He simpered at me, but avoided my eye.
I looked over at Miss Wonderly. She was still out, and I made a move to go to her.
“Hold it, Cain!” Flaggerty barked. “Stay where you are.”
I had a feeling that he’d shoot if I gave him half a chance, so I shrugged and sat down.
“You’d better get that dame out of her faint,” I said. “She’s got plenty of talking to do.”
“See what you can do with her,” Flaggerty said to the house dick.
The big man knelt beside her. She seemed to embarrass him, because he just stared and did nothing.
I looked around the room. Cigarette butts filled the ashtrays. Two bottles of Scotch stood empty on the mantelpiece. Another lay on the carpet and a big damp patch showed that it had leaked. There was a stink of spirits in the room. The rugs had been kicked up, a chair overturned. The stage had been set to look like a drunken orgy. It looked like a drunken orgy.
On the floor by the dead man was a heavy Luger pistol. The butt of the pistol had white hair and blood on it. I recognized the pistol. It was mine.
I sat staring at it, and I felt spooked. Unless Miss Wonderly started talking I was in a sweet jam. I hoped she’d start talking soon.