After he had fussed around a bit and made sure we had nothing to beef about, he took himself off. It gave me a little time to use my brain. “I guess I’ll put my cards on the table,” I said. I seemed to be wearing that phrase out. “Have you ever heard of a guy called Vessi?”
I saw her give a little start. She looked up quickly. Her eyes were full of questions.
“I see you have,” I cut in before she could say anything. “The guy who was executed the other night. Well, I’m interested in him and the story that is hanging to him. I was wondering if you could give me a line on him yourself?”
“I?” She was surprised. I told myself I’d drawn blank here. “But why should I give you any information? What information?”
I shook my head. “No, I guess I was wrong. Okay, forget it, will you?”
Her chin tilted. “No, I will not forget it,” she said. “What makes you think I could have told you anything?”
I saw she was getting a little fussed. I didn’t want to fall out with this baby… I liked her too much. I’d got to be careful, for all that. After all, she was Spencer’s secretary. I shook my head. “I’m sorry to have brought it up,” I said, “I was just bein’ too smart. You’re right. A girl like you wouldn’t know anything about it…. I guess I owe you an apology.”
She smiled. A little, determined smile. “That still doesn’t answer my question, does it?” she said.
I grinned back at her. “Don’t put me in a spot, sister,” I said. “I thought maybe I was going to get somewhere if I jumped it on you, but I see I was backin’ the wrong gee. I’d tell you all about it if I could, but for the moment I’ve got to keep this under my hat. Suppose you tell me how I can get in to see Spencer?”
The Swiss steak did a lot to break up the hostile atmosphere, but she wasn’t going to let me get away with it as easily as that.