Zoe was sitting at the dressing-table, making up her face. She looked a little flustered, and gave a start when she saw Baird in the doorway.
‘What do you want?’ she demanded, swinging around on the low stool. ‘Who said you could walk in here without knocking?’
Baird leaned against the doorway, his eyes on her face.
‘Hel o, Toots,’ he said. ‘I saw you peeping. Anything I can do for you?’
She felt a little sick as she looked into his cold, murderous eyes.
‘I — I don’t know what you’re talking about,’ she said defiantly. ‘As if I should want to peep at you.
Would you mind fading away? There isn’t much air in this hole, and I don’t see why I should have to share it with you.’
He studied her, then his eyes shifted to the telephone on her dressing-table and back to her.
‘Watch your step, Toots,’ he said evenly. ‘I shan’t tel you again.’
He gave her another hard, menacing stare that made her feel weak at the knees and went out, closing the door behind him. He walked thoughtfully along the passage to Rico’s office and went in.