He left his car at the end of the street and walked down to the house. It was a dark night, with a hint of rain in the air, and he passed no one on the way.
There was a light on in one of the upstairs rooms, but the rest of the house was in darkness.
His man had reported that the coloured maid had left about half an hour ago, and Seigel was satisfied that Janey was in the house alone.
He dug his thumb into the bell-push and waited.
After a delay, he heard her running down the stairs, then the front door opened and she was staring up at him.
She was wearing a yellow silk wrap, and her hair was loose around her shoulders. She looked pretty and desirable, but she raised no desire in Seigel.
'Hello, baby,' he said, and stepped forward, riding her back into the hall, closing the front door with his foot.
Janey's eyes flashed angrily as she recognized him.
'You can't come in here! Have you gone crazy?'
'Why not? you're alone, aren't you? I've been lonely for you, baby.'
'You must go at once!'
'That's a nice way to talk to me,' he said, smiling at her, turning on a charm that had never failed him as yet. 'Don't be that way. It's all right. No one saw me come in.'
'It isn't all right.'
He side-stepped her and walked into the sitting-room, switching on the lights.
'Gee! This is nice. How do you like being left all alone? Weren't you lonesome for me?'
Janey followed him in. She was flustered and angry.
'If Paul came back . . .'
'Why should he?' Seigel dropped into an armchair and smiled up at her. 'Relax. He's gone away, hasn't he?'
'Yes, but he might come back. You can't stay here, Louis.'
He reached up and caught her hand.
'Where is he then?' he asked, pulling her towards him. She struggled for a moment, then reluctantly let him draw her down on to his knees. 'That's better,' he went on. 'Gee! I've missed you. Haven't you missed me?'
'Well, I have. You might have . . . Why haven't I seen you before this?' Janey asked angrily.
Seigel laughed.
'I bet you thought I'd thrown you over. You did, didn't you?'
'What if I did?' Janey snapped, sitting bolt upright on his knees. 'Do you think I care? There are plenty of other fish in the sea.'
'That's right, so there are.' He ran his finger down her spine, and grinned as she shivered in ecstasy, pulling away from him.
'Don't do that!'
'I'll do something more than that in a moment.'
'You won't!' She got off his lap. 'You must go.'
'Okay, but you're coming with me. I have my car at the end of the street. We'll go to Hank's Bar and have a sea-food dinner and champagne.'
'No.'
But there was no conviction in her voice.
'Go and put on your prettiest dress. I'll wait here.'
'I don't think I should.'
He got up.
'Do you want me to carry you upstairs?'
'You'll do nothing of the kind!'
'That's fighting talk, baby.'
He swept her off her feet, holding her against him as she struggled and kicked.
'Let me down this minute!'
'We're going upstairs.'
He carried her into the hall and started up the stairs.
'Louis! You're not to! I'll get angry. You must put me down!'
'All in good time.'
