Mason started to say something, then apparently caught himself, and said, “Well, I don’t think there’s anything to be gained by discussing Mr. Karr’s private business. You may draw your own conclusions, Lieutenant.”
“I’m drawing them,” Tragg said significantly.
Mason performed the introductions. “Mr. Karr,” he said, “Mr. Johns Blaine, and Gow Loong, the number one boy.”
Lieutenant Tragg said, “I’ve met the others. Mr. Karr’s the one I want to talk with.”
Mason said, “I’m afraid Mr. Karr can’t help you very much. I’ve been asking him generally about the murder. Just the natural questions that one would ask out of curiosity, you know.”
“Yes,” Tragg said, and added, after a duly significant pause, “just out of curiosity.”
Mason grinned. “Certainly, Tragg. I hope you don’t think that if I were interested in what had gone on downstairs, I’d be approaching it in this roundabout method.”
Tragg said, “Experience has taught me that your methods of approach are sometimes oblique, but always deadly.”
Mason laughed. “Come on over and sit down. I’m afraid Mr. Karr can’t help you very much. You see, he heard two shots in the wee small hours of the morning, but thought they were from the exhaust of a truck, and...”
“Two shots!” Tragg interrupted.