Bertha said, “It happens this young man is working for me, and I’ve telephoned a lawyer who’ll be here in about ten minutes. Mr. Ashbury wants to see me, and if you try to keep me out of this house, you’ll have a damage suit on your hands.”
“We don’t want any lawyers,” the detective said. “All we need is to get things straightened out. Lam can make a frank statement, and that’s all there’ll be to it.”
Bertha snorted.
The detectives held a whispered conference, then we all went in.
“Is Miss Ashbury at home?” one of the detectives asked the butler.
“Yes, sir.”
“Get hold of her. Get her here right away.”
“Yes, sir. Who shall I say is calling?”
The detective pulled back his coat. “The law,” he said. The butler took it on the double quick.
I heard Alta’s feet on the stairs — quick, light steps.