Pedro said: “Go on.”
Shane didn’t say anything. He was looking at Nick and his eyes were bright, interested — he was smiling a little.
Pedro snapped at the dealer: “Go downstairs an’ send Mario up — you stay at the door.”
The dealer went out and closed the door.
They were all very quiet. Nick was staring at the automatic in the young man’s hand and there was a very silly, far-away expression on his face. Shane was watching Nick like a vivisectionist about to make the crucial incision. Lorain Rigas was sitting down again on the couch with her hands over her eyes.
Pedro only waited, looked at the floor.
The door opened and the slight, white-haired man came in.
Pedro said: “What time did Nick go out tonight?”
The slight man looked at Nick bewilderedly. He cleared his throat, said: “Nick went out right after Charley went home. He said there wasn’t any business anyway, an’ he wanted to go to a picture-show, an’ would I take the door for a while. He came back some time around nine...”
Pedro said: “All right — go on back downstairs.”