“Because I thought she was in danger,” I interrupted. “I formed a friendship with Miss Dunton while I was in Oakview.”
“So it would seem,” he said.
I said, “I got worried about her. She told me that she could identify a man she had seen leaving that apartment. Of course, at the time I thought that he was the murderer — sort of took it for granted, you know.”
“That’s a nice story,” he said, “but I happen to know that you were trying to keep her out of circulation. You were hiding her so we couldn’t find her.”
“So you couldn’t find her!” I exclaimed. “Good heavens! I don’t know— Oh, yes, I told her that I was going to notify you of her new address. That’s right. I forgot to do that. This business with my aunt came up and—”
“What business with your aunt?” he interrupted.
I said, “She was going to marry a man who was only interested in her money. I wanted to investigate him. I spoke to Mrs. Cool about it, and she said that she’d use the agency and see what could be done.”
Ellis picked up a telephone and said, “Send Miss Dunton in.”
A few moments later there were quick steps in the hall and Marian Dunton opened the door. I think she expected to find us there. She smiled and there was concern on her face. “Donald, how are you?” she asked, and came over to give me her hand. “I heard you were at the receiving hospital. You’re white as a sheet.”
I took her hand, and her left eye, the one that was farthest from Ellis, closed in a slow, solemn wink.