Pete sat down. He heard the motor-cycle engines roar, and then the wagon jogged into life and began its guarded run to the City Hall.
Conrad took out a pack of cigarettes, shook out two, handed one to Pete, lit it and then lit his own.
'What are you going to do when a bondsman posts boil for you, Weiner?' he asked quietly.
Pete looked up sharply.
'You're charging me with murder, aren't you? That's a non-bailable offence.'
Conrad looked at him thoughtfully.
'Maybe I won't charge you with murder. Suppose I charge you with consorting with known criminals? You'll be out on bail within a couple of hours.'
He saw Pete change colour.
'I don't want to go out on bail.'
'Why not?'
Pete didn't say anything. He stared down at the handcuffs around his wrists, feeling sweat start out on his face.
'You're not scared to be out on bail, are you?'
'I'm not talking,' Pete said.
'You'll change your mind. Think it over. Once you're out of my hands, Weiner, I wouldn't give a dime for your life. I'm not protecting you unless you're going to do some talking.'
'I don't know anything about anything,' Pete said sullenly, and shifted around so his back was half turned to Conrad.
'You stupid fool!' Conrad said. 'The girl will identify you. Do you think you can get out of this? You were sent to kill her weren't you? You acted on Maurer's orders.'
Pete didn't say anything.
'You'll have to talk sooner or later,' Conrad said quietly. 'You can't spend the rest of your days suspended in space. You've got to come down on one side of the fence. You either talk and we'll protect you or you'll keep your mouth shut and we'll turn you loose. There's no other out for you.'
Still Pete didn't say anything.
'We're not interested in you,' Conrad went on. 'We're after Maurer. Play with us and we'll take care of you.'
Pete twisted around.
'Take care of me? That's a laugh! Do you imagine you can protect me? So long as I keep my mouth shut I stand a chance: not much of one, but a chance. If I talk I'm as good as dead. Neither you nor the whole goddamn police force could keep me alive!'
'Don't be a fool!' Conrad snapped. 'Of course we can protect you. I'll guarantee it.'
Pete stared at him for a long moment, then leaned forward and spat on the floor.
II
Van Roche was waiting as Conrad entered his office. 'Did you get him?' Van Roche asked.
'I've got him,' Conrad said, and walked over to his desk and sat down. 'He's up on the tenth floor with a couple of guards taking care of him. What are you looking so excited about?'
'Abe Gollowitz is talking to the D.A. He's got a writ for Miss Coleman's release.'
Conrad stiffened.
'You kidding?'
Van Roche shook his head.
'He blew in about ten minutes ago. The D.A.'s stalling him until you got back. He's demanding to see Miss Coleman.'
Conrad got to his feet.
'I'd better see the D.A.'
He walked along the passage to the D.A.'s office, tapped and pushed open the door.
Forest sat behind his desk, his hands folded on his blotter. He looked up as Conrad came in, lifted his shoulders in a resigned shrug and waved a hand towards Gollowitz who was sitting by the desk, his round swarthy face bland.
'I was just telling the D.A. that I want to see Miss Coleman,' Gollowitz said as Conrad shut the door and came across to the desk.
'Why?' Conrad asked curtly.
'She is being unlawfully detained here, and I happen to be her legal representative: that's why.'
'Well, well, that's news,' Conrad said. 'Does she know of her extraordinary good fortune? After all, I should have thought you had more important work to do than to bother about a penniless movie extra.'
