‘Was that why he went to see you at the Beach Hotel?’
She raised her eyebrows at me.
‘You found that out? Yes, that’s when I told him. I had to have money. I was cleaned right out. He gave me a thousand dollars to keep out of sight.’
‘Now don’t rush this. Suppose you begin at the beginning. When did you marry Dedrick?’
‘Oh, about four years ago, I forget the exact date. It isn’t anything I cherish. Being married to Lee isn’t a romantic dream. I met him in Paris, and fell for him. He’s the kind of heel most women would fall for. I don’t know why he married me, but he did. He always had plenty of money, and never seemed to do any work. I guess his money attracted me. Well, I got what I deserved.’ She flicked the cigarette into the fire, and reached for another. ‘I found out he was smuggling dope into Paris. Joe worked with him. He persuaded me to help him too.’ She smiled at me. ‘You don’t know how persuasive he can be. Then he met the Marshland woman. I hadn’t an idea what was cooking. He was often away for weeks at a time, and I thought he was handling a consignment. Then without warning, he disappeared. Joe and I were left holding the baby. Joe tried to carry on, but he just hadn’t what it takes. The police nearly caught us. We managed to get out of France, and came here. That was when I found out he had married Serena Marshland. I went to Barratt. You know about Barratt?’
I said I knew about Barratt.
‘He wants watching,’ she said, her face hardening. ‘He fooled me all right. He said Lee had married Serena Marshland to get her money, and as soon as he had it, he would return to me. He asked me to co-operate; to keep away from Lee and give him a free hand. Like a fool, I believed him. I was staying at the Chandos Hotel, and on my way back from seeing Barratt I was shot at. I knew then that Barratt was going to get rid of me, and I moved to the Beach Hotel.’ She glanced at me, asked, ‘Are you enjoying this?’
‘More or less,’ I said. ‘It’s not what I was hoping to but never mind. Go on.’
‘What were you hoping to hear?’
‘Finish what you’ve got to say. I’ll tell you later.’