She went quickly to the telephone, dialled, waited a second then screamed in a voice that made me nearly jump out of my skin : ‘Police! Help! Come at once!’
She dropped the telephone and turned to me, the set smile still on her lips.
‘Very smart,’ I said, and sat down. ‘What am I supposed to be doing? Criminal assault?’
She put her hand on the front of her dress and ripped it down. Then she dug her nails into her shoulder and clawed into her white flesh, leaving four angry red marks on her skin. She ran her fingers through her hair. She kicked over a table, pushed the settee into the fireplace, scuffed up the rug. As she walked across the room to disarrange more furniture, I reached for the telephone, dialled, and waited.
‘Hello?’ Paula said.
‘I’m in trouble. Come over here fast. You know what to do, collect Francon and get down to Police Headquarters as fast as you can. In five minutes I’ll be on a charge of criminal assault. Mrs. Dedrick is setting the stage now.’
‘I’ll be with you,’ Paula said and hung up.
I dropped the receiver back on its cradle and lit a cigarette.
‘While you’re about it, I’d let my stockings down if I were you. It always gives a more authentic picture,’ I said gently.
‘You’ll be sorry you didn’t take the money, you stupid fool,’ Serena said. ‘They’ll give you two years for this.’