There was a lot of crackling on the line. Then a man said with a very liquid accent: “Fenner?”
“Yeah.”
“Any moment now, Fenner, a girl is going to call in and see you. I want you to hold her until I get round to your office. I’m on my way now. Do you understand?”
Fenner let his eyes fall on the girl, and he smiled at her reassuringly. “I don’t get it,” he said to the telephone.
“Well, listen, only get this right. A girl will come and see you about a story of her missing sister. Well, hold her for me. She’s suffering from delusions. She got away from an asylum yesterday, and I know she’s heading for your office. Just hold her for me.”
Fenner pushed his hat on to the bridge of his nose. “Who in hell are you?” he said.
There was more crackling on the wire. “I’ll explain when I get around. I’m coming right away. Your fee will be paid on a generous scale if you do this.”
Fenner said, “Okay, you come on up.”
The girl said, “Did he say I was crazy?” The hand that wasn’t holding her bag fluttered up and down the seam of her skirt.
Fenner put the receiver on its prong. He nodded shortly.