“What did he say?”
“Well, he sort of cleared his throat and finally said, ‘Oh, wasn’t she finished? I’m sorry.’ ”
“Then what? Did he start begging?”
“No. He just said thank you, and hung up.”
Bertha scowled. “That doesn’t fit,” she said. “He should be getting anxious.”
“But he called up,” Elsie Brand pointed out. “That means something.”
“I mean damned anxious,” Bertha said. “How was his voice — did he sound worried?”
“No. Just the same well-modulated voice.”
“Oh, well, the hell with him. I—”
The door of the office pushed open and Everett Belder, rushing in, said, “My God, Mrs. Cool, I don’t know what we’re going to do.”