“You mean that if I told them Carl’s real name, they’d find out about that lottery and—”
“Something like that,” Mason said. “In order to build up a defense, I want a few hours during which no one will even suspect that Carl Newberry was really Carl Moar.”
“Will a few hours be enough?” she asked.
“I don’t know,” Mason told her. “I’ll do my best.”
“Celinda Dail has been trying to see her,” Della Street said. “She’s full of sympathy and—”
“Keep Belle away from Celinda,” Mason said. “Tell everybody that Belle’s upset and isn’t to be questioned that you’re sorry, but she can see no one.”
“That’s what I’ve done,” Della Street said. “Of course, the officers insisted on coming in.”
“Tell me, Mr. Mason,” Belle asked. “How about Moms? Is she holding up?”
“She’s holding up,” Mason said.
“What’s this about some witness having seen her on deck?”