“June Arnot meant nothing to her, while Weiner did. Weiner saved her life, and his death shocked her. Personally I think she has been wavering for some days, and his death clinched it. It’s a psychological reaction.”
“Why does she imagine Maurer killed Weiner?” Forest asked sharply.
Conrad shrugged.
“I don’t know. Weiner told her Maurer would get him, and I guess she believes him. Nothing I can say will change her mind on that. She doesn’t pretend to know how Maurer got at Weiner, but she is absolutely certain he did get at him.”
“You’re quite sure he didn’t, Paul?” Forest asked quietly.
“I can’t be positive,” Conrad said irritably. “But I’ll be damned if I can see how he did it, if he did do it.”
“You’re both making Maurer a bogey man,” McCann snarled. “When are you going to see this girl?”
Conrad swung around, stung by McCann’s bullying tone.
“See here, Captain. I’ll have you remember she is a material witness, and as such is under the court’s protection. I’m not going to tolerate any police methods when we question her. You have been asked here as an interested party, but that gives you no right to get as tough as I imagine you think you’re going to get! So watch it!”
McCann’s eyes snapped and his face became swollen with pent-up fury.