Part 12 (2/2)
”Yes?” To me it sounded promising.
”The negress didn't know a thing so far as the crime is concerned,”
Kennedy went on, ”but I gained quite an insight into the private life of the star.”
”You mean--”
”I mean I know the men who went to Miss Lamar's apartment, although beyond the fact of her receiving them I can tell nothing, for she sent the maid home at night; there were no maid's quarters.”
”Their visits may have been perfectly innocent?”
”Of course! We can only draw conclusions.”
”Who were the various callers?”
”Jack Gordon--”
”Her fiance!”
”Merle s.h.i.+rley--”
”s.h.i.+rley admitted it when you questioned him.”
”Manton--”
”Everyone knows that!”
”Werner--” A side glance at me.
I said nothing. My expression spoke for me.
”And Emery Phelps!”
At that I did show surprise. Although Mackay had hinted at something of the kind, I, for one, had not considered the banker seriously.
”Good heavens! Kennedy,” I exploded. ”She was mixed up with just about every man connected with the company.”
”Exactly!” As usual, he seemed calm and unconcerned.
I could regard the case only with increasing amazement--the bitter, conflicting emotions of Manton and Phelps, of Daring, s.h.i.+rley, and Millard. With them all Stella had been the pretty trouble maker.
”How do you suppose they could all remain in the same company?” I showed my surprise at the situation.
Kennedy pondered a moment, then replied:
”A moment's reflection ought to give you one answer. I think, Walter, they were either under contract or they had their money in the company.
They couldn't break.”
”I suppose so. What I wonder is, was Marilyn as jealous of Stella as her screen character would make her in a story? She's the only one we don't hear much about.”
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