“Yes. I told you I’d talked with him on the phone.”
“That appointment was to discuss Byrl Gailord’s affairs?”
“In a way, yes.”
Sergeant Holcomb said, “Where can I find Byrl Gailord now?”
Mason said, “That’s something I don’t feel called upon to answer — not as matters stand now.”
“Not being much help, are you?” Sergeant Holcomb asked.
Mason said, “If you’ll come down to earth and tell me what you’re driving at, I might be able to help you.”
Sergeant Holcomb said, “I’m checking up on motives, that’s all. Mrs. Tump and Byrl Gailord were making things pretty hot for Tidings. They tried to see him Monday afternoon, and Tidings refused to talk with them. They were hanging around outside his office, waiting for him to come out. Tidings said he’d see Miss Gailord, but he’d be damned if he’d talk to Mrs. Tump; said she was a hellcat.”
“So she killed him?” Mason asked with a smile.
“Nuts,” Holcomb said. “You know what I’m after, Mason. I want the low-down. I want to know what they knew about him, and whether they accused him of embezzling funds. After all, when a man’s killed, we check up on his enemies. You know that as well as I do… As far as that’s concerned, a woman could have killed him as well as a man… That lipstick makes it look like a woman.”