My rubber-soled shoes made no sound as I mounted the steps that led to the terrace. Above me the light from one of the windows fell directly on the terrace, making a sharp, bright pattern on the white stone. The climb up to the window wasn’t difficult. The window led out on to a balcony, and by standing on the terrace balustrade I swung myself up on to the upper balcony. I hung on with both hands, drew myself up and peered into the uncurtained window.
I could scarcely believe my luck. The man in the fawn suit lay flat on his back on the bed. He had a glass of whisky in one hand and a magazine in the other. A cigarette burned evenly from his thin lips, and he read with frowning concentration.
I had played a hunch, and it had come off. Yet, come to think of it, it wasn’t so much luck as good reasoning. Where else would he have been so safe?
I wasn’t going to tackle him on my own. I wanted witnesses— Regretfully, I climbed down from the balcony and reached the terrace.
I tried to remember where the nearest phone-box was: too far away, anyway. Now I knew be was there I wasn’t going to lose sight of him. If he had been in bed and asleep, I might have risked leaving the estate in search of a telephone, but not when he might suddenly take it into his head to bolt.
I remembered there was a telephone in the lounge.
I walked silently along the terrace to the casement windows that led into the lounge. In the bright light of the moon, I examined the doors for any sign of wiring or alarms, but failed to find any. But before attempting to break in, I decided to walk around the house in the hope of finding a window left open.
It was my lucky night. At the back of the house I found an unlatched window. I eased it open, put my head into darkness and listened. I heard nothing. I groped in my hip pocket and pulled out Paula’s flashlight. The battery was on the blink, but the light was strong enough for me to see I was looking into the passage, leading to the ball.
Very carefully I hoisted myself up, climbed through the window, closed it and soft-footed down the passage to the hall.
The house was very still and silent. I stood listening for a few moments before going into the lounge. I shut the door.