I kept on puffing at the cigarette.
“I’m going to phone the cops,” the girl said.
“Wait a minute, wait a minute,” Lowry told her. “Get smart, will you?”
“What’s the matter?”
Lowry said, “There’s going to be a reward for this bird if they don’t have him by tomorrow morning. Suppose he just vanishes slick and clean? You know what happens in these sex murders. Police start beating the drums, and the city puts up a reward.”
The redhead looked at me with loathing and said, “You look like such a normal chap. How in the world could you do that to a woman? What satisfaction do you get out of anything like...?”
“Shut up,” Lowry said, “I’m getting an idea. Stand up, Lam.”
He came towards me, treading lightly on the balls of his feet, his shoulders weaving. “Don’t try anything now, buddy,” he said. “Just don’t try anything. Just stand up and turn your back.”
I stood up and turned my back. He ran his hands over my clothes carefully and said. “What do you know about that, Babe? He’s telling the truth. The guy really hasn’t got a gun.”
I sat down in the chair.