‘Well, well, a sex-maniac, huh? I always thought you were a screw.’
A uniform cop came in supporting Serena, who collapsed into a chair. Her scratches were bleeding now, and blood ran over her white brassiere and on to her dress. She looked the part all right.
‘Holy cow!’ MacGraw gasped. ‘It’s Mrs. Dedrick! Here you, put the cuffs on that punk.’
The cop came over and snapped handcuffs on my wrist. He gave me a light punch on the chest.
‘It’s going to be an awful long time before you see another woman, Bud,’ he said in an undertone.
MacGraw was fussing over Serena. She was crying and trembling. He got her a drink and stood over her, his heavy face red and embarrassed, and every so often he kept muttering. ‘Holy cow!’ and scratched his jaw.
‘Give me my wrap,’ she said suddenly. ‘I’m all right now. I came here to talk to him about my husband. Without warning he—he flew at me like an animal.’
‘No animal would fly at you, baby,’ I said gently. You’d be surprised how fussy animals are.’
MacGraw spun round and hit me across the mouth with the back of his hand.
‘Wait till I get you to the station,’ he snarled. I’ve been waiting years just for this moment.’