“How is Joe?”
“Joe is dying.” She spoke as though it didn’t matter; as though he was already dead as far as she was concerned.
Shayne’s face muscles contracted and his wide mouth was grim. Christine continued in her listless tone, “You’re a detective, aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
“You needn’t waste any more time on Joe. He is beyond your reach now. There had to be three, you know.”
“Three what?”
“Corpses. When Joe dies he’ll be the third and that will end the whole miserable affair.”
Shayne’s long arm reached out and caught her slumped shoulder. He held her gently and asked, “What’s the matter with you, Miss Forbes?”
She lifted her eyes wearily. They were glazed, and there was no life in their dark depths. She ignored his question, and parried listlessly:
“Have you found Nora’s body yet?”