“I never saw him. I never knew him.”
“You’re certain of that?”
“Yes.”
Mason just laughed.
There was another interval of strained, uncomfortable silence broken by Mason’s sudden question. “When did you last see Mrs. Tump?”
“Who?”
“Tump.”
“You look here,” Freel protested, in his thin, high-pitched voice, “I didn’t murder anyone. I… I had some business dealings with Mrs. Tump, that’s all.”
“And how about Tidings?”
Freel averted his eyes, “I didn’t know him.”