“About your first visit to my office.”
Her eyes narrowed. “What about it?” she asked.
Mason said, “If you need me, you know, arrangements have already been made.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Mason said, “That isn’t going to get you anywhere.”
“But I don’t. I really don’t.”
“All right,” Mason said. “You’ve had your chance. Remember that I protect my clients to the best of my ability. People who are not my clients have to be on their guard.”
She laughed nervously. “If you think I’m not going to be on my guard with you from now on, Mr. Mason, you have another think coming.”
“All right. We’ll handle it that way then,” Mason said with calm, patient persistence. “Now let’s get back to Robert Peltham. First, what did he say in answer to my ad?”
As she hesitated, Mason added, “I can find out by the simple expedient of ringing up the Contractor’s Journal. After all, they’re going to publish it, you know.”