white linen suit, a green and brown tie and a cream silk shirt.”
“That’s the fella,” Hame said. “Well, what do you know? Nick and I were a little foxed.
The description of Farrar seemed oddly like Ricca. We couldn’t figure it out.”
“He was very like Johnny,” Della said, completely unruffled. “But Johnny wouldn’t have it.
I pointed it out at the time, but I guess he thinks he’s a lot better looking than he really is.”
That got a laugh from Hame, but Reisner continued to stare thoughtfully at me.
Hame rose to his feet.
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“Well, I guess that takes care of that,” he said. “I’ll be running along. We won’t need either
of you at the inquest. Our yarn to the coroner will be that Farrar stole your car from the
parking-lot, and you didn’t catch sight of him. Okay?”
“That’s very sweet of you,” Della said.
“Glad to save you any bother, Mrs. Wertham.” Again she let him hold her hand longer than
necessary. “Look me up when you’re passing headquarters. Always glad to have a beautiful
woman in the office.” He nodded to me, “So long, Ricca.”
When he had gone, I said, “Nice obliging cop.”
“So he should be,” Reisner said curtly. “We pay him enough.” He moved to his desk and
sat down. “Well, now we’ve got that straightened out, let’s get down to business.”
“Yes,” Della said, “Paul wanted Johnny and me to check the books, Nick.”
Reisner favoured her with a cold stare.
“You? First time you’ve had anything to do with the business, isn’t it?”
There was a short pause while they looked at each other, then Della laughed.
“I have to make a start sometime. As Paul couldn’t come himself, he asked me to represent
him.”
Reisner picked up a paper-knife and began to dig holes with it in his blotter. There was a
vague littie smile hovering around his thin lips.
“So you’re his representative? That’s interesting. Have you got it in writing?”
Della’s eyes snapped.
“Writing? Are you trying to be funny, Nick?”
“No.” Reisner leaned back in his chair. “Paul told me Ricca was to check the books. Okay,
he can check them, but Paul didn’t say anything about you taking a look, and you don’t until I
have Paul’s authority.”
“Paul told me she and I were to work together,” I said, feeling it was time I took a hand in
this. “He said she was to see everything.”
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Reisner dug more holes in the blotter.
“I’m not interested in what Paul said to you. He didn’t say it to me.”
“Now, look …” I began heatedly, but Della cut in.
“Keep out of this, Johnny. I can handle it.” She stood up. “Paul thinks you’ve been dipping
into the reserve,” she went on to Reisner. “We’re here to check it. A stall like this won’t get
you anywhere. If you don’t want to get the heave, you’ll give me the keys.”
Reisner threw back his head and laughed. He seemed genuinely amused.
“Who’s going to give me the heave?” he asked. “That’s funny. When Paul walks in here
and tells me to get out, I’ll get out, and not before. If you and Ricca imagine you can push me
around, you’ve got another think coming. You’re both off your home ground, and you’ll find
out just how far off you are if you crowd me much more.”
“Don’t be a fool, Nick,” Della said, her face white. “That’s not the way to talk to me, and
you know it!”
Reisner lifted his eyebrows mockingly.
“But it’s you who’re putting on the pressure. I’m merely obeying orders. Ricca can look at
