"Is this another of your tricks—" roared Steve, cutting off his voice by shutting the door behind him abruptly.
Miss Peters had a quiet nervous breakdown, for Hagen was William Wrightwood's stepson, who had renounced his rechristening not long after reaching adulthood. She began to plan an explanation—which would not hold water since Wrightwood was the kind of executive who gives orders not to be disturbed and demands that they be observed. Not even the angry arrival of his estranged stepson was excuse for not having an appointment.
She wondered what was going on, and slyly opened the key of the desk phone.
"You're as devious as a scenic railway and you know it."
"Walter, my boy—"
"My name is Steve Hagen and you know it!"
"If you persist; but to me you will always be my son."
"I wouldn't have you for a father as a gift," roared Steve. "Now tell me how you wrangled this."
"I didn't wrangle anything. Just what makes you think—?"
"This is just too damned trite for accident."