'Is it far?'
ONE MINUTE PAST EIGHT jet
'No,' said Cordovez and led the way to Ms car.
He seemed to take a certain pride in showing Jeff the American Club, which had originally been a hotel. He pointed out certain features, showed him the dining-room, the patio, which could be used for special occasions, and the bar, where five American businessmen were shaking poker dice for the third martini.
Jeff ordered an omelet, a salad, and iced coffee, and Cordovez asked for something that turned out to be chicken and rice. He offered no information until Jeff asked for it,
'I have learned the results of the autopsy,' he said. 'The bullet entered here'—he tapped his lower chest —'and was directed upward toward the back, lodging in the spine.'
Jeff sipped his coffee and contemplated his cigarette until the significance of the information struck him. He looked up, eyelids narrowing.
'The spine?' he said thoughtfully. 'Then what about that telephone call at seven minutes after eight?'
'Baker did not make it. It cannot be said with certainty that he died instantly, but he would have been paralyzed, He could not have dialed. The doctor does not think he could have lifted the instrument.'
'But someone did make a call/ 9
'Yes.' Cordovez let the thought build for a silent minute. 'You have seen Grayson?' he asked,
'Not yet,' Jeff said. 'Do you know where he lives?'
-Oh, yes '
'Then let's take a ride. If he's not there maybe I can talk to his wife,'
'There is also a man who lives there,' Cordovez said as Jeff reached for the check.
'Oh?'
'A Sefior Fiske. Dudley Fiske.'
'What do you mean, he lives there?'
'He is said to be an old friend of Grayson's and came here a year and a half ago to work as a sort of assistant. Grayson is a man who likes to feel important. I have heard it said that Fiske has many small duties. Also'—he leaned forward and lowered his voice—'he was at the hotel last night with Mrs. Grayson/'
Jeffs brown eyes were instantly attentive. 'How do you know?'
'I saw them. I have brought Sefior Baker to the hotel and have asked if he will need me. He says he is not sure but then he decides it might be well for me to wait. I am parked there where the taxis line up—that is how I notice you, though I do not know who you are—and I see Grayson arrive and then very soon comes this car with Mrs. Grayson driving.'
He made a small gesture of apology. 'I do not think about this at the time. I do not think about it later. Not until this morning do I wonder why they have come/' He started to add to his apology and Jeff cut him off.
'This would be around seven thirty?'
'About that.'
'What happened?' 7
'The woman remained in the car. Fiske started toward the hotel, not by the front, but to the left, around the corner where the grass is and the pool; on the side where your room Is. One can also enter the hotel from there.'
'How long did he stay?'
Cordovez opened his hands and sighed. 'I cannot say. At the time it did not concern me. A few minutes before you arrive they have gone.'
'That could be around eight o'clock.'
<«TJ * 'i t »>
It is possible.
Jeff let it go at that because he could think of nothing to add. They went back to the car and once under way Cordovez proved to be an informative guide. He seemed
to find enjoyment in pointing out the signs of progress in Ms home city, and Jeff listened absently to the miming commentary.
He was told that Los Caobos Park, once a dangerous spot after dark, had been thoroughly cleaned out and was lighted at night. He heard the names of the streets each time Cordovez made a turn. When a modem-looking stadium caught his eye he asked about it and was told that it was the baseball park. A similar structure near by brought forth the information that this was Estadio olimpico.
'For football/' Cordovez said and then, pointing a moment to his left, he indicated a new-looking building which stood by itself. 'Creole Petroleum/' he said. 'You have heard of this?'
'Hah/ ? said Jeff with some irony. 'I just wish I'd bought a few hundred shares five years ago. Even three years ago/*
'This company has brought much money for this country ' Cordovez said as he turned into a broad freeway where traffic moved swiftly.
'Autopista? he said. 'Avenida de la Mercedes/ 5 he added, when he cut right; and then, after another right, they were going uphill, to stop finally in front of an attractively landscaped house that in the States would have fallen into the ranch-type category. *1 will wait/' he said. 'It will be difficult for you to find a taxi here.'
A brown-skinned maid took Jeffs name and left him in the entrance hall. The woman who came presently to meet him was slender, poised, and smart-looking, her prematurely gray hair adding to the over-all picture of attractiveness. Her smile seemed automatic as she greeted him and said she was Diana Grayson. She shook hands like a man and led the way into a long, low, cool-looking room that overlooked a wide expanse of well-kept lawn surrounded by a hedge.
She sat down on the divan and took a cigarette from the
silver box on the coffee table, tapping it with nervous staccato movements on the back of her hand before she accepted the light Jeff offered. She inhaled deeply and crossed her legs.
'Arnold said you might stop/' she said. 'I'm sorry he's not here. In fact, I don't know where he is.'
'But you know why I came?'
'Oh, yes. He told me that much/'
'And do you know if he plans—'
She held up her hand to interrupt him. Her smile was twisted and her voice was brittle. In its forthright way it had somehow a savage quality, as though something had been gnawing inside her until there could no longer be any need for pretense.
'I think I could save time if I told you I haven't known what Arnold's plans are or what he's been thinking for quite a while. I've been married to him for three years and frankly, Mr. Lane, I'm heartily sick of my bargain.'
Jeff blinked at her words and found them embarrassing. 'You—don't get along?'
'That's one way of putting it.'
'You married him in Las Vegas.'
'As the result of an emotional rebound, I suppose,' she said. 'My Brst husband was a very nice guy, but he was a drunkard and a weakling. Arnold was never that. I was completely taken in by his charm, and it was a relief to have someone who could make decisions and who made me fee! like a woman and not like a nurse. It took me a year to find out that I had been swindled emotionally and economically by that part-time charm.'
'But,' said Jeff, a little startled by the outburst, 'yon stayed with him.'
'Oh, yes.' She leaned forward and put her cigarette out by jabbing it forcibly into the metal tray. 'Yes, I stayed with him,' she said, her soft laugh a bitter sound. 'I could
have gone back to the States if I'd wanted to go empty-handed. I could have got a divorce there but I doubt if you could extradite a man for alimony, could you?
'I had a lump-sum settlement from my first husband. When we came here to make our fortunes I was still in love, or thought I was. Arnold made some investments. He told me all about them when 1 signed the checks. The trouble was that the bad ones always turned out to be in my name and the good ones in his. Now, except for some jewelry my first husband gave me, I'm practically penniless, and I have no intention of walking out and making it easier for him—not unless I can get a decent settlement ™
She did not explain what she meant by making it easier, but her glance moved beyond Jeff and remained there, Then, for the first time, her expression changed and her smile seemed genuinely friendly,
