She listened, her heart beating wildly, the memory of Raven horribly clear−cut in her mind. She wondered if he had returned. For several minutes she lay listening, then, cautiously, she pulled back the bed−clothes and reached for her wrap.
Silently she went to the front door and looked once through the letter−box. The burly figure of a police officer relieved her of all her fears. He was just going into Mendetta’s apartment. She opened the door and stood waiting.
The police officer came out of the apartment in a few minutes. His start of surprise when he saw Sadie puzzled her.
“Isis anythin’ wrong in there?” she asked.
He looked at her suspiciously. “Who are you?” he snapped.
“I’m Mrs. Perminger. I thought I heard someone cry out a little while back and I thought I heard someone fall.” Sadie looked at him with big eyes.
O’Hara could have killed her. He’d gone up on Lu’s instructions just to look around. He had no intention of reporting Mendetta’s death. He had no reasonable excuse for being up there, and now this dame must come and put her oar in.
He said, “I’ll come in your place for a moment, Miss. Don’t want to be seen in the passage; might scare the folks.”
Sadie coloured. “I don’t think you’d better come in. I’mI’m all alone.”
O’Hara nodded. “That’s all right,” he said; “if you’ll just let me stand in the hall.” He was most anxious that nobody else should see him.