The doctor was still kneeling between them and the figure. At last, he moved to one side and opened the man’s shirt, throwing a point of light on a small, discolored spot under the heart. The man’s face was in bas-relief. But above the wound, in a broken curve, lay a delicate, golden necklace....
Martin leaned over swiftly and started to speak; but Rio stepped in front of him.
“The guy’s dead, eh, Doc?” he asked solicitously, glaring at Martin all the while over his shoulder.
“Get back,” said the doctor brusquely, to the crowd. Then he called out to the driver. “Come on, Jim. Lend a hand.”
Rio took Martin by the arm and they walked up the steps quickly.
“You god-damned fool,” Rio kept whispering to him. “You god-damned fool. Keep your god-damned mouth shut.”
In Martin’s room they sat down and faced each other. Rio continued to swear at him.
“So there you are,” he said mockingly. “Carol’s knocked off and you want to butt in.”
“Oh, for Christ’s sake, shut up!” said Martin miserably. Then seeing the expression on Rio’s face, he went over to him and put his hand on his shoulder. “I didn’t mean that, Rio. I know well enough you saved me a lot of trouble out there. I’m just trying to figure it out.”
“Don’t be so dumb,” said Rio, and put his cap on backwards.