He hung up.
II
Ken Holland closed the front door and walked with shaky legs back to the lounge. He rested his hands on the back of an easy chair and leaned his weight on them. His heart was still pounding. He still felt the suffocating fear that had gripped him at the sight of the two detectives as they had come up the path.
What an escape! he thought. Did they notice how scared I was? I’ve got to pull myself together. If they ever get on to me I’ll give myself away if I behave like that again.
He suddenly thought of Parker.
He must be warned.
He hurried to the telephone, dialled and listened to the ringing tone.
Hurry up! he thought feverishly. They’ll be around to you any moment. Hurry up!
There was a click on the line, and Mrs. Parker’s chilly, pedantic voice asked who was calling.
“This is Kenway Holland. May I speak to Max?”