“I wouldn’t be talking to you the way I am talking if I thought for one moment you weren’t safe,” he said quietly.
She looked round quickly, her eyes searching his face.
“I don’t understand…”
“No, I guess you don’t.” He moved away from her. “I promise you no one will touch you. I give you my word.”
She turned so her back was to the window and watched him as he moved slowly about the room. There was an interested and puzzled expression in her eyes.
“You’ve got to get this idea that Maurer is a superman out of your mind,” Conrad went on. “I don’t say he won’t try to get at you, he will, but I assure you he won’t succeed. This place is too well guarded. There’s nothing I haven’t thought of.” He stopped and faced her. “You don’t know how I’ve sweated on this thing. Don’t you feel safe?”
“No.”
“Tell me why you don’t.”
“I can’t forget what Pete said.” She sat down abruptly. “I wish now I hadn’t told you what happened. Pete said no power on earth could save me if I told you. He said no power on earth could save him either, and he’s dead.” An hysterical note crept into her voice. “Pete said his time was running out. My time’s running out too! He said Maurer could buy any of the policemen who guarded him. How do I know Maurer hasn’t bought those women who stay with me?”
Conrad was both startled and shocked to learn how her mind was working.