As they reached the house two policemen came through the front entrance, carrying a stretcher on which was a covered body.
That’s the lot, Lieutenant,” one of them said. The house is clear now.”
Bardin grunted and walked up the steps and down into the patio.
“Do you think Fedor’s in the clear?” Conrad asked as he sat down in a basket chair.
“He’s not the type to cut loose like this. Besides, if he did do it, he’d have to have a damned strong motive. She was his only client, and he made a small fortune out of her.”
“A woman like her would have a lot of enemies,” Conrad said, stretching out his long legs. “Whoever did it certainly hated her guts.”
“She seems to have had some pretty horrible acquaintances,” Bardin said, rubbing his hand across his eyes. “From the hints I’ve picked up from time to time, there was nothing too bad for her to dabble in. Did you know she was supposed to be a special friend of Jack Maurer?”
Conrad stiffened to attention.
“No. How special?”
Bardin grinned. Thought that would make you sit up. I can’t swear to it, but I’ve heard plenty of rumours. She kept it very quiet, but the story has it they were lovers.”