“Where are you taking me?” Penny asked.
“Never mind. You’ll find out in good time.”
“Wait!” exclaimed Penny, bracing her legs and refusing to be pushed. “If you’ll let me go, I’ll tell you something very much worth your while.”
Deliberately, she allowed the silken ladder to slip from beneath her coat. The men would not have heeded her words, but the familiar object served its purpose.
“Where did you get that ladder?” demanded Al Gepper.
“So you would like to know what became of your friend, Slippery?” responded Penny evenly. “You’ll be surprised when I tell you that he has double-crossed you both!”
“You’re lying,” accused Gepper.
Penny shrugged and did not speak.
“What were you going to say?” Gepper prodded in a moment. “Out with it! How did you get Slippery’s ladder?”
“It fell into my hands, literally and figuratively.”