“And he wasn’t there?”
“No. I told her he wouldn’t be in till evening but she said she’d wait. She acted funny, and after she had a few drinks she got loud and started cursing like a trooper.”
“She made a phone call, didn’t she?”
“Yeah. After she was pretty drunk. Must have been around five.”
“Who did she call?”
“I don’t know. I swear I don’t. She went in a booth. But when she came out she asked me how to get to a — a hotel in Miami.”
“What hotel?” Shayne’s voice was like the lash of a whip.
Preston told him, adding nervously, “I knew that was where you hung out. I didn’t know what she might do. I mixed her one last drink before she left — and fixed it.”
“But not strong enough,” Shayne commented dryly. “You need a supply of special drops for these tough debutante guzzlers. All right. I want it straight. Who’d you call when she left?”
“I telephoned Mr. Stallings. I thought he ought to know. I–I told him she had started for your place but I didn’t think she’d make it.”