Bertha made the mistake of grabbing for it. Sergeant Sellers’ big hand clamped down on her wrists. He took the spectacle case from her fingers.
In a frenzy of rage and consternation, Bertha Cool came around the desk at him, but before she could reach him Sellers had the spectacle case open.
The removable bridge gleamed white and gold against the spectacle case.
“I’ll be damned!” Sergeant Sellers said softly, almost in a whisper.
Belder, staring at the spectacle case, screamed, “By God, you can’t do that to me! I’m being framed! I knew that Mrs. Goldring and Carlotta had been to see her, but I didn’t know she’d give me that kind of double-cross. I tell you I don’t know anything about that.”
“I,” Sellers announced again, in a solemn tone, “will be doubly damned.” He looked up at Bertha. “Where did this come from, Bertha?”
Bertha started to say something, then changed her mind and clamped her lips tightly together.
“Go on,” Sellers said.
Bertha said, “You give me that five minutes and then I’ll talk.”
Sellers’s grin was cold and mirthless. “Not now you don’t get any five minutes, Bertha. You’re finished.”