I'm going to see Dorothy Keyes.' 'She's busy with a caller.' 'I know it, but he may be gone.' H 'A man named Donaldson, and I'm wondering at him. I have a hunch Miss Keyes is starting a
122 Rex Stout
little investigation on her own. Do you happen to know if this Donaldson is a detective?'
'I know he isn't. He's a lawyer and a friend of Mr. Eeyes. I've seen him here several times. Do you--'
What interrupted her was a man coming in the door and heading for us.
It was a man I had known for years. 'We're busy,' I told him brusquely. 'Come back tomorrow.'.
I should have had sense enough to give up kidding Sergeant Parley Stebbins of the Homicide Squad long ago, since it always glanced off and rolled away. When he got sore, as he often did, it wasn't at the kidding but at what he considered my interference with the performance of his duty.
'So you're here,' he stated.
'Tep. Miss Rooney, this is Sergeant--'
'Oh, I've met him before.' Her face was just as sour at him as it had been at me.
'Yeah, we've met,' Purley acquiesced. His honest brown eyes were at her. 'I've been looking for you, Miss Rooney.'
'Oh, my Lord, more questions?'
'The same ones. Just checking up. You remember that statement you signed, where you said that Tuesday morning you were at the riding academy with Saf ford from a quarter to six until after half-past seven, and both of you were there all the time? You remember that?'
'Certainly I do.'
'Do you want to change it now?'
Audrey frowned. 'Change what?'
'Your statement.'
'Of course not. Why should I?'
'Then how do you account for the fact that you were seen riding a horse into the park during that
Curtains for Three 123
iod, and Safford, on another horse, was with you, Safford has admitted it?'
'Count ten,' I snapped at her, 'before you answer. even a hun--'
'Shut up,' Purley snarled. 'How do you account for Miss Rooney? You must have figured this might ne and got something ready for it. What's the an- ar??
PX *
Audrey had left her perch on the desk to get on her and face the pursuer. 'Maybe,' she suggested, one couldn't see straight. Who says he saw us?' 'Okay.' Purley hauled a paper from his pocket and folded it. He looked at me. 'We're careful about i little details when that fat boss of yours has got i nose in.' He held the paper so Audrey could see it. is a warrant for your arrest as a material wit Your friend Safford wanted to read his clear ?h. Do you?'
e ignored his generous offer. 'What does it i?' she demanded. 'It means you're going to ride downtown with me.' 'It also means--' I began.
'Shut up.' Purley moved a step. His hand started her elbow, but didn't reach it, for she drew back I then turned and was on her way. He followed and i at her heels as she went out the door. Apparently thought she had found a way to get to see her ayne.
I sat a little while with my lips screwed up, gazing > the ashtray on the desk. I shook my head at nothing particular, just the state of things, reached for the hone, got an outside line, and dialed again. Wolfe's voice answered.
'Where's Orrie?' I demanded. 'Taking a nap on my 1?'
124 Rex Stout
'Where are you?' Wolfe inquired placidly.
'Still in Keyes' office. More of the same. Two more gone.'
'Two more what? Where?'
'Clients. In the hoosegow. We're getting awful low--'
'Who and why?'
'Wayne Safford and Audrey Rooney.' I told him what had happened, without bothering to explain that Audrey had walked in before our previous conversation had ended. At the end I added, 'So four out of five have been snaffled, and Talbott too. We're in a fine fix. That leaves us with just one, Dorothy Keyes, and it wouldn't surprise me if she was also on her way, judging from the look on her face when she heard who was-- Hold it a minute.'
What stopped me was the sight of another visitor entering the room. It was Dorothy Keyes. I told the phone, 'I'll call back,' hung up, and left my chair.
Dorothy came to me. She was still human, more so if anything. The perky lift of her was completely gone, the color scheme of her visible skin was washed-out gray, and her eyes were pinched with trouble.
'Mr. Donaldson gone?' I asked her.
'Yes.'
