「that’sallright,」isaid.「forgetit.icangettoseeherwithoutanytrouble.ijustthoughti’dliketohavesomebodyalongwithmeasawitness.」

「witnesstowhat?」healmostsnappedatme.

「you’llhearitinfrontofheroryouwon’thearitatall.」

「theniwon’thearitatall.」

istoodup.「you’reprobablydoingtherightthing,spencer.youwantthatbookofwade’s—ifitcanbeused.andyouwanttobeaniceguy.bothlaudableambitions.idon’tshareeitherofthem.thebestoflucktoyouandgoodbye.」

hestoodupsuddenlyandstartedtowardsme.「nowjustaminute,marlowe.idon’tknowwhat’sonyourmindbutyouseemtotakeithard.istheresomemysteryaboutrogerwade’sdeath?」

「nomysteryatall.hewasshotthroughtheheadwithawebleyhammerlessrevolver.didn’tyouseeareportoftheinquest?」

「certainly.」hewasstandingclosetomenowandhelookedbothered.「thatwasintheeasternpapersandacoupleofdayslateramuchfulleraccountinthelosangelespapers.hewasaloneinthehouse,althoughyouwerenotfaraway.theservantswereaway,candyandthecook,andeileenhadbeenuptownshoppingandarrivedhomejustafterithappened.atthemomentithappenedaverynoisymotorboatonthelakedrownedthesoundoftheshot,sothatevenyoudidn’thearit.」

「that’scorrect,」isaid.「thenthemotorboatwentaway,andiwalkedbackfromthelakeedgeandintothehouse,heardthedoorbellringing,andopenedittofindeileenwadehadforgottenherkeys.rogerwasalreadydead.shelookedintothestudyfromthedoorway,thoughthewasasleeponthecouch,wentuptoherroom,thenouttothekitchentomakesometea.alittlelaterthanshedidialsolookedintothestudy,noticedtherewasnosoundofbreathing,andfoundoutwhy.induecourseicalledthelaw.」

「iseenomystery,」spencersaidquietly,allthesharpnessgonefromhisvoice.「itwasroger’sowngun,andonlytheweekbeforehehadshotitoffinhisownroom.youfoundeileenstrugglingtogetitawayfromhim.hisstateofmind,hisbehavior,hisdepressionsoverhiswork—allthatwasbroughtout.」

「shetoldyouthestuffisgood.whyshouldhebedepressedoverit?」

「that’sjustheropinion,youknow.itmaybeverybad.orhemayhavethoughtitworsethanitwas.goon.i’mnotafool.icanseethereismore.」

「thehomicidedickwhoinvestigatedthecaseisanoldfriendofmine.he’sabulldogandabloodhoundandanoldwisecop.hedoesn’tlikeafewthings.whydidrogerleavenonote—whenhewasawritingfool?whydidheshoothimselfinsuchawayastoleavetheshockofdiscoverytohiswife?whydidhebothertopickthemomentwhenicouldn’thearthegungooff?whydidsheforgetherhousekeyssothatshehadtobeletintothehouse?whydidsheleavehimaloneonthedaythehelpgotoff?remember,shesaidshedidn’tknowiwouldbethere.ifshedid,thosetwocancelout.」

「mygod,」spencerbleated,「areyoutellingmethedamnfoolcopsuspectseileen?」

「hewouldifhecouldthinkofamotive.」

「that’sridiculous.whynotsuspectyou?youhadallafternoon.therecouldhavebeenonlyafewminuteswhenshecouldhavedoneit—andshehadforgottenherhousekeys.」

「whatmotivecouldihave?」

hereachedbackandgrabbedmywhiskeysourandswalloweditwhole.heputtheglassdowncarefullyandgotahandkerchiefoutandwipedhislipsandhisfingerswherethechilledglasshadmoistenedthem.heputthehandkerchiefaway.hestaredatme.

「istheinvestigationstillgoingon?」

「couldn’tsay.onethingissure.theyknowbynowwhetherhehaddrunkenoughhoochtopasshimout.ifhehad,theremaystillbetrouble.」

「andyouwanttotalktoher,」hesaidslowly,「inthepresenceofawitness.」

「that’sright.」

「thatmeansonlyoneoftwothingstome,marlowe.eitheryouarebadlyscaredoryouthinksheoughttobe.」

inodded.

「whichone?」heaskedgrimly.

「i’mnotscared.」

helookedathiswatch.「ihopetogodyou’recrazy.」

welookedateachotherinsilence.