‘One of the girls,’ Rico said, and lifted his shoulders. ‘I thought she was a pushover, but I made a mistake. The little devil hit me with a hair-brush.’
‘Good for her,’ Olin said. ‘Where is she? Maybe I could persuade her to make a charge against you.’
Rico laughed.
‘She went home. There was nothing to it, Lieutenant. It happens every day. But why bring Baird into this?’
‘Has he been here tonight?’
‘I haven’t seen him,’ Rico said, shaking his head. ‘I haven’t seen anyone but you tonight.’
‘And your pushover friend,’ Olin said.
‘Well, yes…’
Olin lit his cigar, puffed contentedly for a moment, took the cigar from between his teeth and blew gently at the glowing end.
‘About a couple of hours ago,’ he said, looking at Rico, ‘Jean Bruce, the actress, in case you don’t know, left her house to attend some shindig at the Martineau Galleries. Between her house and the end of the drive, she was held up and robbed. An emerald and diamond bracelet worth five grand was stolen.