“That’s what you hope,” Whisky said. “They may have different ideas.”
I thought that was likely, but I had to take the chance.
“When you get outside, go to Miss Halliday’s apartment and wait for me,” I said. “I’ve told her about you and she’s expecting us. If I don’t come out within an hour, turn the picture over to Summers.”
Whisky looked worried. “Aren’t you being unnecessarily heroic?” he asked. “Can’t we work out something better than that?”
I shook my head. “I’ve got to put the screws to Peppi and this is the only way to do it. Get in the elevator and wait for me.”
“Well, I’d rather it was you than me,” Whisky said, enter in the elevator.
I adjusted the shutter of the camera and set the lens-stop. Then I went back into the room. Peppi was cursing Lew when I arrived at the door.
“If you can’t get that can open,” he snarled, “why don’t you say so? We’ve been here twenty minutes.”
“Gimme a break, will you?” Lew grunted, his ear against the safe. “I gotta have quiet to hear these tumblers.”
Peppi drew in a deep breath and stood over him. That was how I found them.