“What do you mean — drastic?” she asked, and there was a slight quaver in her voice.
Drake laughed scornfully.
Mason said, “Now listen, Paul, let’s be fair about this thing. She may not have been mixed up in that murder.”
“Then what did she run away for?”
“To protect her boy friend, of course.”
“Well, you know the law. If she gives aid to a murderer to shield him, she becomes an accessory after the fact. And how about this talk Milicant had over the telephone...”
Mason said, “Now wait a minute, Paul. I’m going to be firm about this. You’re not going to condemn this young woman until we hear her side of the story.”
Mason turned expectantly to Inez Colton.
For a second or two, it seemed that she was on the point of rushing into swift speech. Then her eyes became hard and suspicious. She seemed to lower a veil over her thoughts. “What do you want?” she asked.
Mason said, “The truth.”