moving about in the next room. Cigarette ash covered the carpet at
my feet.
“Hey!” I called, my nerves getting the better of me. “Time’s
getting on, Netta.”
“I’m coming,” she said; a moment later I heard the lock snap back
and she came out.
She was wearing a light wool sweater, coal-black slacks and a fur
coat over her arm. In her right hand she carried a fair-sized suit-case.
“Sorry to be so long,” she said, smiling, although her face was
pale, her eyes anxious. “It’s only five minutes after nine. Do I look all
right?”
I went over to her. “You look terrific,” I said, putting my arm
around her waist.
She pushed me away almost roughly, shook her head, tried to
keep the smile on her lips. It looked lopsided to me.
“Not now, Steve,” she said. “Let’s wait until we’re safe.”
“That’s all right, kid,” I said.
She’d pushed me off too late. I’d already felt what she had on
under the sweater, around her waist.
“Come on, let’s go.”
I picked up my hat, glanced around the room to make sure we’d
left nothing, crossed to the door.
Netta followed. I carried her bag. She carried the fur coat on her
arm.
I opened the door.
Facing me, his eyes frosty, his mouth grim, stood Corridan.
Chapter XXIV
NETTA’s thin scream cut the air with the sharpness of a pencil
grating on a slate.
“Hello, Corridan,” I said, soberly, stepping back, “so you’re in at
the finish after all.”
He entered the room, closed the door. His pale eyes looked
inquisitively at Netta. She shrank away from him, her hand to her
face.
“I don’t know what you two are doing in here,” he said coldly,
“but that can wait. I have a warrant for your arrest, Harmas. I’m sorry.
I’ve warned you enough times. Bradley has charged you with stealing
four rings and with assault. You’ll have to come along with me.”
I laughed mirthlessly. “That’s too bad,” I said. “Right now,
Corridan, there’s more important things for you to worry about. Take
a look at this young woman here. Don’t you want to be introduced?” I
smiled at Netta who stared back at me, tense, her eyes glittering in a
white face.
Corridan gave me a sharp glance. “Who is she?”
“Can’t you guess?” I said. “Look at her red hair. Can’t you smell
the lilac perfume? Come on, Corridan, what the hell kind of detective
are you?”
His face showed his astonishment.
“You mean it’s . . . ?” he began.
I shook my head at Netta. “I’m sorry about this, kid,” I said. “But
you can’t beat the rap now.” I turned back to Corridan. “Of course.
Meet Netta Anne Scott Bradley.”
Netta recoiled. “Oh,” she gasped furiously, then: “You — you
bastard!”
“Soft-pedal the language, honey,” I said. “Corridan blushes easily.”
Corridan stared at Netta, then at me.
“You mean this woman’s Netta Scott?” he demanded.
“Of course she is,” I said. “Or Mrs. Jack Bradley, known as Anne
Scott, if you like that better. I told you all along she hadn’t committed
suicide. Well, here she is as large as life, and I’ll show you something
else that’ll interest you.”
I grabbed hold of Netta as she backed away.
Her face was grey-white like putty; her eyes burned with rage and
fear. She struck at me, her fingers like claws. I grabbed her wrists,
twisted her arms behind her, held her against me.
“Take it easy, kid,” I said, keeping clear of her vicious kicks. “Show
the Inspector your nice line in underwear.” I caught hold of her
sweater, peeled it over her head. Then tucking her, screaming and
kicking, under my arm, I yanked down the zipper on her trousers,
pulled in two directions.
Corridan gave an angry snort, stepped forward. “Stop it!” he
exclaimed. “What the hel do you think you’re doing.”
“Skinning a rabbit,” I said, carrying Netta over to the chaise-
longue and forcing her face down on it. I had a job to hold her, but I at
last got my knee in her back and pinned her.
Corridan grabbed my arm, but I shook him off.
“Take a look at that belt,” I said, pointing to the heavy money belt
that was strapped around Netta’s waist.
Corridan paused, muttered to himself, stood away.
I undid the buckle, jerked off the belt, stood back.
Netta lay on the chaise-longue, her fists clenched, her breath
coming in great sobbing gasps.
With a quick shake I emptied the contents of the belt on the
carpet at Corridan’s feet.
“There you are, brother,” I said dramatically. “Fifty thousand
pounds’ worth of jewellery! Take a look. Allenby’s loot.”
Corridan gaped down at the heap of assorted rings, necklaces,
bracelets on the carpet. Diamonds, rubies, emeralds gleamed like
fireflies in the electric light.
“I’ll kill you for this!” Netta screamed, suddenly sitting up. She
sprang to her feet, flung herself at me.
I shoved her off so roughly that she sprawled on the floor.
“You’re through, Netta,” I said, standing over her. “Get that into
your thick little skull. If you hadn’t killed Littlejohns I might have
played with you, but you killed him to save your rotten skin, and that
let me out. What the hell do you think I am? A sucker? I wouldn’t
cover up anyone who did what you did to Littlejohns.”
