She shook her head. “I’d rather stand,” she said breathlessly. “I may not be here very long.”
Fenner sat down again. “You can do just what you like here,” he said soothingly. “This places is anyone’s home.”
They remained looking at each other for a long minute. Then Fenner said, “You know you’d better sit down. You’ve got a lot to tell me an’ you look tired.”
He could see she wasn’t scared of him, she was scared of something that he didn’t know anything about. Her eyes were uneasy, and she held her high-breasted body as though she was ready to jump for the door.
Again she shook her head. “I want you to find my sister,” she said breathlessly. “I’m so worried about my sister. What will it cost? I mean, what are your fees?”
Fenner squinted at the inkwell by his hand. “Suppose you don’t worry your head about the cost. Just relax an’ tell me all about it,” he said. “Tell me who you are for a start.”
The telephone jangled at his elbow. The effect on the girl was startling. She took two quick graceful steps away from the phone, and her eyes went cloudy and big.
Fenner grinned at her. “I guess I get the same way,” he said quietly, pulling the receiver towards him. “When I fall asleep an’ the bell goes off, I guess it scares the shirt right off my back.”
She stood very tense by the door, watching him.
Fenner said, “Excuse me a moment,” as he took off the receiver. “Yeah?” he said.