'This is why I came,' she said. 'I didn't tell the police I found it'
JWhat is it?' Jeff asked.
*I don't know. I thought you might/'
She went on to tell how she had seen it under Grayson's desk and Jeff turned it over in his fingers, scowling intently and remembering the welts on his stepbrother's face. When a possibility occurred to him he voiced it.
'It could have come from a cane,' he said quietly. 'It seems a little small but—'
He stopped abruptly, head swiveling, as a soft knock came at the door. When he heard the sound of a key he was reassured, and a moment later Julio Cordovez slipped into the room and closed the door behind him.
'Ah~h,' he said, his bright eyes assessing the situation in a glance. 'All is well/'
'So far,' Jeff said. 'Sit down and tell us what the police are doing.'
'For one thing/' Cordovez said, 'they are looking for you. You were seen to enter the Grayson building this afternoon/'
'Yeah/* Jeff said and explained what he had learned from Carl Webb. He again displayed the two scabs on his knuckles. 'And once they see these 111 be in it up to my neck.'
'I agree/' Cordovez said. 'It is not a pleasant situation. We must arrive at some solution and quickly.'
Jeff gave him the thimble, waited until the detective had a chance to inspect it and then explained where Karen had found it.
'What do you think?'
Cordovez took his time, his black eyes busy and his brows bunched. 'You have a thought perhaps?'
'I think it might have come from the bottom of a cane/*
'Considering the type of wound on Grayson's face I can agree to this.'
'Who would have a cane?'
Again Cordovez took his time. When he spoke he corroborated the thought in Jeff's mind.
'Luis Miranda would have a cane/' he said, his inflection suggesting he was not happy about the admission.
'What about the autopsy?'
'It has not been completed. The doctor will not say at this time whether he believes the wounds sufficient to cause death.' He passed the thimble back to Jeff. 'What do you propose to do?'
ONE MINUTE PAST EIGHT
Tm going to find out if this fits any of Miranda's canes.'
Cordovez's brows climbed and doubt touched his glance.
'How will this be done?'
'I'll have to gamble that Mrs. Miranda may co-operate.'
'Oh?'
'She was going away with my stepbrother/ 3 Jeff said. 'The airplane tickets prove that much. Furthermore I don't think she was going just for the ride. She could scrape up enough money for a ticket any time she wanted to. She could have left before, but I don't think she wanted to give up what she had until she found some sort of substitute.'
He leaned forward and said: 'We're not going to get anywhere without making some assumptions, so I'm making one. I'm ready to assume that Muriel Miranda was in love with my stepbrother, or thought she was, and either way is good enough.'
He digressed to explain how the woman had waited in her car that morning. He spoke of her interest in the amount of Grayson's stock inheritance and its potential value.
'So if she was in love and ready to take what Grayson could offer, she's going to be damned well crashed by Ms death. With him gone she's still stuck with Miranda. She's lost her man, and I have to go along with the idea that she will want to get even with the one who killed him.'
'Even if this is her husband?'
'All the more so, if she hates him. You don't have to be very vindictive to want to punish the person who kills someone you love. It's a natural reaction. If I'm right I think shell be glad to co-operate, to do whatever she has to do to punish the one who robbed her of her lover and her future.'
He was watching Karen as he finished, some part of his mind recognizing again how lovely she was even as he saw the somber glints in her dark-blue eyes. She nodded
her head slightly and a tiny frown marred the smoothness o? her brow.
'Yes' she said. 'I think you're right, I think I'd do the same. If she loved Grayson she has to hate the one who killed him. But I don t think you should try to talk to her.'
'What?'
'I think I should.'
Jeff leaned forward, understanding every word but not yet believing her.
'Oh, now, wait a minute.'
'I mean it'
About to scoff, Jeff realized how very serious she was and checked the impulse.
'Why?'
'Because I can do that just as wel as you can and with much less risk.'
'Pardon me,' Cordovez said,
Jeff looked at him,
'I believe the senorita is right.'
'Thank you, Julio.' Karen favored him with a quick bright smile and looked back at Jeff, her eyes challenging, her soft mouth determined. 'I think I can tell better than you can if Mrs. Miranda was in love with Grayson. Ill find out if her husband has any canes. I'll bet I can make her show them to me. Why shouldn't I try?' she demanded. 'It's not as if I was taking any great chance. 111 simply stop there in the morning after her husband has gone to the office and have a talk with her.'
Jeff remained only partially convinced. He wanted to argue, but again he stopped. Not sure just why this girl should want to help him, he suddenly found a warm and satisfying glow in the knowledge that she felt that way.
'It is better,' Cordovez said. 'For you, daylight is bad except when absolutely necessary. Now that your photo-
graph has appeared In the newspaper there will be too many eyes looking for you.'
Before Jeff could reply, Karen had leaned forward and taken the thimble from his fingers. She replaced it in her bag. She gave him a saucy grin as she leaned back.
'After all I am a detective/' she said. 'Why shouldn't I work at it if I want to? I'm down here with expenses paid and I botched my assignment—'
Ton didn't botch it,' Jeff protested. 'It wasn't your fault my stepbrother got himself killed.'
'I made a lot of trouble for you in Miami and it didn't do a bit of good. If I hadn t done that, none of this might have happened, I'm not sure 1 can help but I'm certainly going to try.'
She stood up and smoothed the dress over her trim hips. She touched her dark hair and her eyes still defied him.
'Also, in case you're interested,' she added, Tin turning in my card when I get home. I guess Dad was right. I'm not a very good detective and I've had about enough.'
Cordovez rose along with Jeff and his dark glance was admiring as he inspected the girl
6S I will see that you get back to your hotel safely,' he said. 'Her suggestion is best,' he said to Jeff. 'I myself will see that no harm comes to her. You have my word.' He touched Jeffs shoulder, his voice paternal.
'Do not wait for me. Go into the back room and close the door and go to bed. You need sleep. Tomorrow it will be better if you feel fit in case our luck turns and you have to face Ramon Zumeta.'
Jeff argued no more. He glanced from one to the other and suddenly his worries seemed less burdensome as he realized for the first time how fortunate he was in having two friends such as these helping him.
IT WAS after nine when Jeff Lane waked the following morning, and because it was later than he thought, he jumped out of bed and stepped into the hall to see if Cor-dovez was still there. Certain now that he was alone, he came back to put on his borrowed trousers and shoes and then went into the bathroom to find the razor, towel, and brashless shaving cream that had been laid out for him.
