“What?” I exclaimed, startled. “What do you mean? Have they got her?”
“A couple of minutes and it’ll all be over,” he returned with ghoulish gloom. “She’s in that lingerie shop across the street. The moment you’d gone, she spotted it and made a dart for it. I hadn’t time to reason with her. There was a copper on the corner and he saw her. It took him just five seconds to call the riot squad. They’ve just moved in.”
I looked across the street. Two patrolmen stood outside the smart modiste shop, looking with interest at the various garments displayed in the windows.
“Why don’t they bring her out?” I said, feeling a little sick.
“How do I know?” Whisky said peevishly. I could see he was as worried as I was.
“Well, I’m not staying here,” I said, “I’m going to see what’s cooking. You wait here,” and I left the taxi and crossed the Street.
The two patrolmen looked like they were going to stop me, but I kept walking and they let me through.
The first guy I set eyes on was Clancy.
“Well, well,” I said, smiling at him. “Buying something for the little woman?”
“There you are!” he 8aid, swelling with rage. “I’ve been looking all over for you. Where is she?”