The telephone clicked. Kells turned to it, asked: “Is Number Four on duty?” There was a momentary wait, then: “Hello, Stella? This is Mister Kells... Listen, Stella, there weren’t any calls for me between two and four today... I know it’s on the record, baby, but I want it off. Will you see what you can do about it?... Right away?... That’s fine. And Stella, the number I called about three-thirty — the one where the line was busy... Yes. That was Granite six five one six... Got it?... All right, kid, I’ll tell you all about it later. ’Bye.”
Cullen said: “As I was saying — you have a very trusting nature.”
Kells was riffling the pages of a small blue address book. “One more,” he said, mostly to himself. He spun the dial again. “Hello — Yellow? Ambassador stand, please... Hello. Is Fifty-eight in?... That’s the little bald-headed Mick, isn’t it?... No, no: Mick... Sure... Send him to two eight nine Iris Circle when he gets in... Two... eight... nine... That’s in Hollywood; off Cahuenga...”
They sat for several minutes without speaking. Kells sipped at his drink and stared out of the window. Then he said: “I’m not putting on an act for you, Willie. I don’t know how to tell it; it doesn’t make much sense, yet.” He smiled lazily at Cullen. “Are you good at riddles?”
“Terrible.”
The phone rang. Cullen got up to answer it. Kells said: “Maybe that’s the answer.” Cullen called him to the phone. He said, “Yes, Shep,” and was silent a little while. Then he said, “Thanks,” hung up and went back to the deep leather chair. “I guess maybe we can’t play it the way I’d figured,” he said.
“There’s a tag out for me.” Cullen said slowly, sarcastically: “My pal! They’ll trace the phony call that your girl friend Stella’s handling, or get to the cab driver before he gets to you. We’ll have a couple carloads of law here in about fifteen minutes.”
“That’s all right, Willie. You can talk to ’em.”
Cullen grinned mirthlessly. “I haven’t spoken to a copper for four years.”
Kells straightened in his chair. “Listen. Doc went to Perry’s to see me... What for? I was with Jack Rose being propositioned to come in with him and Doc, on the Joanna. They’re evidently figuring Fay or Hesse to make things tough and wanted me for a flash.” He looked at his watch. Cullen was stirring ice into another drink.