Della said, “Damn! I knew we shouldn’t have bought that dictionary.”
Chapter 11
Lieutenant Tragg rang the front doorbell, then raised his hat as Mrs. Gentrie opened the door.
“I’m sorry to keep on disturbing you,” he said, “but there are one or two minor matters on which I have to get more information.”
She seemed apprehensive for a moment, then smiled and said, “Come right on in, Lieutenant.”
“I’m not inconveniencing you?”
“Not at all, but now those other officers just came bursting in here without so much as a by-your-leave or without taking their hats off. You’re always a perfect gentleman.”
“Thank you,” he said, and then added after a moment, “but let me put in a good word for the hard-boiled officers. They’re overworked and have so many things to do, they simply don’t have time to think of people as human beings. They regard them as witnesses, suspects, possible victims, and accomplices — if you know what I mean.”
“Yes, I see,” Mrs. Gentrie said, ushering Tragg into the living room.
Rebecca looked up with a quick smile, a smile that was almost a simper. “Good afternoon, Lieutenant.”