“I know,” Bertha said. “The police are here.”
There was dismay in Belder’s voice. “I wanted to get you before they got there. What have you told them?”
“Nothing.”
“They’re there with you now?”
“Yes.”
“And you’ve told them nothing?”
“That’s right.”
“Can you get away with that?”
“I don’t think so. Not for long. Is your wife home?”
“No, she didn’t show up all night. My mother-in-law was frantic. That’s how it happened the body was discovered. She swore she was going to search every room in the house. She said she’d start with the cellar. I heard her going down the cellar steps, then she screamed and fainted. I rushed down after her, and Sally was lying all sprawled out—”