‘You and Ainsworth grab a taxi and come here pronto,’ Purvis bawled. ‘This is important.’
‘Why? It’s after three and I haven’t had any sleep…’
‘That’s all you damned operators think of,’ Purvis snarled. ‘I don’t pay you to sleep. The Bellmore Prison Farm is within fifteen miles of Shreveport, and that’s where Paul Hater’s serving his sentence!
That mean anything to you?’
Dallas gave a long, low whistle.
‘I’m on my way,’ he said, and slammed down the receiver.
PART THREE
I
Baird pushed open the door to the back entrance of the Frou-Frou Club, glanced over his shoulder to make sure no one was watching him, and then stepped into the dimly lit passage. He walked silently to Rico’s office. As he reached the door he caught sight of a movement ahead of him and looked up quickly.
Zoe Norton ducked back out of sight behind her dressing-room door, but not quickly enough for Baird to miss seeing her. He stood for a moment staring thoughtfully at the door that stood ajar, then he moved softly along the passage and pushed the door open with his foot.