“The dame’s scream scared me. I thought she’d got hold of you.”
A thin wolfish expression lit her face. “They don’t get hold of me,” she said quietly. “They know better.”
“Tough, eh?” I said, admiring her. I leaned closer to her. “I could go for you in a big way.”
She stood up and walked to the door. “Dust,” she said, “and don’t come up here again. If you hear any more screams forget it. There’s nothing on this floor I can’t handle.”
“I can believe it,” I said, walking to the door. “Well, so long, lady; if there’s anything I can do for you, you’ll find me on the next floor.”
“Scram,” she said impatiently.
She came to the head of the stairs to watch me go. I went down and along the passage of B floor. I waited a moment, listening. I heard her go back to her office. The door clicked shut.
I gave her a moment, then moving quickly, I ran up the stairs again, crossed the landing, whipped out the pass-key and unlocked the grill. I moved with urgent haste. My mouth was dry, my heart pounded. I slid back the grill. It moved easily, without sound.
I stepped through and slid the grill into place, locked it.
Then I walked down the narrow gallery towards Miss Wonderly’s cell.