My brain was busy. So this guy was tied up in the same business. That told me why Mardi wanted to keep my name out of it. I told myself that Mardi knew something and I was going to find out what just as soon as I got her to myself.
Because she expected it, I did a little necking with Dawn and then left her sitting on the table in the gloom, patiently waiting for me to come back. I’d made up my mind that I wasn’t going to be alone any more with that dame that night.
I looked into the sitting-room. The party was still going on. Mardi was dancing with Hughson. Just as I was going to walk in I heard the telephone in the hall ringing. Hughson looked at me and he called: “See who it is, will you, Nick?”
I said, “Sure,” and went over to the telephone. “Hullo? This is Barry Hughson’s apartment.”
A woman said: “Is Mr. Curtis there? Mr. Lee Curtis?”
I said, “Hold on,” and put the telephone down. I went into the sitting-room. Curtis was doing his stuff with Ackie’s Spanish dame. I went over. “You’re wanted on the ’phone,” I said.
He looked startled. “You sure?” he asked, getting to his feet.
“If your name’s Curtis, I am,” I said.
He gave me a quick, hard look and then went outside. I saw him shut the door carefully behind him, and I looked around for Mardi. Before I could spot her, the Spanish dame started doing her stuff. At times, women are hell.
By the time I’d got away from her Curtis had come back into the room. He was looking mad all right. He went over to Hughson. “I’m sorry,” he said, “I’ve had an urgent telephone message. I’ve got to get home.”