Part 89 (1/2)

”All right,” she gave in.

”But if you come near my door, I'll call the police ' The police, he thought. Lovely.

”Agreed,” he said.

He hung up and turned He jolted to a halt. Two men were completely blocking his way out of the booth. He thought his heart would leap out of his chest. Or stop.

How could he have been so careless? How had he let them close in on him?

”Who were you talking to , Mr. Daniels?” the larger one with the Irish face asked.

”A lady, maybe?” asked the smaller, darker one.

Hearn and Sha.s.sad, respectively.

”If you'll excuse me” said Thomas, trying to push his way past.

Hearn's arm was quickly and blocked Thomas's route, keeping his back to the telephone booth.

”I'm afraid we can't excuse you,”

said Sha.s.sad.

”We'd like to talk with you.”

”How about tomorrow?”

”How about now?”

Thomas grimaced at Sha.s.sad.

”You're forgetting” he said.

”I'm an attorney. I know my rights. Unless you have a specific-”

”Your janitor friend Jacobus was murdered this morning” said Hearn, ”in case you didn't know.” Thomas's eyes were riveted 'on the wiry man with the gaunt, sad face.

”Your girl friend, the one who's the hockey fan, was seen leaving jacobus home. You know who she is. You may even know where she is.

That makes you a material witness. If not an accomplice.”

Thomas searched their faces, recalling Leslie's words not to talk to anyone familiar, not to trust a soul. just trust her, just once more.

”I don't believe you,” he said.

”Want to see a body? Jacobus should be at the Medical Examiner's right now. We'll take you' ”Sorry,” he said.

”I'm not going.

Sha.s.sad grinned.

”Yes, you are. Unless that was your girl friend you were just talking to. If you'd like to take us to see her, we'd appreciate that, too' '