“They telephoned to tell you that Detective Haggerty is coming up here,” she said.
“All right,” grunted Steve. Great stuff, he thought, to call up with such a message after Haggerty was already here.
But the man at the door seemed impressed by the word that the nurse had brought.
Gunner Macklin opened his eyes and began to speak.
“I’ll tell you everything, Steve,” he said. “I don’t think I’m going to die — but I’ll tell, just the same. I’ll begin when I was in Florida.” His voice became weak. “When — I was in Florida.”
An interne had entered the room, carrying a glass of medicine. He came directly to the bed, keeping his back toward the door so that his face was not seen by the tall man standing there.
“Let him drink this,” said the interne, speaking to Lang in a low voice. “He’ll be better then. He’ll talk, all right.”
He placed the glass to Gunner’s lips. The injured man gulped down the liquid. The interne turned away with the empty glass. He went out by another door, still keeping his back toward the spot where Jerry Haggerty stood.
Macklin sat up suddenly. His eyes brightened.
“I’ll talk now,” he said. “I’ll tell you everything, Steve.”