He led the way down the passage and through a door into a big, luxuriously furnished room with a desk by the curtained windows.

Claudette, Darcy’s wife, was counting a stack of money on the desk. Her great eyes opened wide when she saw Adams, and she looked anxiously at her husband.

“Run along, honey,” Darcy said. “The Lieutenant and I have got business.”

She gave Adams a scared look, hurriedly pushed the money into a drawer and went out, closing the door behind her.

Adams sat down.

“Drink, Lieutenant?”

“I’m on duty, Sam.”

Darcy made himself a small whisky and soda and sat down behind his desk.

“Anything wrong?”

“Not unless you have a guilty conscience,” Adams said, staring down at his small feet. “It’s about Fay Carson.”