“That’s one session I want to sit in on.” Shayne hastily finished his lunch, and they went out together.
At headquarters the chief stopped at Homicide to order an immediate and thorough investigation of Margrave, with particular emphasis on his movements since the preceding midnight. From there, they went back through the corridor to Gentry’s private office where they found Bates waiting for them, accompanied by Patrolman Hagen who had been detailed to meet him at the airport.
Attorney Bates was a medium-sized, middle-aged, precise sort of man. He offered a cold, limp hand to Chief Gentry, and studied the redhead with disapproving interest when Gentry said, “Michael Shayne, Mr. Bates.”
“So you are the so-called private detective,” Bates observed icily, “who now denies having had any part in this affair. Also, if I did not misunderstand Mrs. Carrol on the telephone this morning, either intentionally or through sheer stupidity, you furnished her with a key to your apartment instead of her husband’s; and you lured her there at midnight under false pretenses, at about the same time, it appears, that someone was murdering Ralph Carrol under this convenient arrangement. Do you mean to say this man isn’t under arrest?” he continued, turning to Gentry.
“You can cut that out right now,” growled Gentry, his ruddy face purplish with anger. “This is Miami, and I’ll ask the questions.”
“Very well, sir. What questions have you for me?” He sat down in a straight chair near Gentry’s desk and waited.
The chief sat down and started to speak, but Shayne broke in swiftly. “Most important is this — when and how do you claim you first contacted me to take on the job of locating Ralph Carrol in Miami?”
The lawyer frowned and said, “It was about two weeks ago when I first wrote. I do not have the precise date because my office was burglarized early this morning and all the pertinent correspondence removed.”
“We’ve only your word for it,” Shayne reminded him. “It’s the sort of lie you would tell if asked to produce proof that was nonexistent. Is there anyone else who can testify to such correspondence?”
“Is this fellow accusing me?” Bates demanded of Gentry. “I assure you that I have no intention—”