'How do I know? I found it like this. Have you another way out beside the main lobby?'
'Yeah. At the end of the passage and down the fire escape.'
'So whoever did this could have come up that way?'
'I guess so.'
Adams grunted.
'There's a girl in the opposite room. She might have seen something. Bring her here.'
Cutler hesitated, but the cold, hard light in Adams' eyes warned him this wasn't the time to be unco- operative.
He crossed the passage, opened the opposite door.
'Hey, Milly, come here a moment.'
The girl appeared, looked across the passage at the disordered room and her eyes lit up.
'Gee I Did someone lose something?'
'Did Yarde go out by the escape last night?' Adams asked.
'Do I answer this copper's questions?' she asked Cutler.
He nodded.
'Okay, if you say so,' she said, 'but I thought this joint had protection.'
'Did Yarde go out by the escape last night?' Adams snapped.
'Yes. Everyone uses the escape.'
'This mess couldn't have been made without a lot of noise. Didn't you hear anything?'
'I had the radio on, but I did hear furniture being pushed around. I didn't think anything of it.'
'What time last night?'
'About half-past ten.'
'You didn't see any stranger in the passage?'
'If I had I would have called Seth.'
'You said just now that Yarde was out. Didn't you think it was odd to hear noises in his room after he had gone out?'
'How was I to know it was in his room? I just heard noises. Why should I care?'
'How do you know Yarde went out at eight last night? Did you see him?'
'Yes.'
'Did he say where he was going?'
'He said he was going to raise some money.'
'Did he tell you that?'
'Yes. He had borrowed ten bucks off me and I wanted it. He said he hadn't got it on him, but he would give it to me when he got back.' She looked around the room. 'Doesn't look as if he is coming back now, does it?'
'Did he say how he was going to raise the money?'
'I didn't ask him.'
'Okay,' Adams said, waving her to the door. 'You can go.'
'Thanks copper for nothing,' she said, and flounced back to her room.
'Got any ideas about this?' Adams asked Cutler.
Cutler shook his head.
'If Yarde shows up tell him I want to talk to him. I want information. He isn't in trouble, but he will be if he doesn't get in touch with me.'
'I'll tell him. Want to go out by the escape?'
'Anything's better than your elevator.'
They walked along the passage to a door at the far end. Cutler opened it and Adams stepped out on to an iron platform. From where he stood, he had a good view of the waterfront and the surrounding buildings. Immediately below him was a dark alley that ran by the side of the hotel and led out on to the waterfront.
'So long, Lieutenant,' Cutler said.
Adams wasn't paying attention. He was watching two men standing in the shadows. Facing them was a cop. The taller of the two men suddenly stepped back.
There was something about the cop's cautious attitude that held Adams' attention. He saw the taller one move slightly around to the back of the cop. He made a sudden movement and then the quiet night was shattered by the sound of gunfire.
The cop took a step forward and fell on his knees. The man who had fired grabbed his companion by the arm and dragged him down the alley immediately below where Adams was standing.
Adams' hand slid inside his coat and he jerked out his .38 police special. He took a snap-shot at the taller of
