Serena watched me, under down-drawn eyebrows.
‘I have a telephone connection in my bedroom. It wasn’t switched through,’ I explained; went on, ‘Well, now, Mrs. Dedrick, what can I do for you?’
‘I want you to stop interfering with this kidnapping case,’ She said.
I sipped a little whisky, stared at her, not very surprised, but taking her believe I was.
‘Are you serious?’
Her mouth tightened.
‘Of course I am. You’re being a nuisance. You’re prying into things that don’t concern you. The police have made an arrest. I’m satisfied that this man kidnapped my husband. There is no point in you stirring up more trouble.’
I lit a cigarette, tossed the match into the fireplace, and blew a little cloud of smoke to the ceiling.
‘The man the police have arrested didn’t do the job, Mrs. Dedrick. He happens to be a friend of mine. I shall continue to investigate this business until I have cleared him.’
She went very pale and her eyes lit up. Her hands became fists in her lap.