Fenner grinned unpleasantly. “You don’t know just how smart I was, baby,” he said. “I guess I did myself a nice turn sending you out with that dough. Anyway, go on.”
“I went back to the hotel, asked for an envelope, put the money in and gave it to the cashier to hold.’ Then I shot out into the street and had a look round; didn’t get anywhere, so I phoned you.”
Fenner nodded. “Okay. If you’re sure she ran out without some guy pushin’ her to it, we’ll let it ride for a moment.”
Paula said, “I’m positive!”
“Now let me tell you somethin.’ There’s somethin’ mighty phony about this business. Someone planted a dead Chink in the outer office after you’d gone, and tipped the cops.”
Paula sat up. “A dead Chink?”"”
Fenner smiled mirthlessly. “Yeah. This Chink had a slit in his throat and had been dead some time. He would want some explainin’ away. Soon as I saw him, I asked myself why. Either that guy was left as a warnin’ or else as a plant. I wasn’t takin’ any chances, so I moved him out quick and tossed him in an empty office at the end of the corridor. Well, I was right. It was a plant. I hadn’t got back more than a few minutes before three tough bulls bust in. They were lookin’ for that Chink, and, believe me, it took all I had not to laugh in their faces.”
“But why?” Paula asked, her eyes very wide.
“Suppose they found him there? I should have been taken down to the station and held. That’s what was wanted. To get me out of the way long enough to catch up with this Daley dame. These bulls softened up a lot when they found nothin’ to holler about, but they searched the two offices. I had my fingers crossed. If they had found that six grand it might have taken a little explainin’ away.”
Paula said, “But what’s all this mean?”