A mop handle clattered to the floor, making a loud sound on the tiles. Penny whirled about in confusion. A cleaning maid stood beside her, regarding her with evident though unspoken suspicion.
CHAPTER
18
QUESTIONS AND CLUES
“Good morning,” stammered Penny, backing from the door. “Were you wanting to get into this room?”
“No, I never clean in there,” answered the maid, still watching the girl with suspicion. “You’re looking for someone?”
Penny knew that she had been observed listening at the door. It would be foolish to pretend otherwise.
She answered frankly: “No, I was passing through the corridor when I heard a strange sound in this room. Do you hear it?”
The maid nodded and her distrustful attitude changed to one of indifference.
“It’s a machine of some sort,” she answered. “I hear it running every once in a while.”
Penny was afraid to loiter by the door any longer lest her own voice bring Ralph Fergus to investigate. As the cleaning woman picked up her mop and started on down the hall, she fell into step with her.
“Who occupies Room 27?” she inquired casually.