Kells inclined his head toward Haardt’s body, asked: “What about Doc?”
“He came up about two-thirty... Said he had to see you and didn’t want to go to the hotel. Dave called you and left word. Then about an hour ago that little son of a bitch walked in and told us all to sit down on the floor...”
Someone pounded heavily on the door.
They tiptoed across to a small, curtained archway that led to the dining room. Just inside the archway Dave Perry lay on his stomach.
Ruth Perry said: “The little guy slugged Dave when he made a pass for the phone, after he called you. He came to, a while ago, and the little guy let him have it again. What a boy!”
Someone pounded on the door again and the sound of loud voices came through faintly.
Kells said: “I’m a cinch for this one if they find me here. That’s what the plant was for.” He nodded toward the door. “Can they get around to the kitchen?”
“Not unless they go down and come up the fire escape. That’s the way our boy friend went.”
“I’ll go the other way.” Kells went swiftly to Haardt’s body, knelt and pick up the automatic. “I’ll take this along to make your story good. Stick to it, except the calls to me and the reason Doc was here.”
Ruth Perry nodded. Her eyes were shiny with excitement.