and hefty. Both times I saw him it was dark and he was in the car.”
“Could it be anyone in the club, do you think?”
She shook her head. “Oh, no, I know it wasn’t.”
I suddenly thought of Julius Cole. He was big and hefty. He had
been the one who had identified the dead girl as Netta. He had a flat
below Netta’s. He might qualify quite easily.
“Ever heard of a man named Julius Cole?” I asked.
She shook her head. “`You know, I didn’t expect this,” she said a
little peevishly. “I thought we were going to have some ruinous fun.
I’m beginning to think you’re more interested in your silly old
questions than in ruining me.”
“Smart girl,” I said, grinning at her. “I am. You’re not the ruining
type. Besides I’m asking these questions for a purpose. I don’t think
Netta s dead. If she is dead, then she didn’t commit suicide, she was
murdered.”
Crystal stared at me. “I know I’m a little dumb,” she said, after a
moment’s hesitation, “but I can’t be expected to understand what
you’ve just said, can I; or can I?”
“No, you can’t,” I agreed. “Would you like to know more about it?
Would you like also to play at being a lady detective?”
“My father says detectives are common,” Crystal returned, her
eyes opening wide. “They listen at keyholes, and my father says that’s
common. I used to listen at keyholes when I was young; I suppose
that’s why he said it.”
“Isn’t it possible to leave your father out of this conversation?” I
pleaded. “He seems always to be turning up.”
“He always is. I wouldn’t be surprised if he doesn’t burst in here
and hit you over the head with a stuffed mongoose.”
I sighed. “I’ll chance it. Shall we get back to the original question?
Do we or do we not work on this puzzle?”
“I wish I knew what you were talking about,” she said plaintively.
I decided that if I could make her understand, it might be useful to
have her planted in the club to keep me informed of what was going
on there. She might pick up some useful information which might give
me the lead I was looking for. I was now certain that the
tied up in some way with the puzzle of the missing bodies.
So with infinite patience I told her the whole story. She sat staring
at me, her mouth a little open, her eyes wide with astonishment.
“Well, now,” I concluded, “you know as much about this business
as I do. Bradley is tied in somehow. This guy Frankie is in it, too. Julius
Cole might be Netta’s boy friend with the Bentley. Mrs. Brambee isn’t
what she seems. Don’t you see, there are a lot of angles. Some of
these angles might be cleared up if you keep your eyes and ears open.
All you have to do is to listen and watch. Try to find out why Mrs.
Brambee sees Bradley every week. If I knew that I might have the
answer to one of my problems. Will you do it?”
She sighed. “Oh, well, I suppose so. You’ll argue me into it in the
long run if I do say no. All right, I’ll do it, but don’t expect too much,
will you?”
I patted her hand. “Do your best, and I’ll not ask more than that.”
The telephone rang shrilly. I answered it. The Inquiry Desk said
Inspector Corridan was asking for me.
“Tell him I’ll be right down,” I said, hung up.
“Well!” Crystal exclaimed. “I suppose now you’re going to get rid
of me. And I thought you were going to show me your etchings.”
“You’re not the first girl who’s been disappointed,” I said. “Now
slip away like a startled mouse. Scotland Yard is downstairs and I don’t
want him to see you.”
“Goodness!” she exclaimed, jumping up. “I don’t want to s e him
either.” She grabbed up her precious nylons, slipped on her wrap,
sped to the door. Then she paused, rushed back, flung her arms
around my neck, kissed me. “Thanks again for the lovely stockings. I
like you. Don’t let’s be so stuffy the next time we meet.”
I said I’d see her in a day or so, steered her to the door, opened it.
Corridan was standing outside, his hand raised to knock. He gave
Crystal a surprised, rather shocked look, stood aside.
Crystal slid past him, hurried down the corridor without a
backward glance.”
“Hullo,” I said. “I thought I told the Desk to tell you I was coming
down.”
He wandered in, closed the door. “Oh, I didn’t want to bother you
to do that,” he said. “I hope I’m not intruding.” He gave me the
nearest he could come to in the leer line. “Friend of yours?”
“Certainly not,” I said. “That’s the floor waiter’s daughter. She was
cleaning the bath.”
He nodded, roamed around the room. “I’ve seen her at the
“At times you are quite observant,” I said, tartly.
“Oh, I notice blondes,” he returned with a dour smile. “Does that
mean you were at the club to-night?”
“Fortunately I don’t yet have to account to you for my actions,
motives or movements,” I returned, eyeing him. “But if you’re
bursting with curiosity I don’t mind admitting I was there.
Furthermore, I did bring the blonde back with me. I had some silk
stockings, and as I had no one to give them to, I thought she might
have them. There was nothing immoral about the transaction,
although, at a later date, I hope something along those lines may be
arranged. Satisfied?”
He didn’t appear to be listening.
“I dropped in as I was passing because I thought you’d be
interested to hear the coroner’s verdict on Anne Scott,” he said,
pausing to look out of the uncurtained windowed.
“I can guess what it was,” I returned. “Suicide while the balance of
her mind was disturbed. Tell me, have you satisfied yourself that
Netta had a sister?”
He looked at me, his eyelids drooped. “What a rum chap you are,”
he said. “Of course I satisfied myself there is such a person as Anne
Scott and she was Netta’s sister. What kind of a policeman do you
think I am? You’ll find the record in Somerset House if you feel like
