Part 16 (1/2)
Polly: ”Well, I-” and breaks off again.
Abrams: ”What are you covering this lug up for, sister?” He takes the note David had given him out of his pocket and shows it to her, saying: ”See, he had already found out Phil was your husband.”
Polly reads the note and her eyes widen. She looks at Dancer.
Dancer: ”If you're helping to frame me, Polly, okay; I'll have to figure out what I do about that. But if you haven't made a d.i.c.ker for yourself with the police, I don't see where you'll be getting anywhere just running off at the head for the fun of it.”
Abrams starts toward Dancer, saying angrily: ”Listen, you-”
The door opens and Caspar comes in. He bows very formally to everybody in the room, then says to Dancer: ”I just heard a moment ago.” Then very pompously, to Abrams: ”Lieutenant, I cannot permit you to-”
Abrams turns to Nick and groans: ”Now look-we got this five-and-ten-cent-store Darrow with us again.”
Caspar says to Nick: ”Good evening, Mr. Charles.”
Nick bows, b.u.t.toning up his coat and patting his pockets to see if he's lost anything.
Caspar goes over to Dancer, puts a hand on his shoulder, and says: ”My dear boy-I'm entirely at your service.”
Dancer shakes the hand off his shoulder and snarls: ”You ought to be-for the dough you charge me.”
Caspar tries to smile as if he thought Dancer were joking. He asks Lum Kee: ”What are these policemen doing now?”
Lum Kee, bland as usual, says: ”Trouble, trouble-they want to see us-we go-why not? They police, we innocent, you betcha.”
Abrams growls: ”Aw, cut it out. Hold your conferences on your own time. We've got work to do. Has anybody here ever been in this apartment before?”
Some of those there say ”No,” some shake their heads.
Abrams looks questioningly at Nick. Nick says: ”Perhaps Polly could help us if we told her what it's all about.”
Polly: ”What?”
Nick: ”You know this place is right over yours?”
Polly: ”Yes.”
Nick, indicating the ear pieces: ”With that dingus you can hear a pin drop in your place.” She stares at the ear pieces in surprise. Nick goes on. ”And if you'll go to the window, you'll see a ladder running down to your window.” She goes to the window, looks at the ladder, then turns back to Nick, still more bewildered. Nick picks up the extra piece of pipe and says: ”And n.o.body's head would be helped much by being patted with this.”
Polly: ”But I don't understand-”
Nick, looking at Dancer and Lum Kee, says: ”Is there anybody here that does understand?”
Dancer looks sullenly at him but doesn't say anything.
Lum Kee says cheerfully: ”We run restaurant-you detective.”
Nick, to Polly: ”Even if you don't understand, who can you think of that would have this much interest in you?” hefting the pipe in his hand.
Polly: ”n.o.body.”
Nick: ”Phil had a key to your apartment. Has Dancer?”
Before she can reply, Dancer takes a key out of his pocket and tosses it on the floor, saying: ”Yes. So what would I need that trick ladder for?”
Nick asks: ”Has Lum Kee?”
Polly: ”No. of course not.”
Nick: ”Who else?”
Polly: ”n.o.body.”
Nick: ”Did Robert have one?”
Polly: ”No. What do you think I did, put them around under doors?”
A policeman opens the door and Selma comes in. She and Nora immediately run to each other, uttering exclamations of affection.
David exclaims: ”Selma,” and goes over to them asking, ”are you all right, dear?”
She exclaims: ”David!” and holding out her hands to him, she starts to ask him a question. ”Did you-” and then breaks off, glancing nervously at Lieutenant Abrams. ”Oh, it's been terrible,” she tells Nora and David.
Nora: ”I know, dear, but it'll soon be over. Nick will have everything cleared up in no time. He's wonderful.”
Nick: ”Nice of you to say so, darling.” He goes over to greet Selma.
Selma: ”Oh Nick, I'm so grateful to you. Have you really-?”
Nick: ”Now don't start asking us questions. The game is for us to ask you. Have you ever seen any of these people before?” indicating in turn, Polly, Dancer, and Lum Kee.
To each Selma replies ”No.”
Nick asks: ”Have you ever been in this building before?”
Selma: ”No.”
Nick: ”Did you know that Robert and Miss Byrnes were friends?”
Selma: ”No.”
Nick: ”All right. Now this next question you've answered before, but the police weren't altogether satisfied with the way you answered it. I want you to remember that Robert's dead, so whatever you say isn't going to hurt him though it may help us find his murderer and get you out of this mess.”
Selma: ”What is it, Nick?”
Nick: ”That $10,000 check of yours that was deposited in Robert's account. Did you or didn't you write it?”
Selma hesitates, looks from Nick to Abrams then down to the floor, and in a very low voice, says: ”I didn't.”
Abrams, who has been a very interested listener up to this point, now takes his hat off and throws it angrily on the floor. But when he crosses to confront Selma, his voice and manner are more hurt than angry. He asks: ”Why couldn't you have told us that before? Whatever got into you to-” He breaks off as her lips begin to tremble, and grabs a chair, saying: ”Now, now, sit down, Mrs. Landis, be comfortable. One of you boys get Mrs. Landis a gla.s.s of water.” Then again to her: ”Now, now, maybe there's not a great deal of harm done anyhow.” Then aside to Nick, as she sits down: ”If this dame gets hysterical again I'll go nuts.”