happened?“
”We’re looking into that,“ Belson said.
”Are you the police?“
”I’m one of them,“ Belson said. He flipped out his shield. ”Belson,“ he said. ”Homicide.“
Salzman was holding Jill Joyce’s hand. She put her other hand over his and laid her head against his arm.
”Sandy, please, get me out of here,“ Jill said. Salzman looked at Belson.
Belson said, ”Where’s she going to go?“
”Charles Hotel,“ Salzman said.
”We can locate that,“ Belson said. ”We may want to talk with her.“
”I think we should have an attorney present,“ Salzman said.
”Of course,“ Belson said. ”Important person like her. Probably ought to have two or three present.“
”No need to be unpleasant,“ Salzman said. ”I just think with a star of Jill’s magnitude it’s prudent.“
Belson looked at me and something that might have been amusement showed for a moment in his thin face.
”This one’s going to be a good time,“ he said.
”I’m taking Miss Joyce to the hotel,“ Salzman said. ”Feel free to use my office.“
”You want Cambridge to send somebody over to keep an eye out?“ Belson said. ”Now that there’s a homicide involved.“
”Yes,“ Salzman said. ”And the hotel security staff is alerted.“
”Fine,“ Belson said. ”I’ll want Spenser for an hour or so.“
Salzman was already guiding Jill out of his office. She looked back at me.
”You’ll come, won’t you?“ she said. ”You’ll stay with me?“
”I’ll be along,“ I said.
They left the room. Belson got up and closed the door behind them and walked across to the big picture window and stood looking out at the snow. His cigar had gone out some time ago, as it almost always did. He lit it with a kitchen match that he scratched on the window sill. Outside the pleasant snow came steadily down. Belson turned from the window, folded his arms, leaned against the sill.
”What do you think?“ he said.
”I don’t know,“ I said. ”I haven’t known since I got involved. I never more than half believed there was really anyone harassing her.“
”Tell me about it,“ Belson said.
I did. When I was through Belson took the little cigar, now down to a stub, from his mouth and pursed his lips.
”This thing is going to be a hair ball.“ I nodded.
”M.E. show up yet?“ I said.
”Not while I was there. She looks to have been shot twice in the back with a big gun. Three fifty-seven maybe. Been dead awhile. No sign of a struggle. Nobody we’ve talked to so far has heard anything. Nobody so far knows why she would have been in here on a Sunday night.“
”Even if she were, why would the murderer be here?“ I said. ”If he was after Jill he wouldn’t expect to find her here.“
”Maybe he was after the victim, and maybe he came with her.“
”Or brought her,“ I said.
