“Now don’t let’s forsake our sense of humour,” I said. “You can’t
scare me, Corridan, or can you? I’ve nothing to do with Littlejohns’
death, and you know it.”
“I think you have,” he said, watching me closely.
I stared at him, and experienced a little difficulty in meeting his
penetrating eyes.
“Now wait a minute. You aren’t serious about this?” I asked,
managed a laugh. It sounded pretty ghastly even to me, so I cut it out.
“You’re kidding, aren’t you?”
“I’m not,” Corridan replied. “I’d advise you to be serious about
this, too.”
“All right, let’s be serious. Suppose you explain what you’re
talking about?”
“When did you last see Netta Scott?” he shot at me.
I wasn’t quite prepared for that one, and hesitated. He was quick
to spot that, and I saw his face tighten.
“I guess it must have been two years ago,” I said slowly. “You
didn’t see her last night?”
“Last night?” I repeated. “You crazy or something? She’s been
dead a week. Or do you mean you’ve found her body?” He wandered
to the arm-chair, sat down.
“Look, Harmas, this won’t do,” he said quietly. “We both know
that Netta’s alive.”
I looked down at my hands, saw they weren’t too steady, shoved
them in my trouser pockets.
“I haven’t seen Netta for two years,” I said steadily.
He studied me, nodded. “Where were you last night?”
“That’s something I can’t very well tell you,” I said, looking away.
“It involves a question of honour.”
Corridan control ed his temper with an effort. “Look, Harmas, if
you don’t tell me where you were last night, I’ll have no alternative
but to take you to the station. I don’t want to be official about this,
but if you’re going to act the fool and lie to me I damn well will be!’ ‘
“You’re not seriously suggesting that I killed Littlejohns, are you?”
I asked, staring at him.
“If you want me to caution you, and make this official, I will,”
Corridan said. “At the moment I’m treating you like a friend. If you can
convince me that you couldn’t possibly have been on the scene of the
crime, then- I shall be satisfied. If you can’t convince me, I’m going to
arrest you.”
I sat down, pretended to be shocked.
“Well, if it’s like that,” I said, “I suppose I’l have to tell you. I was
with Crystal Godwin.”
His face hardened. “Oh, were you? What time did you meet her
and what time did you leave her?”
I considered the question, said, “I picked her up outside the Blue
Club at-now, what time was it?-at ten-ten. I remember looking at my
watch when she turned up. We’d arranged to meet at ten, and I was
impatient because she was late. Then we went on to her flat.”
“What time did you leave?” Corridan snapped.
“Now this puts me in a difficult position. Strictly between you and
me, I left this morning.”
He studied me for an uncomfortable moment. “A very obvious
alibi, Harmas. That girl would tel any lie to save your skin.”
“I believe she would,” I returned, hoisting a stiff smile to my face.”
After all, I did give her six pairs of silk stockings. I’d expect her to
repay me somehow. All the same, Corridan, it’s an alibi. If you think
your old pal would tell a lie like that, then I’m sorry. I’m more than
that — I’m hurt.”
“We’ll see about that,” Corridan returned grimly. “I might be able
to shake that young woman. It’s not the first time I’ve persuaded
someone against perjury. Perhaps I’ll succeed again.”
I hoped that Crystal had more backbone than I thought she had,
mentally crossed my fingers.
“Well, if you don’t believe me,” I said, shrugging, “you’d better
talk to Miss Godwin. She’ll convince you even if I don’t. Look me up
after you’ve seen her and apologize nicely. It’ll cost you a bottle of
champagne.”
“I don’t think it will,” Corridan said, leaning back in the chair. “You
once said Netta Scott’s favourite perfume was lilac,” he went on,
changing the subject abruptly. “Do you remember?”
“Did I?” I said. “I say a lot of things and don’t mean half of them.
Why bring Netta’s perfume into this sordid topic?”
“There was a strong smell of lilac in the flat where Littlejohns was
murdered,” Corridan returned. “You know, Harmas, you’d be advised
to tell the truth. We know for certain that Netta Scott’s alive. We’re
looking for her now, and it won’t be long before we catch her. We
know she’s connected with the Allenby robbery, that she was present
when her sister was murdered, and that makes her an accessory. We
know too that she was in the flat when Littlejohns was murdered.”
I raised my eyebrows, didn’t say anything, but I was badly shaken.
I’d thought Corridan had been running around in circles, but it now
seemed that he knew as much as I did about this case.
“What do you know about a yellow and black Bentley?” he
suddenly shot at me.
He’d got that from Merryweather, I decided, lifted my shoulders.
“Only that Littlejohns reported that it was seen outside the
cottage at Lakeham. Why?”
“We’re looking for the car,” Corridan said. “The owner we think is
connected with Anne’s murder. Do you know where the car is?”
I hesitated, then decided it’d be too dangerous to tell him about
Peter French. I could have only got the information from Netta, and it
was the kind of trap he’d’ve liked to see me walk into.
“No idea,” I said.
He grunted. “I think, Harmas, you are behaving like a blind fool,”
he said. “You’re trying to protect Netta Scott because you and she
were lovers in the past. I’m sure you were trying to protect her last
night when Littlejohns surprised you both. And what is more, you hit
him, and killed him. How do you like that?”
