There was another, longer pause.
“But — when Nora comes back—” Christine’s voice was edged with doubt.
“Don’t you worry about Nora Carson coming back,” Joe told her confidently. “You’re in — and don’t ever forget who put you in.”
Chapter eight
PROLONGED SILENCE followed Joe’s flat statement Crouching against the other side of the stone wall, Shayne held his leaping imagination in leash.
Christine’s voice reached him, incredulous and frightened: “What do you mean, Joe Meade? What do you know about Nora not showing up tonight?”
“Never mind. The less talking I do, the less you’ll have to worry about. You got your big chance tonight. All right. Let it go at that Where’s our waiter? We’ve got celebrating to do.”
“But, Joe! You sound as though you know where Nora is. As though you’d planned it.”
“Do I?” Joe sounded surly, and smug. He snapped his fingers, and Shayne heard him order two more drinks.
“You frighten me,” Christine said in a low, tense tone. “I’ve always known there was a ruthless streak behind your driving determination to get ahead, but—”