‘Let’s get out of this hole,’ she said. ‘I’ve got a swell apartment you’l love.’
‘Drink your Scotch and shut up,’ Dal as said. He finished his drink, pat ed her on the shoulder and went out into the rain.
Four minutes later he heard the first of the sirens. In another minute West Street was alive with noise and black and white police cars.
Olin leaned out of the front car and waved to Dallas.
‘Wel , you’ve certainly started something,’ Olin said, as Dallas scrambled into the car. ‘I hope for your sake you can finish it. Let’s have it quick as we go.’
‘Make for Pinder’s End,’ Dal as told the driver, and while the car shot down West Street, he gave Olin his prepared story.
‘The girl’s name is Zoe Norton,’ he said rapidly. ‘She and I sleep together when we’ve nothing better to do. Nothing serious, but I like her and she likes me.’
‘Okay, okay,’ Olin said impatiently, ‘never mind about your love-life. Where’s Baird fit in this?’
‘I don’t know,’ Dal as lied. ‘I went to the club to see Zoe tonight. Like I told you, she works for Rico.
She was missing. She’d been in the club; her hat and coat were in her dressing-room, but she had disappeared. I found her bag in Rico’s office. He had vanished, too. I found out he and Baird had taken Rico’s car and had gone off together. I traced them to Pinder’s End on the waterfront. Then I lost them. I was nosing around when I heard a shot. I was in time to see Rico’s Buick driving away like a bat out of hell. I took a shot at it, and smashed one of the windows. It’s my bet Zoe found out something about those two and they’ve silenced her.’